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Measures of Success

Native Americans
19th century Native American family

[audio]Conflict with Native Americans

Capability

  • Disadvantage of Native Americans in capability was not much access to firearms, cannons, etc.
  • U.S. advantage in capability was the Army's ability to make superior weapons; recruited enemies of tribes.
  • The U.S. had the overall advantage in capability during the period of expansion.


Leadership

  • Leadership advantages and disadvantages of the Native Americans:
    Advantages : able to create successful tactics against soldiers with superior weapons. Disadvantages : spoke different languages. It was hard to lead large group of tribes rather than separate small ones.
  • Leadership advantages and disadvantages of the U.S.:
    Advantages : experienced generals; central government.
    Disadvantages : none.
  • The U.S. had the overall advantage in leadership during the period of expansion.


[audio]Resources

  • Advantages and disadvantages of the Native Americans in resources:
    Advantages : could take needed supplies straight from the land.
    Disadvantages : reservations didn't have resources they were used to; not as much wealth, so they couldn't supply all their needs for a long war.
  • Advantages and disadvantages of the U.S. in resources:
    Advantages : large army; central government had money for supplies.
    Disadvantages : had to move resources long distances.
  • In general, the U.S. had the advantage in resources.


Motivation

  • Advantages of Native Americans:
    Strongly motivated because fighting for their families, homes, and land.
    Disadvantages: Too trusting of the U.S. government, so didn't act quickly enough.
  • Advantages of U.S.:
    Wanted more land and make living conditions better for citizens.
    Disadvantages: None.
  • Both the Native Americans and the U.S. were about equal in motivation because they both believed they were right.



[audio]Conflict with Mexico

  • The U.S. won the land that became California, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and part of Colorado in the Mexican-American War.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

  • Mexican citizens had the chance to become U.S. citizens. Mexican-American small farmers lost their land because they couldn't show their deeds.
  • U.S. people were taxed on how much land they owned (real property tax).
  • Mexicans were taxed on the livestock/crops produced on the land.
  • Replacing Mexican taxes with U.S. ones caused Mexican Americans to lose their land because if crops were poor, they couldn't pay.


Political power

  • Political power : when a group of people elects representatives who help make laws that affect that group.
  • Two ways Mexican Americans did not have political power:
    1) Many of the wealthy families didn't take part in politics.
    2) Didn't serve in U.S. court system that decided whether land titles were legal.
  • Mexican American families : not familiar with U.S. legal system : lost land because: didn't have lawyers, and didn't understand rules about land distribution.