War with Mexico and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
War with Mexico and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is a Grade 5 history skill in Pengi Social Studies, Chapter 8: Westward Expansion. Students learn how the 1846 Mexican-American War ended with Mexico ceding half its territory including California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona to the United States.
Key Concepts
The desire for land led to conflict. After the U.S. annexed Texas, a dispute over the border sparked the Mexican American War in 1846.
The U.S. won, and the war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo .
In this treaty, Mexico was forced to give up half its territory—the Mexican Cession —which included present day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of New Mexico. The U.S. map now stretched coast to coast.
Common Questions
What caused the Mexican-American War?
The Mexican-American War began in 1846 after the United States annexed Texas and a dispute arose over the border between Texas and Mexico.
What was the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War. Mexico was forced to give up the Mexican Cession, which included present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of New Mexico.
What was the Mexican Cession?
The Mexican Cession was the large territory Mexico surrendered to the United States after the Mexican-American War, including what is now California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.
How did the Mexican-American War expand the United States?
After winning the war, the US gained over half of Mexico's territory, allowing the country's borders to stretch from coast to coast.
What is the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in Grade 5 social studies?
In Grade 5, students learn how the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo transferred vast territories from Mexico to the US, completing the expansion of the country to the Pacific Coast.