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In
1846, Mexico rejected an offer from the US to buy New Mexico, and the
resultant bad feeling on both sides led to war.
The initial phase was in the north of Mexico, along the Texas border: where
a US army under General Zachary Taylor defeated a Mexican army at Matamoros,
and advanced south capturing Saltillo. Santa Anna led a relieving army
north by forced march, but was held at bay by the Americans: with Taylor’s
winning draw effectively ending the northern campaign.
Meanwhile, another US army was assembled and in March 1847, under General
Winfield Scott, invaded Mexico itself at Vera Cruz. Mexican
defeat followed Mexican defeat as the Americans, despite the small size of
their army and stretched line of communications, fought their way to Mexico
City: capturing it in September 1847. Peace negotiations lasted until
February 1848, but the war was effectively over, with the US agreeing to pay
$15 million to the Republic of Mexico for California, Nevada, Utah, parts of
Colorado and Wyoming, and most of Arizona and New Mexico. The
last US soldier left Mexican soil in August 1848.
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