During the administration of Van Buren, various causes brought on severe financial distress in 1837. The "hard times" were attributed by the people to the hostility of Van Buren to the banks. In 1840 General William H. Harrison was nominated by the Whigs against Van Buren. The canvass of that year was one of wild excitement. The Whigs, to please the popular feeling of the time, boasted that their candidate lived in a log cabin and drank hard cider. They drew log cabins on wheels in their processions. It is known in the history of American politics as the "Log cabin and Hard cider Campaign," Harrison was triumphantly elected, and was inaugurated amid wild rejoicings. But he died in one month after the beginning of his term.

John Tyler, of Virginia, who had been elected Vice President in the "Hard-cider Campaign," became President on the death of Harrison. He did not sympathize with his party in their views regarding the bank question, and when Congress passed a bill for its re-establishment he vetoed the measure. This act brought on him the anger of the Whigs and a suspicion of bad faith. His whole administration was passed in dissension with the party that elected him, and he left office without honor. In 1844 the Whigs nominated the eloquent Henry Clay for President; the Democrats nominated James K. Polk, of Tennessee. Polk, who advocated the annexation of Texas, was elected.

The most important event of Tyler's administration was the passage of a bill for the annexation of Texas, which was accomplished just before Tyler gave up office to Polk. Texas had been one of the States of the Republic of Mexico. A large number of Americans had settled on grants of land there. These came into collision with the Mexican government and an armed revolution broke out in Texas in 1835. The Texans were commanded by General Sam Houston, and after several defeats achieved their independence. For about ten years Texas was an independent country, and was treated as such by several European nations as well as by the United States. It was annexed to the United States by treaty, and admitted to the Union in 1845. In territory it is about the size of France.

The annexation of Texas was strongly opposed by many people in the United States because its laws allowed slavery, and it would be an addition to the power of the slaveholding States. Its annexation was also opposed by many of the Whigs, who feared a war with Mexico, for Mexico had never given up its hope of reconquering Texas.

There were already other grounds of quarrel with Mexico. In its violent revolutions American citizens had been robbed of a great deal of property by those claiming authority. As one Mexican government quickly overthrew another, the United States tried in vain to get a payment of what was due to our citizens. And even if Mexico had consented to the annexation of Texas, there would have remained a dispute about its true boundary. Our government supported the claim of Texas, that the Rio Grande [ree'-o grand'-deh] was the true border, while Mexico would not allow that the State of Texas extended farther to the west than the Nueces [noo-eth'-ez] River.

When General Taylor occupied this disputed territory, in 1846, the Mexicans attacked his troops, and thus hostilities began. With a force much inferior to the Mexicans, Taylor fought and won the Battle of Palo Alto [pah'-lo ahT-to], and afterward attacked and defeated them in a strong position at Resaca de la Palma [ray-sac'-ah day lah pal'-mah].

These defeats drove the Mexicans across the Rio Grande. In May Taylor crossed the river and took possession of the city of Matamoros. But the Mexicans showed no disposition to make peace. Having received reinforcements, Taylor marched on the fortified city of Monterey [mon-teh-ray'], which was defended by more than ten thousand Mexicans. Taylor's force was smaller. The place was captured on the 24th of September, 1846, after several days of hard fighting.

General Taylor now advanced farther into Mexico, but the United States government changed its plans, and orders were sent to Taylor to detach all but five thousand of his troops to the assistance of General Scott, who was to command in a new campaign, which was to be made into Mexico by way of Vera Cruz [vayrah crooth']. Thus weakened, General Taylor took up a strong position at Buena Vista [bway'-nah vees'-tah], where he was attacked by twenty thousand Mexicans under Santa Anna. After two days of the most courageous fighting, and after running the greatest risk of an overwhelming defeat, the little American army achieved the most brilliant victory of the war.

By this time the war had shown the superiority of the American troops, the most of whom were volunteers. The Mexicans often fought bravely, but the frequent revolutions and civil wars in Mexico had demoralized officers and soldiers. The arms of the Mexicans were also out of date. The Americans of that time were brave and enterprising, and a little too fond of military glory. They fought with great boldness and steadiness, and their early victories made them expect success.