North America 1842: Texas Incursions

Political map of North America & the Caribbean on 15 Sep 1842 (Successors of New Spain: Texas Incursions), showing the following events: End of Republic of the Rio Grande; End of Union of Central America; Province of Canada; Texan Santa Fe Expedition; Santa Anna’s 1841 coup; Creole case; Sale of Fort Ross; Woll Expedition; End of Second Seminole War; Mexican annexation of Soconusco.

Conflict with the Comanche did not stop Texas from pursuing its vast territorial claims against Mexico. In 1841 the Texians mounted an expedition to seize distant Santa Fe, part of their claim to New Mexico, only for it to be captured on arrival. In retaliation the Mexicans attempted to retake Texas, but got little further than San Antonio before being repelled.

Main Events

6 Nov 1840 End of Republic of the Rio Grande

At a meeting between General Antonio Canales of the separatist Republic of the Rio Grande and General Mariano Arista of the Mexican Republic, Canales agreed to abandon the rebellion in return for the position of brigadier general in the Mexican Army. Other rebel leaders surrendered on the same day, ending the breakaway republic. in wikipedia

2 Feb 1841 End of Union of Central America

El Salvador, the last remaining state adhering to the Federal Republic of Central America, proclaimed itself a republic and thereby officially ended the union. in wikipedia

10 Feb 1841 Province of Canada

In accordance with the Act of Union 1840, the British colonies of Upper and Lower Canada merged to form United Province of Canada. The colony of Upper Canada became the new region of Canada East, while Lower Canada became Canada West. The first capital was Kingston (1841-1844), but would be changed six times before settling on Ottawa in 1866. in wikipedia

19 Jun–? Sep 1841 Texan Santa Fe Expedition

Texas President Mirabeau Lamar sent a military-commercial expedition to take Santa Fe and thereby bolster Texas’s claim to New Mexico. The expedition set out from Kenney’s Fort near Austin, arriving in New Mexico in mid-September after numerous mishaps, largely caused by poor preparation. Expecting to be supported by the local population, they were instead quickly captured by the Mexican Army under Governor Manuel Armijo. in wikipedia

8 Aug–29 Sep 1841 Santa Anna’s 1841 coup

In a prearranged coup against Mexican President Anastasio Bustamante, Brigadier General Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga revolted in Guadalajara and marched on the capital, being joined en route by defecting generals in Guanajuato and Queretaro. Meanwhile Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna joined the revolt at Veracrúz, with more generals mutinying in Mexico City. Despite fighting back with 2000 loyal troops, Bustamante was driven from the capital and forced to resign. in wikipedia

7–9 Nov 1841 Creole case

The brig Creole, owned by Johnson and Eperson of Richmond, Virginia, was transporting 135 slaves for sale in New Orleans, when Madison Washington and eighteen other male slaves rebelled. The slaves seized control of the ship and redirected it to Nassau, in the Bahamas in the British West Indies. Upon arrival, they were considered free by British law, creating tensions between Britain and the US. in wikipedia

12 Dec 1841 Sale of Fort Ross

The Russian-American Company sold the Russian settlement of Fort Ross, in present-day California, to John Sutter, a Mexican citizen of Swiss origin, for $30,000. in wikipedia

? Aug–21 Sep 1842 Woll Expedition

Some 1500 Mexican troops under General Adrián Woll invaded the Republic of Texas, capturing San Antonio on September 11. In response, about 220 Texian militia rallied under Colonel Matthew Caldwell, defeating the invaders at Salado Creek and chasing Woll’s forces from the country. in wikipedia

14 Aug 1842 End of Second Seminole War

After meeting with the Seminole chiefs and offering them a choice of moving to the Indian territory in the west or to the designated Seminole reservation in southwest Florida Territory, United States Colonel William Jenkins Worth declared the Second Seminole War to be at an end. Despite this, small scale attacks would continue into November 1842, when the remaining Seminole in northern Florida were captured and sent west. in wikipedia

11 Sep 1842 Mexican annexation of Soconusco

The state of Soconusco, disputed between the Mexican Republic and Guatemala, was formally annexed to Mexico. in wikipedia