Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Definition

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the 1848 agreement that ended the Mexican-American War, resulting in Mexico ceding a vast portion of its northern territories to the United States. This treaty significantly altered the political landscape of North America, leading to issues of governance, identity, and territorial disputes that contributed to ongoing instability in both nations.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Treaty was signed on February 2, 1848, and ratified by the U.S. Senate on March 10, 1848.
2. Under the treaty, Mexico ceded over 500,000 square miles of territory, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico.
3. In return for the land, the U.S. paid Mexico $15 million and assumed $3.25 million in debts owed by Mexico to American citizens.
4. The treaty led to significant tensions regarding the expansion of slavery into newly acquired territories, exacerbating sectional conflicts within the United States.
5. The changes brought about by the treaty set the stage for future conflicts over land rights and identity issues among Mexican Americans in the annexed territories.

Review Questions

• How did the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo affect political relations between Mexico and the United States?
  • The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo dramatically shifted political relations by formalizing territorial changes that sparked ongoing tensions. While it ended the Mexican-American War, it left lingering resentment in Mexico due to lost lands and national pride. In the U.S., it also ignited debates about slavery expansion into new territories, contributing to sectional divides that would eventually lead to the Civil War.
• Evaluate the immediate consequences of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on Mexican society and governance.
  • The immediate consequences included a significant loss of territory and resources for Mexico, which affected its political stability. The cession led to a reduction in national pride and prompted questions about national identity as many Mexicans living in these territories were now under U.S. governance. This shift created social divisions and resistance among Mexican Americans who struggled with their status in a new nation that often marginalized them.
• Assess how the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo fits into the broader narrative of territorial expansion and its implications for national identity in North America.
  • The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is a crucial element in understanding Manifest Destiny and America's expansionist policies during the 19th century. It illustrates how territorial acquisition often came at a high cost to other nations and communities, leading to profound implications for national identity. The cession raised questions about what it meant to be American and how newly incorporated populations were treated, thereby influencing social dynamics and cultural identities in ways that still resonate today.

Related terms

Mexican-American War: A conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, primarily over territorial disputes following the annexation of Texas by the U.S.

Cession: The formal giving up of rights, property, or territory by a state, often through a treaty.

Manifest Destiny:

The 19th-century doctrine that the expansion of the U.S. across the American continents was both justified and inevitable.