The Mexican Cession refers to the territory that Mexico ceded to the United States in 1848 following the conclusion of the Mexican-American War. This acquisition included present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico. The cession significantly expanded U.S. territory and fueled debates over slavery, statehood, and American expansionism.
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The Mexican Cession was formally established through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which was signed on February 2, 1848.
The land acquired through the Mexican Cession amounted to about 525,000 square miles, making it one of the largest territorial gains in U.S. history.
This territorial expansion heightened tensions between free and slave states in the U.S., contributing to the sectional conflict leading up to the Civil War.
The discovery of gold in California shortly after the cession led to a massive influx of settlers during the California Gold Rush of 1849.
The Mexican Cession also raised questions about the rights and treatment of the Mexican inhabitants who remained in the newly acquired territories.
Review Questions
How did the Mexican Cession impact American society and politics in the years following its acquisition?
The Mexican Cession had profound effects on American society and politics, as it intensified debates over slavery and statehood for the new territories. As new states were formed from this land, there was fierce contention over whether they would be free or slave states, escalating tensions between North and South. This conflict contributed significantly to the polarization that ultimately led to the Civil War.
Evaluate the significance of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in relation to the Mexican Cession and its broader implications for U.S.-Mexico relations.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was critical in formally ending hostilities between the U.S. and Mexico and establishing clear borders following the Mexican-American War. By ceding a vast territory, Mexico's defeat set a precedent for future U.S. expansion efforts and laid groundwork for ongoing disputes over territorial boundaries. The treaty also affected diplomatic relations between both nations for years to come, with lingering resentment influencing interactions well into the future.
Assess how Manifest Destiny influenced public perception of the Mexican Cession and its consequences on indigenous populations in those territories.
Manifest Destiny played a pivotal role in shaping public perception regarding the legitimacy and necessity of acquiring land through the Mexican Cession. This belief justified westward expansion as a divine right, leading many Americans to view indigenous populations as obstacles to progress. The consequences were dire for these communities, as their lands were often seized without regard for their sovereignty or rights, leading to displacement, cultural erasure, and violent conflicts as settlers moved into these newly acquired territories.
The 19th-century belief that it was America’s destiny to expand its territory across the continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
Gadsden Purchase: An 1853 agreement in which the U.S. acquired land from Mexico (parts of present-day Arizona and New Mexico) for $10 million to facilitate a southern transcontinental railroad.