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Mexican-American War Timeline Explanation
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This table contains various events related to the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848.
The dates are to the nearest day when possible. Those events dated to the nearest year are less certain, naturally, than those dated to the precise day.
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| Event |
Date |
Comments |
| Republic of West Florida declared |
July 25, 1810 |
American settlers met in convention near Baton Rouge and declared themselves the representatives of the "Republic of West Florida." |
| Mexican War of Independence |
September 16, 1810 - August 24, 1821 |
Fifty-seven year old priest Miguel Hidalgo launches a rebellion against the viceregal government of New Spain. It will not end until 1821. (Henderson, 19) |
| West Florida annexed to the US |
October 27, 1810 |
Annexation of Spanish Territory along the Gulf Coast. |
| Casas Revolt |
January 22 - March 2, 1811 |
(HTO) |
| President Madison orders U.S. troops in New Orleans to occupy the territory west of the Perdido River |
October 21, 1811 |
President Madison ordered U.S. troops in New Orleans to occupy the territory west of the Perdido River to reclaim part of the Louisiana Purchase. The Republic of West Florida had been annexed. |
| Gutierrez-Magee Occupation Of Presidio La Bahia |
1812 - 1813 |
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| Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition |
August 8, 1812 - 13 |
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| Presidio La Bahía, Siege of |
November 7, 1812 - February 19, 1813 |
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| Unnamed Battle(s) |
1813 |
Tejano independence revolt in San Antonio is crushed by Spanish forces. |
| Rosillo, Battle of |
March 29, 1813 |
between the Republican Army of the North led by José Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara and Samuel Kemperqv and a Spanish royalist force under Texas governor Manuel María de Salcedo and Nuevo León governor Simón de Herrera |
| Salcedo, Herrera, and twelve other prisoners executed |
April 3, 1813 |
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| Declaration of Independence establishes the Republic of Texas |
April 6, 1813 |
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| Alazan, Battle of |
June 20, 1813 |
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| Medina, Battle of |
August 18, 1813 |
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| US forces seize St. Marks, Spanish Florida |
April 7, 1818 |
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| US forces seize Pensacola, Spanish Florida |
May 28, 1818 |
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| US annexes East Florida |
1819 |
The US annexes East Florida, which previously served as a refuge for runaway slaves. |
| Adams-Onis Treaty |
February 22, 1819 |
The Adams-Onis Treaty renounces the United States' claim to Texas. (HTO) |
| Long Expedition |
June 8, 1819 - September 19, 1821 |
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| Anglo-American colony in Texas |
December 26, 1820 |
Moses Austin granted permission to establish Anglo-American colony in the Texas area. His son, Stephen, inherits this permission and becomes the first empresario. |
| Mexican Revolution |
1821-1821 |
Mexico revolts against Spanish rule. |
| James Long Expedition |
1821 |
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| Mexican Empire |
1821-1832 |
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| Mexican Independence |
August 24, 1821 |
Mexico, after being under the stronghold of the Spanish dictators who had ruled since Cortex, had struggled and gained her freedom from Spain. |
| Mexican Empire I |
1822-1823 |
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| Mexican Revolution |
1823-1823 |
Mexican Revolution |
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January 3, 1823 |
Stephen F. Austin is granted permission by Mexico to found a colony of 300 families in the Brazos River region. |
| Constitution of 1824 (Texas) |
1824 |
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| Constitution of 1824 |
1824 |
Constitution of 1824 establishes a federal republic in Mexico. |
| Mexican Constitution of 1824 |
October 24, 1824 |
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| Fredonian Rebellion |
November 22, 1826 - January 31, 1827 |
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| Fredonian Constitution adopted |
December 21, 1826 |
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| Mexican Conservative Revolt |
1827-1827 |
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| Constitution of Coahuila and Texas |
March 11, 1827 |
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| Rebellion of Nicolás Bravo |
December 23, 1827 - January 7, 1828 |
Although this rebellion was unsuccessful, it was enormously important in establishing a tragic precedent: it signaled a wholesale loss of faith in the rule of law and a willingness to embrace violence as a means of gaining political ends. (Henderson, 46) |
| Mexico abolishes slavery |
1829 |
Mexico abolishes slavery and becomes a refuge for American fugitive slaves. |
| Mexican-Spanish War |
July 1829 - September 11, 1829 |
(Henderson, 65) |
| Tampico, Battle of |
September 11, 1829 |
(Henderson, 65) |
| Law of April 6, 1830 |
April 6, 1830 |
This was largely a Mexican anti-colonization law. Uneasy about the growing number of Americans in Texas, Mexico limits further immigration. (HTO) |
| Mexía Expedition |
July 14 - July 28, 1832 |
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| Wisconsin Heights, Battle of |
July 21, 1832 |
(punitive campaign) |
| Nacogdoches, Battle of |
August 2, 1832 |
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| Constitution of 1833 (Texas) |
1833 |
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| Convention of 1833 |
1833 |
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May 16, 1833 - June 3, 1833 |
(18 days) (W) |
| Santa Anna becomes president of Mexico |
June 18, 1833 - July 5, 1833 |
(17 days) (W) |
| Santa Anna becomes president of Mexico |
October 27, 1833 - December 15, 1833 |
(49 days) (W) |
| Matamoros Expedition of 1835-1836 |
1835 |
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| Goliad Campaign of 1835 |
1835 |
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| San Patricio, Battle of |
February 27, 1835 |
Colonel Francis Johnson's Command Surprised by Centralista Forces at San Patricio, 27 February 1836 |
| Texan War of Independence |
June 30, 1835 - April 21, 1836 |
See also: October 2, 1835 |
| Texas Revolution |
October 2, 1835 - April 21, 1836 |
See also: June 30, 1835 |
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October 2, 1835 - April 21, 1836 |
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| Anahuac, Battle of |
June 30, 1835 |
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September 29, 1835 |
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| Gonzales, Battle of |
October 1-2, 1835 |
Minor skirmish with only few casualties on both sides. |
| San Antonio, Battle of |
October 1835 |
Mexican troops sent to put down the Texas rebellion are defeated at San Antonio by a tejano force led by Juan Seguin and sent home in humiliation after promising an end to the hostilities. |
| Galveston, Battle of |
October 2, 1835 |
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| Bexar, Siege of |
October 28 - December 9, 1935 |
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| Mission Concepcion, Battle of |
October 28, 1835 |
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| Concepción, Battle of |
October 28, 1835 |
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| Lipantitlán Expedition |
October 31 - November 12, 1835 |
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| Lipantitlán, Battle of |
November 4, 1835 |
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| Tampico Expedition |
November 6 - November 15, 1835 |
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| Declaration of November 7, 1835 |
November 7, 1835 |
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| Texas creates a navy |
November 24, 1835 |
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| Grass Fight |
November 26, 1835 |
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| Goliad Declaration of Independence |
December 20, 1835 |
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| Expedition of Santa Anna |
1836 |
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| Texas Independence |
April 21, 1836 |
Texas wins independence from Mexico and legalizes slavery. Free blacks and mulattos are forbidden from entering the state. |
| First Texas Navy created |
January 14, 1836 |
Independence commissioned (first ship Texas Navy) |
| Dunlawton, Battle of |
January 17, 1836 |
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February 1, 1836 |
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| Goliad Campaign of 1836 |
February 2, 1836 - 1836 |
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| Alamo, Siege of the |
February 23 - March 6, 1836 |
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| Camp Izard, Battle |
February 28, 1836 |
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| Agua Dulce Creek, Battle of |
March 2, 1836 |
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| Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836) |
March 2, 1836 |
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| Texans vote a Declaration of Independence |
March 2, 1836 |
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| Refugio, Battle of |
March 12-15, 1836 |
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| Coleto, Battle of |
March 19/20, 1836 |
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| Goliad Massacre |
March 27, 1836 |
March 27 - Capt. James Farrin and some 300 troops massacred by Santa Anna |
| San Jacinto, Battle of the |
April 21-22, 1836 |
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| Matamoros, Blockade of |
July 21 to November 1, 1836 |
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| Congress refuses to annex Texas |
1837 |
Congress refuses to annex Texas, bowing to abolitionist opponents who call it a "slavocracy." But President Andrew Jackson recognizes the Republic of Texas on his last day in office. |
| Brasos de Santiago, Battle of |
April 17, 1837 |
Naval action (USS Natchez) - Vencedor del Alamo and Libertador (Mexico) defeat Independence (Texas) |
| End of Texas Navy |
April 27, 1837 |
Last remaining ships of the Texas Navy are wrecked in Galveston, TX. |
| The Yaqui Indians (1838-1868) |
1838-1868 |
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1838 |
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| Córdova Rebellion |
August 4, 1838 - May 18, 1839 |
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| Santa Anna becomes president of Mexico |
March 20, 1839 - July 10, 1839 |
(3 months, 20 days) (W) |
| Zavala commissioned |
March 23, 1839 |
(first ship commissioned in the second Texas Navy) |
| Chihuahua Expedition of 1839-1840 |
April 2, 1839 - August 27, 1840 |
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| San Gabriels, Battle of the |
May 15-17, 1839 |
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| Alcantra, Battle of |
October 3/4, 1839 |
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| Texan Santa Fe Expedition (1844) |
June 19 - October 5, 1841 |
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| Winfield Scott becomes Commanding General of the Army |
July 5, 1841 |
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| Santa Anna becomes president of Mexico |
October 10, 1841 - October 26, 1842 |
(1 year, 16 days) (W) |
| Vásquez occupies San Antonio with approximately 700 men |
March 5-7, 1842 |
The Texans, not being strong enough to hold the town, evacuated without a fight when Vásquez demanded its surrender. (HTO) |
| Montezuma Affair |
May 1842 |
The Mexican government had contracted with Lizardi and Company of Liverpool and London to build two ironclad warships to be named the Guadaloupe and the Montezuma. |
| Unnamed Battle |
July 7, 1842 |
Mexicans attack the camp of Texans at Lipantitlán, near the Nueces River. (S/MH) |
| Woll Raid into San Antonio |
September 11, 1842 |
Brig. Gen. Adrián Woll, a French soldier of fortune serving in the Mexican army, crossed the Rio Grande with 1,000 regular infantry, 500 irregular cavalry, and two pieces of artillery and entered San Antonio. |
| Salado Creek, Battle of |
September 18, 1842 |
This was the result of a raid into Mexico under Capt. Mathew Caldwell to the east bank of Salado Creek with approximately 200 volunteers. This raid was in response to several raids from Mexico. (HTO) |
| Somervell Expedition |
October 3, 1842 |
The Somervell expedition was a punitive expedition against Mexico in retaliation for three predatory raids made by Mexican armies upon Texas in 1842. (HTO) |
| Monterey, California, seized by American Catesby Jones |
October 20, 1842 |
Thomas ap Catesby Jones is best known for his mistaken seizure of Monterey, California, believing that the United States and Mexico had gone to war. (W) |
| Mier Expedition |
December 20, 1842 |
The Mier expedition, the last of the raiding expeditions from Texas into the area south of the Nueces River during the days of the Republic of Texas, was the most disastrous of the expeditions from Texas into Mexico. (HTO) |
| Santa Anna becomes president of Mexico |
March 4, 1843 - October 4, 1843 |
(7 months) (W) |
| James Porter becomes Secretary of War |
March 8, 1843 |
(W) |
| Captain Ewen Cameron executed in Mexico |
April 26, 1843 |
Cameron was captured during the Mier expedition. (S/MH |
| Campeche, Naval Battle of |
April 30, 1843 |
First use of exploding shells. (TN) |
| Santa Anna becomes president of Mexico |
June 4, 1844 - September 12, 1844 |
Santa Anna was overthrown in the Three-Hour Revolution. (3 months, 8 days) (W) |
| James Polk elected president of the US |
November 5, 1844 |
Polk, a Democrat, is somewhat unknown, but his aggressive expansionist views on acquiring Texas, Oregon, and California strike a receptive chord among Americans. (W) |
| US annexation of Texas |
February 27-28, 1845 |
The U.S. annexation of Texas, by a joint congressional resolution (February 27-28, 1845), had caused considerable political debate in the United States. |
| Tyler signs Texas annexation resolution |
March 1, 1845 |
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| James Knox Polk becomes President of the United States |
March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849 |
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| William Marcy becomes Secretary of War |
March 6, 1845 |
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| Mexico breaks diplomatic relations with the US |
March 28, 1845 |
This was largely a response to the annexation of Texas by the US earlier in February. (W) |
| Slidell Mission |
November 1845 - January 1846 |
President Polk appointed John Slidell as minister plenipotentiary to Mexico. He was to negotiate the payment of Mexican debts and the sale of California-Texas area. (LS) |
| Constitution of 1845 (Texas) |
December 29, 1845 |
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| Texas becomes the 28th state admitted to the Union |
December 29, 1845 |
Texas is admitted to the Union as a slave state (13/15). (W) |
| John Slidell reports that his negotiations with Mexico have been unsuccessful |
1846 |
Polk orders General Taylor to move the American troops further south, to a position near the left bank of the Rio Grande River, which has always been recognized as Mexican territory. (W) |
| Taylor Expedition to the Rio Grande |
March 28, 1846 |
(W) |
| Matamoros, Battle of |
April 25, 1846 |
This incident serves as the reason for a US declaration of war on Mexico. (HTO) |
| Fort Texas, Siege of |
May 3-9, 1846 |
Mexican forces strike Fort Texas (Fort Brown). |
| Palo Alto, Battle of |
May 8, 1846 |
US Gen. Zachary Taylor defeats Mexicans under Mariano Arista |
| Resaca de la Palma, Battle of |
May 9, 1846 |
Taylor attacks Arista's retreating Mexicans |
| Mexican-American War |
May 13, 1846 - February 2, 1848 |
US Congress declares war on Mexico. (W) |
| US declares war on Mexico |
May 13, 1846 |
Mexico declares war on the US on May 23, 1846. |
| Matamoros, Battle of |
May 18, 1846 |
US troops occupy Matamoros, Mexico |
| Mexico declares war on the US |
May 23, 1846 |
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May 24, 1846 |
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| California Republic |
June 10, 1846 |
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June 14, 1846 |
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| Monterey, Battle of |
July 7, 1846 |
US forces occupy Monterey, CA. |
| Camargo, Occupation of |
July 14, 1846 |
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| Cañoncito, Battle of |
August, 1846 |
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| Wilmot Proviso |
August 8, 1846 |
The Wilmot Proviso is designed to ban slavery in territories aquired in Mexican War. |
| Los Angeles, Battle of |
August 13, 1846 |
US briefly captures Los Angeles |
| Santa Anna returns to Mexico |
August 16, 1846 |
Although he promised to President Polk that he would work for a truce, this was forgotten once he was ashore at Veracruz. (LS) |
| Santa Fe, Battle of |
August 18, 1846 |
Kearney and US forces occupy Santa Fe |
| New Mexico annexed |
August 22, 1846 |
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| Monterrey, Battle of |
September 21-23, 1846 |
Mexicans under Pedro de Ampudia defeated by Taylor's US forces in hard-fought battle |
| Saltillo, Battle of |
September 21, 1846 |
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| Los Angeles, Siege of |
September 22-30, 1846 |
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| Chino, Battle of |
September 26/27, 1846 |
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| California is under US control |
October 6, 1846 |
Kit Carson meets up with Kearny and tells him that California is under U.S. control. Kearny sends 200 Dragoons back to Santa Fe and continues on to California, after convincing Carson to go along. |
| Dominguez Rancho, Battle of |
October 7, 1846 |
Battle of Dominguez Rancho October 7, 1846 Californios, led by Jose Antonio Carrillo defeat 203 US Marines led by U.S. Navy Captain William Mervine. (M) |
| Tabasco, First Battle of |
October 24-26, 1846 |
Commodore Perry makes a demonstration against Tabasco. (W) |
| Tampico, Occupation of |
November 14, 1846 |
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| Saltillo, Occupation of |
November 16, 1846 |
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| Natividad, Battle of |
November 16, 1846 |
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| Kearny arrives in California |
December, 1846 |
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| San Pascual, Battle of |
December 6, 1846 |
Stephen Kearny fights inconclusive battle with Mexicans in California |
| El Brazito, Battle of |
December 25, 1846 |
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| Winfield Scott prepares invasion force |
January, 1847 |
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| Santa Clara, Battle of |
January 2, 1847 |
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| San Gabriel, Battle of |
January 8, 1847 |
Kearny defeats main Mexican force in California near Los Angeles; one of a series of battles for control of Los Angeles. |
| Mesa, Battle of the |
January 9, 1847 |
Kearny defeats Mexicans in climactic battle of Californian campaign |
| Kearny and Stockton take Los Angeles |
January 10, 1847 |
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| Cahuenga, Treaty of |
January 13, 1847 |
Frémont negotiates Treaty of Cahuenga which ended the fighting of the Mexican-American War in California. (W) |
| Mora, First Battle of |
January 24, 1847 |
After a failed attack by American Forces lead by Israel Hendley on January 24, on February 1 another expedition armed with cannon succeeded in razing the village of Mora in New Mexico. (W) |
| Cañada, Battle of |
January 24, 1847 |
Sterling Price defeats Insurgents in New Mexico. (A) (W) |
| Embudo Pass, Battle of |
January 29, 1847 |
(W) |
| Mora, Second Battle of |
February 1, 1847 |
(W) |
| Pueblo de Taos, Siege of |
February 3-5,1847 |
Rancheros and Mexican Militia surrender to U.S. forces. (A) (W) |
| Angostura, Battle of |
February 21, 1847 |
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| Buena Vista, Battle of |
February 22-23, 1847 |
Taylor's outnumbered men trounce Santa Anna's Mexicans |
| Sacramento River, Battle of the |
February 28, 1847 |
US forces under Alexander Doniphan defeat Mexican force near Chihuahua, which is captured. |
| Vera Cruz, Siege of |
March 9 - 29, 1847 |
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| Santa Anna becomes president of Mexico |
March 21, 1847 – April 2, 1847 |
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| Vera Cruz, Battle of |
March 27, 1847 |
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| Vera Cruz occupied |
March 29, 1847 |
Scott takes the port and city of Vera Cruz. |
| March on Mexico City begins |
April 9, 1847 |
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| Trist Mission to Mexico |
April 14, 1847 |
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| Cerro Gordo, Battle of |
April 17/18, 1847 |
Defeat of Santa Anna |
| Tuxpán, Battle of |
April 18, 1847 |
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| Puebla, Battle of |
May 14-15, 1847 |
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| Santa Anna becomes president of Mexico |
May 20, 1847 – September 15, 1847 |
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| Las Vegas, Skirmish at |
June, 1847 |
Las Vegas, New Mexico |
| Tabasco, Second Battle of |
June 16, 1847 |
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| Coon Creeks, Clash at the |
June 27, 1847 |
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| Mexico City Campaign |
August 19 - September 14, 1847 |
American victory Decisive battle |
| Contreras, Battle of |
August 19, 1847 |
Scott's forces storm Mexican position defending Mexico City. |
| Churubusco, Battle of |
August 20, 1847 |
Another US force storms other main Mexican position defending capital |
| Molino del Rey, Battle of |
September 8, 1847 |
Scott defeats Mexican force defending fortification in hard-fought battle |
| Mexico City, Battle of |
September 13/14, 1847 |
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| Chapultepec, Battle of |
September 13, 1847 |
The US army takes fortified hill by storm. (W) |
| US forces occupy Mexico City |
September 14, 1847 - June 12, 1848 |
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| Puebla, Siege of |
September 14 - October 12,1847 |
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| Mulegé, Battle of |
October 2, 1847 |
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| Huamantla, Battle of |
October 9, 1847 |
The Battle of Huamantla was a U.S. victory late in the Mexican-American War that forced the Mexican army to lift the Siege of Puebla. |
| Foundation of the Aztec Club |
October 13, 1847 |
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| Atlixco, Skirmish at |
October 19, 1847 |
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| Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed by US and Mexico |
February 2, 1848 |
Treaty that ended the Mexican-American War - Signed February 2, 1848, Ratified by the United States Senate on March 10, 1848, Ratified by Mexico on May 19, 1848. (W) |
| Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ratified by the US |
March 10, 1848 |
Ratified by the United States Senate on March 10 , 1848 |
| Santa Cruz de Rosales, Battle of |
March 16, 1848 |
Sterling Price advances into Chihuahua after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was already signed. (W) |
| Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ratified by Mexico |
May 19, 1848 |
Ratified by Mexico on May 19, 1848 [Ref??] |
| Last US soldiers depart Mexico City |
June 12, 1848 |
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| Santa Anna becomes president of Mexico |
April 20, 1853 – August 9, 1855 |
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| Law against State-Crimes is issued |
January 25, 1861 |
This republican law threatens all Mexicans who fight under foreign flags or participate in any way against the form of a republican government with death - this was the basis of the later execution of Kaiser Maximilian and some of his followers. |
| June Benito Juarez re-elected as President of Mexico |
January 25, 1861 |
June Benito Juarez re-elected as President of Mexico and orders the expulsion of senior clerical appointees including the Archbishop of Mexico, Pelagio Antonio Labastida y Dávalos |
| Mexican Congress suspends any payment of debt to foreign powers |
July 17, 1861 |
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| France, Great Britain and Spain sign Treaty of London |
October 31, 1861 |
France, Great Britain and Spain sign Treaty of London, uniting their efforts to obtain payments from Mexico. |
| Spanish fleet and troops from Cuba arrive at Veracruz |
December 8, 1861 |
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| President Juarez granted extraordinary powers by the Mexican Congress |
December 11, 1861 |
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| French Intervention in Mexico |
January 6, 1862 |
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| French Intervention in Mexico |
January 6-8, 1862 |
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(Henderson)
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Henderson, Timothy J. A Glorious Defeat - Mexico and its War with the United States. New York: Hill and Wang, 2007.
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(HTO)
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Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/)
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(P)
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Presido La Bahia website (http://www.presidiolabahia.org/)
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(Scott)
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Scott, Andrew M. “Between 1810 and 1821, the United States acquired Florida by a protracted campaign to subvert Spanish rule”, Military History Magazine, October, 1998, vol. 15, Issue 4, 20-21.
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(W)
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Wikipedia (Various articles)
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