Monterey, in July, 1846; and Captain Fremont, being threatened, in the same year, with an attack by De Castro, the Mexican governor, raised the standard of opposition to De Castro's government.

Х

Q. How is Monterey, of California, situated?

Q. What was Fremont's object in California?

A. With a party of sixty-three men, he was sent by the American government, in 1845, to make peaceful explorations.

Q. Who succeeded Commodore Sloat in the command of the Pacific squadron ?

A. Commodore Stockton.

Q. What was accomplished by the Americans on the Pacific coast?

A. They gained possession of the whole of California.

Q. Who, at this time, was President of Mexico?
A. General Santa Anna, who succeeded Paredes.

Q. What extensive preparations did Santa Anna make?

A. With an army of twenty thousand men, he prepared to advance upon Taylor.

Q. At what place did Taylor make a stand?

A. At Buena Vista, a strong position a few miles south of Saltillo.

Q. Did Santa Anna attack him there?

A. Yes on the morning of the 22d of February, 1847, the battle of Buena Vista commenced; the conflict continued during the greater part of the day: on the following morning the Mexicans retreated, leaving more than fifteen hundred, killed and wounded, on the battlefield.

Q. Were the forces of the Mexicans, engaged in the battle of Buena Vista, superior in number to those of the Americans?

A. Yes the forces of the Mexicans numbered more than four times those of the Americans.

Q. What had reduced Taylor's army?

A. Most of the regulars had been sent to aid in the attack on Vera Cruz.

Q. Who was appointed to command in the attack on Vera Cruz?

A. General Scott, the senior officer in the American army.

Q. Who, at that time, commanded the American squadron in the Gulf of Mexico?

A. Commodore Conner.

Q. What important place had the squadron captured? A. The port of Tampico.

Q. How is Tampico situated?

Q. Where did General Scott land his army?

A. Near Vera Cruz.

Q. How is Vera Cruz situated?

Q. When was the landing effected?

A. On the 9th of March, 1847.

Q. How many men landed?

A. Twelve thousand.

Q. When did the city of Vera Cruz surrender to General Scott?

A. On the 27th of March, 1847.

Q. What fortress was also surrendered?

A. The castle of San Juan de Ulloa, one of the strongest fortresses in the world.

Q. Did the squadron aid in the attack on Vera Cruz? A. Yes: the squadron lent important aid, though exposed to the fire of the castle.

WAR WITH MEXICO.

103

Q. Who succeeded Commodore Conner in the com

mand of the gulf squadron?

A. Commodore Perry.

Q. What towns were captured by the squadron?
A. Alvarado and Tuspan.

Q. How are these places situated?

Q. After the surrender of Vera Cruz, what was the great aim of Scott?

A. To get possession of the city of Mexico.

Q. What battles occurred during the march to that city?

A. The battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, and Chapultepec.

Q. Were the Americans victorious in all these battles?

A. They were: though fighting against vastly superior numbers, they were invariably victorious.

Q. What two battles were fought on the same day? A. The battles of Contreras and Churubusco were both fought on the 20th of August, 1847.

Q. Who commanded the Americans at El Molino del Rey?

A. General Worth.

Q. How many officers fell in this battle?
A. Eleven.

Q. Did Scott take the city of Mexico?

A. Yes: on the 14th of September, 1847, the army of Santa Anna having abandoned the city after a dreadful conflict, the American forces entered and reared, above the national palace of Mexico, the flag of the American Union.

Q. When was a treaty of peace between the two countries signed by commissioners?

A. On the 2d of February, 1848.

Q. Was this treaty ratified by the American Senate? A. After having received several amendments, it was formally ratified by the American Senate, and subsequently by the Mexican Congress.

Q. What territory have the United States acquired by this treaty?

A. The whole of New Mexico and Upper California. Q. In consideration of the territory acquired by the United States, how much was to be paid to Mexico?

A. The government of the United States agreed to pay fifteen millions of dollars, and assumed the debts due American citizens from the Mexican government.

Q. What gave to California sudden importance? A. The discovery of immense quantities of gold, existing, principally, along the banks of the rivers.

Q. What high honor did General Taylor receive from his country?

A. He was elected President of the United States.

Q. When was he inaugurated president?

A. On the 5th of March, 1849; the 4th being Sunday.

Q. How long had James K. Polk been president?
A. Four years.

Q. Where and when was General Zachary Taylor born?

A He was born in Orange county, Virginia, in the year 1790.

Q. When did he die?

A. He died on the 9th of July, 1850; having been President one year, four months, and four days.

Q. Who succeeded him in the Presidency?

A. Millard Fillmore, of New York.

Q. What state was admitted into the Union in 1850? A. California was admitted in 1850; making the number of states thirty-one.

Q. At the close of Fillmore's administration, who became President of the United States?

A. Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire.

Q. How long was Franklin Pierce President?

A. The whole of the term for which he was elected, four years.

Q. What territories were organized during the administration of President Pierce?

A. Kansas and Nebraska, in 1851.

Q. Who succeeded Franklin Pierce in the Presidency? A. James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania.

Q. In what year was James Buchanan elected President?

A. In 1856.

Q. Who was elected Vice-President at the same time? A. John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky.

Q. What first occupied the attention of the new President?

A. The troubles in the territory of Kansas, arising from the question whether it should be admitted into the Union as a free or a slave State.

Q. When was Minnesota admitted into the Union as a State?

A. In May, 1858.

Q. What other territory was admitted as a State in the following year?

A The territory of Oregon.

Q. What other State was admitted during Buchanan's administration?

A. Kansas, in January, 1861.

Q. What institution is prohibited by the constitution of Kansas?

A. Its constitution prohibits slavery, on account of which its territory had been the scene of much bloodshed.