Kearny March Guided Notes
U.S.-Mexican War • 1846 New Mexico History
General Kearny & The Army of the West
Guided Notes & Primary Source Analysis
Name:
Date:
Per:
PART 1
Key Historical Figures
Fill in the blanks as you follow along
Gen. Stephen Watts Kearny
U.S. Commander
- • Led the U.S. “Army of the ______________” to conquer NM.
- • Ideology: Believed in Manifest ____________________.
- • Staging: Strong military and political ties to ____________________.
Gov. Manuel Armijo
Governor of New Mexico
- • Defense record: Previously defeated an invasion from ________________.
- • 1846 crisis: Faced choice to f___________, await reinforcements, or surrender.
- • Final action: Dissolved defensive militia and retreated south.
James Magoffin
Trader & Secret Agent
- • Wealthy merchant enlisted as a covert s___________ by Pres. Polk.
- • Secret assignment: Used b________________ and influence on Mexican officials to convince Armijo not to resist U.S. troops.
Charles Bent & Pres. Polk
Commerce & Politics
- • Charles Bent: Anglo-American trader at Bent's Fort seeking to protect his mercantile investments and p________________ ($$$).
- • Pres. James K. Polk: Expansionist president who declared war and orchestrated western expansion.
PART 2
U.S. Three-Pronged War Strategy
To win the Mexican-American War, the U.S. military launched three synchronized offensives:
1. Northeast Mexico
Gen. Zachary T_______________
Crossed Rio Grande toward Monterrey.
2. Central Mexico
Gen. Winfield S_______________
Landed at Veracruz; took Mexico City.
3. New Mexico & CA
Gen. Stephen K_______________
Secured Santa Fe and marched to Pacific.
PART 3
The March West: Army & Morale
Army Composition
• Size: 1,600 – ____________ soldiers (largest force to enter NM up to that time).
• Recruits: Included volunteers from M________________ and members of the M________________ Battalion.
• Motives: Many Missouri soldiers were motivated by frontier land and g_______________.
Gateway Arch Tie: St. Louis, MO was known as the “Gateway to the West” staging hub.
Primary Source: Marching Song Soldier Lyrics (1846)
“Oh, what a joy to fight the dons, / And wallop fat Armijo! / So clear the way to Santa Fe! / With that we all agree, O!”
Analysis: What does this chant reveal about the attitude and assumptions of American troops toward Governor Armijo and New Mexico?
New Mexico History • Army of the West Page 1 of 2 • Continue on Next Page →
General Kearny & The Army of the West (Continued)
The Ultimatum, Apache Canyon, and the Santa Fe Proclamation
Student Name:
PART 4
Kearny's Ultimatum to Armijo
1. Advance from Colorado:
Writing from Fort B___________, Kearny officially warned Armijo that he was marching with full troops to claim New Mexico for the U.S.
2. Border Claim / Justification:
Kearny echoed President Polk's claim, citing an un_______________ treaty stating that the Rio ________________ was the true boundary of Texas.
PART 5
Armijo's Decisions: From Standoff to Retreat
Trace the 3 choices Armijo faced and what occurred at each phase:
1 Wait for Backup?
Armijo sought reinforcements from the national Mexican army.
Outcome: Mexican reinforcements never arrived.
2 Fight at the Pass?
Armijo gathered militia at Apache C____________.
Outcome: Called off defense; dismissed troops before battle.
3 Surrender
Armijo fled south toward Chihuahua with his personal guard.
Result: Kearny captured Santa Fe on Aug 18 without a shot fired.
PART 6
Historical Debate: Why Did Armijo Walk Away?
Historians disagree on why Armijo abandoned Apache Canyon. Review the 4 explanations:
Theory A: Bribery
James Magoffin secretly bribed Mexican officials and persuaded Armijo not to resist.
Theory B: Fear of Death
Armijo was personally intimidated by the superior firepower of Kearny's artillery.
Theory C: Reluctant Troops
New Mexican officers and civilian militia had low morale and refused to engage in combat.
Theory D: Sparing Lives
Armijo concluded bloodshed was pointless and opted for an orderly, peaceful transition.
Critical Thinking: Which theory (A, B, C, or D) seems most plausible based on what you learned about Magoffin, the army, and Armijo? Explain:
PART 7
Primary Source: Kearny's Santa Fe Proclamation
Quote 1: Private Property
“...not a pepper, not an onion, shall be disturbed by my troops without pay, or by consent of the owner.”
Quote 2: Sovereign Allegiance
“We come amongst you as friends, not as enemies—as protectors, not as conquerors... I absolve you of all allegiance to the Mexican government.”
Synthesis Question: Why did Kearny describe his troops as “protectors, not conquerors”? What was he trying to convince New Mexicans to believe?
General Kearny & The Army of the West • Guided Notes Page 2 of 2
