Chapter 2 - Into the West
In 1838, the Georgian government began a program designed to move the Cherokee tribe out of the state and have them resettled on the other side of the Mississippi River. Upset about the decision, the Cherokee appealed to the US Supreme Court, where they won their case. US President Andrew Jackson refused to intervene, and the Cherokee where relocated to the Indian Territory, along what became known as the Trail of Tears, along which many would die.
In happier news, the United Kingdom and United States developed the Webster-Ashburton Treaty in 1841, which set the boundary of the Maine-New Brunswick border. The US gained control of the territory of Easton, easing tensions in the region, and giving the US a prestige boost.
After the US-Texan defensive alliance lapsed and was not renewed, Texas was left defenseless against the imperialist ambitions of Mexico. In 1843, Mexico would pounce, declaring war on Texas. After a short war, Texas was defeated, and Mexico annexed the land.
With Texas annexed, the US began preparing for war. New infantry divisions were trained, and in the winter of 1842, the country mobilized. US divisions were massed along the US-Mexican border, with the greatest concentration along the Louisiana-Texas border, and in the Indian Territory. More divisions were also sent west, into Idaho and Colorado, to attack the Mexican possessions in the west.
The first phase of the war was the seizing of Mexican claims in Colorado and the Indian Territory. With these in US hands, the two territories could be claimed by the US, and brought under direct US control.
The war started off well. American forces marched through Texas without any serious resistance from Mexican forces. By summer of the next year, American forces were deep inside Mexico. Mexican officials sent peace offerings, but all were insufficient. US divisions in the south were now forced to halt, as they were beginning to become too stretched out. As they awaited reinforcements from home, and the advancing army from the west.
In the west, the small Mexican force was no match for the 30,000 strong army that marched through Utah and Arizona, and had reached the Californian coast. With the last remnants of the Mexican forces in the west trapped in a pocket around Tuba City and quickly defeated, American forces were now unopposed in their capture of California.
In the winter of 1846, the US and the UK reached an agreement on the fate of the territories in the Pacific Northwest. According to the treaty, everything south of the 49th parallel was given to the US, while everything north of it went to the UK. The US could now claim the territories of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.
After the fall of California, the western armies were now free to advance south into Mexico. With these armies, as well as recruited back in the US, allowed for American forces to continue to advance south. After three years of war, and all of Mexico north of the capital in US hands, the Mexican government finally agreed to a treaty proposed by the US. In the treaty, all of the lands of Texas and New Mexico were handed over to the US.
