Mexican+War

=__THE MEXICAN WAR__= toc The Mexican War began with an attack from the Mexican to the Americans. It was on the southern parts of Texas on April 25, 1846. The War was based mainly over Texas. The War ended when the U.S. General Winfield Scott took New Mexico on September 14, 1847. A dictator in Mexico started the war because of the US annexation of Texas.

THE BEGINNING
Before the Mexican war, Spain and the US were trying to choose who was going to get Texas. After the war of 1812, the US let Spain have Texas, if they let them have the northwest parts of the mainlands. After a while, the US changed their mind, and decided to try and take Texas again, but Spain wasn't about to give it to them. Before the US wanted texas, Spain decided to let a few hundred families live with them. Texas had about 38,470 people living there, including slaves.

THE AMERICAN ARMY
USA had two armies at the time. One, Which had been authorized by the Congress in 1789, was called the U.S. Army. This army was made of officers and enlisted men who joined for 5 years. In 1972, Congress made a new army. They made it as a backup for the first one. There were differences. The first one was a National force, while the second one was different forces. The U.S. Army was not prepared for war. While Congress wanted an army with 8,613 men, they had no more than 5,500. To make matters worse, most of the soldiers were elderly, and couldn't fight. Most of the troops lived in canvas tents. As the war progressed, the U.S. occupied towns. Most of the troops died from diseases a lot more than the Mexicans guns did. During the march, the U.S. carried as little as possible. Unfortunately they still carried about 30 pounds with just the essentials. U.S. SOILDER

**THE MEXICAN ARMY**
The Mexican army was mostly made up of pesants who were most likely forced into being in the army. Since most of them were illiterate, they didn't do much with logs, books, or diaries. One of the things that made the Mexican Army so special was that they let women in the army. There was also a lot of music. Food was also scarce. MEXICAN SOILDER

BATTLES IN THE MEXICAN WAR
The battle of Palo Alto was fought on may 8, 1846. It was just north of present day Brownsville, Texas. Mexican General Mariano Arista brought 4,000 men to Matamoros. He crossed the Rio Grande and place his army between U.S. General Zachary Taylor and his supply base. The Battle of buena vista on February 23, 1847. It was probably the most dramatic fight in the Mexican War. BATTLE OF PALO ALTO

RECOURCES
http://www.lone-star.net/mall/texasinfo/mexicow.htm Mr. Larson's History class Grace St. Lukes Mexican war powerpoint notes
 * INFO**: http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/index_flash.html

http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/war/army_life_mexican.html http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/war/army_life_us.html
 * IMAGES**:http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/war/palo_alto.html