The Mexican Cession refers to the territory that Mexico ceded to the United States in 1848 following the Mexican–American War, which included present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico. This significant land acquisition not only expanded U.S. territory but also heightened tensions over slavery and contributed to the sectional conflicts leading up to the Civil War.
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The Mexican Cession was formalized through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which was signed on February 2, 1848.
This land acquisition was about 525,000 square miles, significantly increasing the size of the United States and facilitating westward expansion.
The discovery of gold in California in 1848 further intensified the importance of the Mexican Cession as thousands flocked to the new territory during the Gold Rush.
The addition of new territories raised contentious debates over whether they would enter the Union as free or slave states, exacerbating sectional tensions.
Ultimately, the Mexican Cession played a crucial role in the events leading up to the Civil War, as it fueled disputes that would culminate in conflict between Northern and Southern states.
Review Questions
How did the Mexican Cession influence debates about slavery in the United States?
The Mexican Cession brought a vast amount of land into U.S. control, sparking intense debates about whether these new territories would allow slavery. Many Northerners opposed the expansion of slavery into these areas, while Southerners sought to protect their interests. This division led to significant political tensions and contributed to events like the Compromise of 1850, which attempted to address these disputes by balancing free and slave states.
Evaluate the impact of Manifest Destiny on American foreign policy and territorial expansion during this period.
Manifest Destiny served as a driving ideology behind American expansionism in the 19th century, promoting the belief that it was America's divine right to expand across North America. This notion justified conflicts such as the Mexican–American War and led to significant territorial gains like the Mexican Cession. The policy shaped U.S. foreign relations by promoting a more aggressive stance towards neighboring territories and nations.
Analyze how the outcome of the Mexican–American War and the subsequent Mexican Cession set the stage for future conflicts within the United States.
The outcome of the Mexican–American War and the acquisition of land through the Mexican Cession created a complex situation regarding slavery's expansion into new territories. As new states emerged from this land, debates intensified over their status as free or slave states, ultimately contributing to sectional strife. The resulting political compromises failed to resolve these issues, setting a precedent for conflict that would escalate into civil war by highlighting deep divisions within American society regarding slavery and state rights.
The treaty that ended the Mexican–American War in 1848, which established the boundaries of the Mexican Cession and laid the groundwork for future U.S.-Mexico relations.
The 19th-century doctrine that justified American expansion across North America, asserting that it was the nation's destiny to spread democracy and capitalism.
Compromise of 1850: A series of legislative measures aimed at settling disputes over slavery in territories acquired from Mexico, including the Mexican Cession, balancing free and slave states.