History and government of New Mexico . nd won it at SanJacinto (ha-sento), April 21, 1836. American life and property were already unsafe inMexico, and the Texan revolution made the situationworse; for many Americans, especially Westerners, hadsympathized with the Texans and helped them in theirstruggle for independence. All over Mexico from thattime on Americans were mistreated, their property wasdestroyed, and no redress could be had. We have alreadyseen instances in New Mexico in 1837 and again in 1841and 1843 (sees. 134-137, 139-142). Claims for damagesto property alone quickly mounted int
History and government of New Mexico . nd won it at SanJacinto (ha-sento), April 21, 1836. American life and property were already unsafe inMexico, and the Texan revolution made the situationworse; for many Americans, especially Westerners, hadsympathized with the Texans and helped them in theirstruggle for independence. All over Mexico from thattime on Americans were mistreated, their property wasdestroyed, and no redress could be had. We have alreadyseen instances in New Mexico in 1837 and again in 1841and 1843 (sees. 134-137, 139-142). Claims for damagesto property alone quickly mounted into the millions (sec. 128 THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION 129 181); but payment was not forthcoming. The story ofthe sufferings of American citizens who had accompaniedthe Texas-Santa Fe Expedition, drifting back into theUnited States in the summer of 1842, added to the diffi-culties of the situation. 153. The Annexation of Texas. — The Westerners wereclearly impatient because their government failed to takemore vigorous action to- „ __T _. ward Mexico. Mean-while a steady stream ofpioneers from the Missis-sippi Valley was pouringinto the Republic ofTexas, yet longing forthe protection of theStars and Stripes to fol-low them. Back in the UnitedStates, however, themovement for the annex-ation of Texas was hin-dered by the controversy 1 .1 . President James K. Polk, 1845-1840 over slavery then going J ^° ^y on between the North and the South. Because Texas laynext to the slave States the Abolitionist forces of the Northand East opposed the annexation of Texas, while the wholecountry was clamoring for the acquisition of Oregon. Butthe spirit of expansion won. James K. Polks campaigncry (1844) of the reoccupation of Oregon and the reannexation of Texas summed up this spirit and re-minded the Americans that they had once had a shadowyclaim to Texas as a part of the Louisiana Purchase. They j 130 THE HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO gave the policy a clear indorsement at the polls that fall,and Tex
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