In 1819, the Transcontinental Treaty was drafted with Spain, which set boundaries for the United States that included the territory of Texas. However, in 1821, the treaty was ratified and just as Americans (led by Stephen F. Austin) had begun to settle, Mexico did away with any semblance of Spanish rule. For a while after this, Mexican authorities were giving free land to groups of American settlers. Some 20,000 Americans with roughly 2,000 slaves lived in Texas by 1830...only several thousand Mexicans lived among them.

Originally, President John Quincy Adams had offered Mexico $1,000,000 (one million) for Texas...even though he was willing to pay up to $5,000,000 (five million). Mexico would hear nothing of a sale. This did not stop American settlement of Texas, though. By the late 1820's, the problems were beginning to become apparent as most of the settlers were Protestant and Mexican law required that all settlers were to be Catholic. Another point of contention was the slave issue. Mexico outlawed slavery and in an effort to get around this, the Americans "freed" their slaves only to turn around and sign them as lifetime indentured serv

Even from the very beginning, it was never a question what the result of the Mexican-American war would be. Within a week of the war beginning, the Mexicans had been pushed back across the Rio Grande and the southern bank of the river was under American control. This was due to poor organization and preparation on the part of the Mexican Army, as well as lack of equipment and leadership.

Originally, Polk tried to peacably obtain the land in question by sending John Slidell on a mission to Mexico to negotiate with the Mexicans. He even had the go-ahead from Polk to "wipe away" the Mexican debt as long as the Mexicans recognized the annexation of Texas and didn't challenge the Rio Grande Territory. He (Slidell) had also been given the power to offer Mexico up to $30 million for part, if not all, of New Mexico and California. Although it was in Mexico's best interest to make this deal, the Mexican government would not sell. On top of this, a coup had taken place in Mexico and the new President (General Mariano Paredes) responded to the anti-American sentiment by again claiming, in theory, Texas as Mexican territory. Slidell went back to Polk with the opinion that Mexico was going to need more "convincing" in possibly a not-so-amicable way.

A Harvard College student by the name of Richard Henry Dana sailed to California by way of South America in 1834. He later described what life was like in California in his book "Two Years Before the Mast." In it, he described the callousness with which the Indians were treated and how the differences between the classes were both drastic and stark. He said there was absolutely no working class...you were either extremely rich or you were extremely poor and working for the rich.

As the war progressed, Taylor almost effortlessly took the disputed land in Texas and the northern provinces of Mexico. In June of 1846, American settlers had also taken up the cause under another group, led by Captain John C. Fremont. Yet Fremont joined another group, known as the Sonoma rebels, in the effort. Finally, a naval squadron took Monterey, California. An American cavalry squadron took San Diego and Los Angeles and by February of 1847, the United States had claimed almost all of Mexico north of Mexico City. Winfield Scott was put in charge by Polk to take Mexico City. In September (the 14th to be exact), Scott had made his way into the capital.

In the election of 1844, James K. Polk won the Presidency. This was aided by the fact that he supported the annexation of Texas. As a direct result of the more that obvious opinion of the American people, President Tyler prompted Congress to admit Texas to the Union by joint resolution. This avoided the necessity for 2/3 majority to pass in the Senate. This was one of his last actions before he relenquished the White House to Polk. The initial resolution stated that the territory would be divided up into as many as 4 states, but only with Texas' approval. In December 1845, Texas was added as the newest member of the United States of America.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Mexican Army, Mexico Britain, April Mexicans, John Adams, Calhoun Secretary, Texas American, South America, San Antonio, Protestant Mexican, Mexico City, rio grande, american settlers, war mexico, mexican territory, mexico city, annexation texas, mexico president, mexican government, san diego, $30 mexico,
Approximate Word count = 2242
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)