Mexican-American War
Definition
The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) was a conflict between Mexico and America that followed America's annexation of Texas, which Mexico still considered its territory despite an independent Texan Republic existing since 1836.
Analogy
Imagine you have two siblings fighting over who gets control over a shared toy car (Texas). One sibling (the US) decides they're taking full ownership without asking or considering what other sibling (Mexico) thinks about it. This leads to a big fight (Mexican-American War).
Related terms
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: This treaty ended the Mexican-American War and resulted in Mexico ceding large parts of its territory including California and New Mexico to U.S.
Republic of Texas: The independent nation that existed from 1836 until it was annexed by the U.S. in 1845, sparking the Mexican-American War.
Bear Flag Revolt: A revolt against Mexico by American settlers in California who declared the territory an independent republic.
"Mexican-American War" appears in:
Study guides (6)
AP US History - 4.9 The Development of an American Culture
AP US History - 4.14 Causation in Period 4, 1800-1848
AP US History - 5.1 Contextualizing Period 5
AP US History - 5.3 The Mexican–American War
AP US History - 5.7 Election of 1860 and Secession
AP US History - 5.12 Comparison in Period 5, 1844-1877
Practice Questions (20+)
- Which of the following was a major cause of the Mexican-American War?
- Which of the following was the turning point for the U.S. during the Mexican-American War?
- Which of the following best describes the American military strategy during the Mexican-American War?
- How did the Mexican-American War contribute to the rise of Abraham Lincoln?
- What was the impact of the Mexican-American War on the U.S. military?
- What was the impact of the Mexican-American War on the political balance of power in the United States?
- How did the Mexican-American War contribute to the debate over states' rights in the United States?
- Who was the President during the Mexican-American War?
- What is the recurring theme between Wilmot Proviso (1846) proposal blocking spread of slavery into acquired territories after Mexican-American War, and Missouri Compromise (1820)?
- Which legislation attempted to settle disputes over expansion of slavery into newly added territory following Mexican-American War?
- What event sparked the Mexican-American War in 1846?
- If the Mexican-American war had not occurred, what is one possible consequence related to U.S territorial expansion?
- What was one consequence of the Gadsden Purchase in relation to the Mexican-American war?
- Which general led American forces to victory at the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican-American war?
- Whose efforts were significant in securing California for America during the Mexican-American war?
- Which American military leader captured Mexico City during the Mexican-American war?
- Which treaty ended the Mexican-American War and significantly expanded American territory?
- How did the outcome of the Mexican-American War contribute to tensions leading up to the Civil War?
- What was the main cause of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848)?
- What could be the likely outcome if Mexican-American war ended in Mexican victory?
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