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The Mexican War and the
Mexican Cession - 1848
• The United
States claimed
that the
boundary was
the Rio Grande
River and Mexico
claimed it was
the Nueces
River which was
farther north.
War with Mexico:
• There were three major
areas of battle on the war.
In northern Mexico, General
Taylor captured the Mexican
towns of Monterey and Buena
Vista to secure the Texas
border.
• Ever since the United
States had made Texas a
state and annexed it into
the Union, Mexico and the
U.S. argued over the
southern boundary of
Texas.
• U.S. troops under General
Zachary Taylor were camped
along the Rio Grande boundary.
When Mexican soldiers
attacked a small scouting
party, President Polk asked
Congress to declare war on
Mexico in 1846.
• Colonel Stephen Kearny
marched to Santa Fe and
claimed New Mexico for
the U.S. Then he
continued on to California
which was won for the U.S.
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• Finally, General Winfield
Scott captured Mexico
City, the capital of Mexico.
Peace Treaty:
•  In 1848,
Mexico and the
U.S. signed a
peace treaty,
the Treaty of
GuadalupeHidalgo. The
treaty said:
• 1. The U.S. would pay Mexico
$15 million for California,
New Mexico and the part of
Texas in dispute. This land
became known as the
Mexican Cession. To cede
land means to give it.
•  2. The U.S. agreed to pay
several million dollars to
American citizens who had
claims against Mexico.
•  3. The Rio Grande was
established as the boundary
between the U.S. and Mexico.
• 4. Mexico gave up all
claims to land north of the
Rio Grande.
Importance:
• The Mexican Cession
fulfilled the American
dream of Manifest Destiny.
It later became part of the
states of California, New
Mexico, Arizona, Colorado,
and Wyoming.
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