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VIDEO PROGRAM
Volume 278: Episode III: The Hour of Sacrifice
OBJECTIVE
Students will examine the effects of political actions on international events.
CLASS QUESTIONS
Why was Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's return from exile in Cuba to Mexico important, even though he was mistrusted by many Mexicans?
Why was President James K. Polk willing to risk Santa Anna's return? What might have happened if Santa Anna had not returned to Mexico and regained leadership?
PRIOR TO CLASS VIEWING
Review the CLASSROOM TIPS FOR USING ANY VIDEO CHAPTER .
Use THE U.S.-MEXICAN WAR MAP to locate the Oregon Territory, where U.S. negotiations were just completed with the British. Locate Cuba, where Santa Anna lived during his exile.
CONNECTIONS TO SEMESTER STUDIES
Discuss how U.S. immigration affected the Oregon Territory, and its impact on negotiations for the territory.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Classroom Tips
Review the CLASSROOM TIPS FOR USING ANY VIDEO CHAPTER .Consider dividing the class into focus groups, with different perspectives, for the purpose of discussing video segments.
Classroom Discussion
Reenact an imaginary meeting between President James K. Polk and General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. (The two leaders actually never met.) Ask students to take roles as U.S. and Mexican citizens and to advise these presidents meeting for the first time during a critical period of the war.
Research, Writing and Portrait Analysis
Ask students to prepare biographies of President James K. Polk and Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who served as both president of Mexico and commanding general of the Mexican army. What were their strengths and weaknesses as leaders? Have students make a presentation.
| NCSS Standards | United States | Mexico
| II, III, VI, IX
| In February 1846, President James K. Polk quietly received an offer from Mexico's exiled leader Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna: If Polk would allow Santa Anna to pass through the U.S. blockade in the Gulf of Mexico, Santa Anna, in return, would work to bring about the sale of California to the U.S.
| U.S. envoy John Slidell continued to wait in Mexico for a meeting with Mexican president, General Mariano Paredes.
| II, III, IV, IX
| In July 1846, Polk sent a representative (the nephew of John Slidell) to Cuba to meet with Santa Anna. After the interview, Polk then sent orders to let Santa Anna through the U.S. blockade at Veracruz.
| Supporters of Santa Anna joined with enemies of Paredes to force the president out of office.
| II, III
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| On August 16, Santa Anna returned to Mexico and immediately assumed command of the army.
| I, II, VI
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| Rumors spread concerning Santa Anna's suspected deal with Polk. When Mexico's newly elected Congress cast its votes, however, the general was elected president by a narrow margin.
| III, VI
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| Santa Anna concentrated on rebuilding the army in San Luis Potosi. His vice president, Valentin Gomez Farias, became acting president during Santa Anna's absence from Mexico City.
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