PBS Video Database: U.S.-Mexican War: Episode 1: Chapter 5

VIDEO PROGRAM

Volume 276: Episode I: Neighbors and Strangers

OBJECTIVE

Students will describe events occurring within Mexico and the United States that led to war.

CLASS QUESTIONS

What does it mean to "claim" territory when the terrain is unmapped and leaders only have a rough sense of boundaries?

What happens when one country wants land claimed by another country, which refuses to part with it?

PRIOR TO CLASS VIEWING

Review the CLASSROOM TIPS FOR USING ANY VIDEO CHAPTER .

Use THE U.S.-MEXICAN WAR MAP to remind students about characteristics of the territory that James K. Polk wanted for the United States:

California and New Mexico, which belonged to Mexico, were distant, mostly unmapped lands. For U.S. settlers to reach them required travelling from the Mississippi Valley across plains, deserts and mountains or sailing to the Pacific coastline.
Native Americans in the borderlands far outnumbered Mexican and American settlers. There were frequent battles over the control of land and the use of resources in areas that they occupied together.

CONNECTIONS TO SEMESTER STUDIES

Remind the class of social, economic and political pressures on people in both countries.

In 1845, Mexico had only been independent for 24 years and had tested three forms of government: an oligarchy, a federalist republic and a centralist republic. The conflicts between regional leaders made it difficult to form a consensus. Lack of political and social stability made economic growth difficult. Mexico consisted of interconnected regions, which had not yet achieved a sense of national unity.
Polk inherited serious economic problems and divisive sectional issues. Yet, he had a plan, experience in dealing with Congress and a self-imposed sense of urgency. Polk publicly committed to serve only one term as president, and the clock was ticking. He put pressure on Mexican leaders, not understanding how far he would have to go to meet his goals.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Ongoing Project

Divide the class into focus teams. Let students assume the roles of courtroom participants and designate judges. Ask students to present each country's case concerning the Slidell Mission. Was Slidell's offer to buy Mexico's territories appropriate during this period of time? Was Paredes justified in accusing Herrera of treason and threatening to overturn his administration by force?
Ask groups of students to take the position of any of the four key players -- Polk, Herrera, Slidell or Paredes. Discuss what happened to the Slidell Mission and any suggestions they might offer toward a resolution if they had another chance.

Exercise in Problem Solving

Using the IMAGINE A CONVERSATION sheet from the STUDENT ACTIVITIES PACKAGE, ask students to create a dialogue between two of the players in which they try to find a solution to the conflicting goals of the U.S. and Mexico.

Persuasive Writing

In pairs or small groups, write a press release from either the U.S. or Mexican perspective on why the Slidell Mission failed. Present the release to the opposing side.

Map Exercise

Mark the disputed territory between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande. Locate the positions of the U.S. Army at Corpus Christi, the U.S. Navy in the Gulf of Mexico and along the California coast, and John Slidell in Mexico City.

Locate on the map any natural resources that were available in the areas of California and New Mexico that might have influenced the U.S. or Mexico's position.

NCSS Standards	United States	Mexico
II, III, VI	In the summer of 1845, Texans voted to accept annexation as offered by the U.S. Congress.	Mexico officially stated that the annexation of Texas would be considered an act of aggression by the United States and grounds for war.
II, III, VI	Polk positioned the U.S. Army troops at Corpus Christi and the U.S. Navy in the Gulf to defend Texas against any military action by Mexico.
II, III, VI	Polk sent Louisiana Congressman John Slidell to see Mexican president Jose Joaquin de Herrera with an offer to settle the Texas issue and claims submitted by U.S. citizens who cited earlier financial losses due to Mexican actions. Slidell also carried an offer to purchase California and New Mexico for $25 million.	President Jose Joaquin de Herrera had only agreed to discuss Texas, not the sale of any other territory.
III, VI		The Mexican press learned of the U.S. offer before Slidell arrived in Mexico. Herrera's enemies accused the Mexican president of being a traitor for his perceived willingness to sell Mexican territory.
III, VI	Slidell was insistent on proceeding to Mexico City.	Herrera asked Slidell to wait in Veracruz.
IX, X		General Mariano Paredes announced he would take over the government with his troops. Herrera resigned to preserve a degree of constitutional order. Slidell was unable to deliver his offer to either the outgoing or incoming president in Mexico City. Anyone who touched it would be accused of treason.

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