Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Definition
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was a peace agreement signed in 1848 that ended the Mexican-American War. It led to the United States acquiring over half of Mexico's territory, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Analogy
Think of this treaty like a major trade deal in sports. A team (in this case the U.S.) wants to expand its roster (or territory), so it negotiates with another team (Mexico) and ends up trading something valuable (money and peace) for new players (land).
Related terms
Mexican-American War: This was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It started as a result of unresolved border disputes between Texas and Mexico after Texas became part of the U.S.
Manifest Destiny: This is a belief that originated in the 19th century that the United States was destined—by God, its advocates believed—to expand its dominion and spread democracy across the entire North American continent.
Cession: This refers to yielding or giving up something such as land or rights as part of an agreement. In this context, it refers to Mexico ceding large portions of its land to the U.S.
"Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo" appears in:
Study guides (2)
Practice Questions (1)
- What was the significance of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.