What was the outcome of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, marked the official conclusion of the Mexican-American War, which had begun in 1846. This treaty resulted in significant territorial gains for the United States, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico. By ending the conflict, the treaty not only solidified U.S. expansion westward but also altered the border with Mexico, leading to further implications for both nations.

Additionally, the treaty represented a culmination of aggressive expansionist policies of the era, reflecting the idea of Manifest Destiny—the belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent. The conclusion of the war and the signing of the treaty thus had profound impacts on U.S. history, including demographic shifts and contributing to the rising tensions over issues such as slavery in the newly acquired territories, which would later be pivotal in leading up to the Civil War.