In 1836, TX does become an independent republic & Houston is elected its president. TX wanted to be annexed by the U.S. Southern states wanted this too, because TX was a slave state. Northern states were opposed to statehood for TX. In 1845, TX officially became a state. We then turned attention to the New Mexico Territory. We discussed the Santa Fe Trail, William Becknell. We looked at the CA mission system (21) from San Diego to Sonoma. Started by Father Junipero Serra. After 1833, Mexico abolished missions and they became ranchos. Twice Pres.Polk offered to buy CA from Mexico, wanted the border w/TX set at the Rio Grande & offered to take over Mexico's debts owed to displaced U.S. citizens - for $30 million - and still Mexico refused. Together, Polk and Gen. Zachary Taylor provoked Mexico into war & Americans were divided. Democrats supported it, while Whigs opposed it. Abraham Lincoln & Frederick Douglas did not support the war. By Jan., 1987, the U.S. annexed CA. The Mexican War lost over 18,000 & Mexico's losses were greater. The war cost the U.S. $100 million & Mexico 1/2 of its territory! The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war in 1848. In the Mexican Cession, Mexico gave up the border region near the Rio Grande, CA & NM in return for $15 million and an additional $10 million for the Gadsden Purchase in 1853.