Other
Mlk Task Force: Conflict Over Slavery, Texas Revolution, Mexican American War
Article with maps on how the conflict over slavery led to a revolution in Texas and ultimately, the war against Mexico.
History of American Wars
History of American Wars: Mexican American War Timeline 1846 1848
A timeline showing the events between 1821 and 1845 that led up to the Mexican-American War, followed by one with the major events of the war from 1846 to 1848.
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Mexican American War
Summarizes the causes of the Mexican American war and provides facts about the history, famous people, and events surrounding it.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Expansion and War: The United States 1840 1860
Article on the era of westward expansion and the resulting Mexican American War. The author demonstrates how Manifest Destiny and frontier settlement led to the annexation of Texas and ultimately war with Mexico over the territory.
Ducksters
Ducksters: History: Mexican American War for Kids
Kids learn about the Mexican-American War fought over the land rights to Texas after the Texan Revolution on this site.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Multicultural America: Mexican Americans
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of Mexican Americans. (Note: Content is not the most current.)
iCivics
I Civics: Mexican Cession (1848)
Students explore the causes and effects of the Mexican-American war. They will learn about the land was obtained as a result, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the Gadsen Purchase of 1853, and the new international borders.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Richard Caton Woodville, War News From Mexico
Richard Caton Woodville's "War News From Mexico" is an example of an American genre painting. It depicts a group of people reacting to news about the Mexican-American War. View pictures of this painting and read the backstory in this essay.
History of American Wars
History of American Wars: Mexican American Culture Differences
Describes the structure of Mexican society in the 19th century and the cultural clashes that resulted in their dealings with Americans in Texas.
US National Archives
National Archives: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Was the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo a fair compromise to end the Mexican-American War? Students will dissect sections of the treaty to summarize and formulate a conclusion to that question.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: California and the Gold Rush
Article by Henry Sage explaining the history of California, how it became a state, and how President Polks desire to acquire California contributed to the Mexican-American War.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Texas From American Settlement to Annexation 1820 1845
Article in which the author takes us through the history of Texas from the time Americans arrived and settled in the area to annexation, and finally, war with Mexico over the territory. With photographs and links to related resources.
Curated OER
Etc: The Mexican American War, 1846 1848
A map of Mexico and southwestern United States showing the seat of war during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). The map shows the campaign routes of Kearney, Taylor, Doniphan, Wool, and Scott, with battle sites indicated by...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: The Price of Freedom: Americans at War
View comprehensive sets of artifacts that tell the story of America's wartime past and present. Artifacts from every major American military conflict, beginning with the American Revolution, can be closely examined. Full curatorial notes...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso, proposed by David Wilmot, was an amendment to the James Polk appropriations bill to gain funding for the settlement of the Mexican-American War. It stated that slavery should be banned in the territories acquired from...
US National Archives
Docsteach: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which brought an official end to the Mexican-American War, was signed on February 2, 1848. This activity asks students to read and analyze the treaty to explain the overall message and tone.
Other
Global Security: 54 40 or Fight
Describes the significant territorial changes that took place in the United States under the presidency of James K. Polk. These included the annexation of Texas, the settling of the dispute with Great Britain over claims to Oregon...
US Department of State
U.s. Department of State: Office of the Historian: Milestones: 1830 1860
Concisely written accounts of three important events in the history and shaping of Texas: the Annexation of Texas, the Mexican-American War, and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: War Powers
Check out this interactive timeline on War powers in the United States.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: Anglo Amer. Colonization in Texas: Texas 1836 1848
A brief look at the declaration of independence from Mexico by Texas in 1836, the removal of restrictions on slavery, and how this dramatically increased the population and led to a much greater reliance on the cotton industry in the...
Other
Kentucky Historical Society: Kentucky Military Treasures
A collection of personal stories, illustrated with artifacts, documents, and photographs, that exemplifies the military experiences of Kentuckians in America's wars, beginning with the War of 1812. Requires Adobe Flash.
Digital History
Digital History: War With Mexico [Pdf]
Read about the reasons President James Polk presented to Congress as justification for a declaration of war against Mexico. Find Polk's war message and the rebuttal by Congressman Davis.
University of Oregon
Mapping History: American History
Interactive and animated maps and timelines of historical events and time periods in American history from pre-European times until post-World War II.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Californio to American: A Study in Cultural Change
This site has a lesson about the ranching industry, creation of California towns and the changes over time. Contains information, inquiry question, historical context, maps, readings, and images.