Mexican–American War Word Search

ALAMO – Historic mission in San Antonio, Texas, where a famous 1836 battle occurred. Its memory fueled American resolve and played a role in the conflict with Mexico.

AMPUDIA – Pedro de Ampudia was a Mexican general who commanded forces at Monterrey. He negotiated an armistice with American General Zachary Taylor after the city’s siege.

ANAYA – Pedro María Anaya served as interim president of Mexico during the war. He is remembered for his defiant resistance during the Battle of Churubusco in 1847.

ARMY – The United States Army was the principal military force engaged in the war. It carried out major campaigns across northern Mexico, central Mexico, and the western territories.

BATTLE – Numerous battles defined the Mexican-American War, including Palo Alto, Buena Vista, and Chapultepec. These engagements ultimately led to the American victory and territorial expansion.

BEAR FLAG – The Bear Flag Revolt of 1846 was an uprising by American settlers in California against Mexican rule. It led to the short-lived California Republic before U.S. annexation.

BUENA – Buena Vista was a decisive battle in February 1847 where General Zachary Taylor defeated a much larger Mexican force led by Santa Anna in northern Mexico.

CANNON – Cannons were essential artillery weapons used by both armies throughout the war. American superiority in artillery technology proved to be a significant advantage in many key battles.

CAVALRY – Mounted cavalry units played a vital role in reconnaissance, skirmishes, and battlefield charges. Both Mexican and American forces relied heavily on horseback soldiers during the campaign.

CONQUEST – The war resulted in the American conquest of vast Mexican territories, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, reshaping the North American continent permanently.

FORT TEXAS – Fort Texas was an American fortification built along the Rio Grande opposite Matamoros. Its bombardment by Mexican forces in May 1846 was among the war’s opening hostilities.

FRONTERA – The Spanish word for border or frontier, referring to the disputed boundary between Mexico and Texas along the Rio Grande, which was a central cause of the war.

GRANT – Ulysses S. Grant served as a young lieutenant during the Mexican-American War. His combat experience proved invaluable when he later commanded Union forces during the American Civil War.

INFANTRY – Infantry soldiers formed the backbone of both armies, fighting on foot in harsh terrain. They endured long marches, disease, and intense combat throughout the entire military campaign.

INVASION – The United States launched a large-scale invasion of Mexican territory in 1846. Forces advanced through northern Mexico and eventually captured Mexico City, forcing Mexico to negotiate peace.

MANIFEST – Manifest Destiny was the widespread belief that American expansion across the continent was both justified and inevitable. This ideology was a driving force behind the war with Mexico.

MEXICO – Mexico was the opposing nation in the conflict, defending its territory against American expansion. The war devastated Mexico, which lost nearly half of its national territory in defeat.

MONTERREY – The Battle of Monterrey in September 1846 was a hard-fought American victory in northeastern Mexico. General Taylor’s forces captured the fortified city after several days of urban combat.

PALO ALTO – Palo Alto was the first major battle of the war, fought on May 8, 1846, in southern Texas. American artillery dominance secured a clear victory over Mexican forces that day.

POLK – James K. Polk was the eleventh President of the United States and a strong advocate for territorial expansion. He orchestrated the political circumstances that led to war with Mexico.

SCOTT – Winfield Scott was the American general who led the bold amphibious invasion of Veracruz and the subsequent march to Mexico City, effectively winning the war for the United States.

TAYLOR – Zachary Taylor was an American general whose victories in northern Mexico made him a national hero. His wartime fame propelled him to the presidency of the United States in 1849.

TREATY – The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in February 1848, officially ended the war. Mexico ceded enormous territories to the United States in exchange for fifteen million dollars in compensation.

VERACRUZ – Veracruz was a major Mexican port city besieged by General Winfield Scott in March 1847. Its capture provided the launching point for the American advance inland toward Mexico City.