The Mexican American War lasted from 1846 to 1848. Just like in any war, some people are wounded and some people die. We hope, this section of the genealogy site will help you, in your quest to find out more about your family tree.
1845 – On the Fourth day of March, in 1845, President James K. Polk advocated for the annexation of Texas and believed in the “Manifest Destiny” of the United States of America.
1845 – On the Sixteenth day of June, in 1845, the United States of America officially annexed Texas, although Mexico still did not recognize its independence or annexation.
1846 – In March of 1846, General Zachary Taylor, who became President of the United States, in 1849, led the United States troops past the Nueces River, toward the Rio Grande River, through and into the land that both the United states and Mexico claim, as their own.
1846 – On the Twenty-fifth day of April, in 1846, the Mexican American War began, when Mexican troops cross north of the Rio Grande River and open fire on the United States troops at Fort Texas.
1846 – On the Eighth day of May, in 1846, the first official battle of the war, was the battle of Palo Alto. After the Mexican troops retreat, General Zachary Taylor declared the United States Army victorious.
1846 – On the Ninth day of May, in 1846, the day after the Battle of Palo Alto, General Zachary Taylor’s troops follow Mexico’s retreated men to Resaca de la Palma, which in Spanish means dry riverbed and the United States troops were victorious again.
1846 – On the Thirteenth day of May, in 1846, the United States Congress officially declared war on Mexico.
1846 – On the Eighteenth day of May, in 1846, General Zachary Taylor and the United States troops occupied Matamoros, in Mexico. the Mexican troops had left Matamoros quietly and retreated to Monterey.
1846 – In the summer of 1846, Thousands of American volunteers were authorized by the United States Congress for twelve months military service, and arrived in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, shortly after. Most Americans supported the war. About 75,000 men enlisted in volunteer regiments raised by the various states. Thousands of enlisted in the regular United States Army. There was no need for the draft. In some places, so many men flocked to recruiting stations that large numbers had to be turned away.
1846 – In June of 1846, American settlers in California, arrest Mexican politician Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, who was part of what is referred to as the “Bear Flag” Revolt. The Americans wrote a constitution and declared California an independent republic.
1846 – On the Seventh day of July, in 1846, at the Battle of Monterey, General Zachary Taylor’s army followed the Mexican troops to Monterey and fought to take control of the city. The fighting was heavy. The fighting came down to hand to hand combat, in the Streets, The United States Army, was victorious.
1846 – On the Fourteenth day of August, in 1846, United States Army Colonel Stephen Watts Kearney, whose first mission was to occupy New Mexico, rode with the troops to the capital of Sante Fe and finding the city deserted, he and the troops easily took possession.
1846 – In August and September, in 1846, Many United States volunteers followed General John E. Wool, who lead the men to join General Zachary Taylor and his troops, in Mexico.
1846 – In December, in 1846, Antonio de Padua Maria Severino Lopez de Santa Anna was officially elected President of Mexico, again.
1847 – In January of 1847, Los Angeles was occupied by United states troops again and the Californians Surrendered.
1847 – On the Twenty-second and Twenty-third days of February, in 1847, at the Battle of Buena Vista, General Zachary Taylor and General John E. Wool and their troops were largely outnumbered, when they met General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his troops, near Buena Vista. Victory was claimed by both sides.
1847 – In March of 1847, General Winfield Scott’s Army, known as the Army of Invasion, landed at Vera Cruz on the way to seize the capital at Mexico City.
1847 – On the Nineteenth and Twentieth days of 1847, in the Battle of Cerro Gordo, General Winfield Scott and his men, who were outnumbered, fought their way through the battle with President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his troops, leaving a clear path to Mexico City.
1847 – In the Summer of 1847, President James K. Polk, sent United States diplomat Nicholas Trist to Negotiate peace with Mexico. He failed to reach an agreement with President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, and the war went on.
1847 – On the Twelfth through the Fourteenth day of September, in 1847, at the Battle of Mexico City, General Winfield Scott and his troops, arrived in Mexico’s capital city. They fought the final battle against the very labored Mexican Army. The victory and the occupation of the city by the United states Army, on the Fourteenth day of September, meant the unofficial end of the Mexican American War.
1848 – In January, of 1848, A peace agreement that assigned the United States to pay Mexico fifteen million dollars in receipt of California and New Mexico, the Rio Grande as the Texas border, and the right for Mexicans in those territories to become United States Citizens, was made.
1848 – On the Second day of February, in 1848, Mexican and United States negotiators sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, was ratified by the United States Senate on the Tenth day of March and by the Mexican Congress on the twenty-fifth day of May, in 1848. Nicholas Trist was one of the American Negotiators.