Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

With the arrival of March, most Americans are relieved that the cold month of February is over. Yet many Americans do not know the historical significance that the month of February holds. During the 1840s, the United States had territorial disputes with Mexico over where the Southern border of Texas should be located. The United States wanted the border to be the Rio Grande and Mexico wanted it to be the Nueces River, which is located about 100 miles to the North. This led to the Mexican American War, which lasted from 1846-1848. Because the United States captured Mexico City, Mexico had no choice but to sign a peace treaty. On February 2, 1848 Mexican leaders signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

In this treaty, Mexico agreed to make the Southern border of Texas the Rio Grande. Mexico also granted the United States 500,000 square miles of land, which would become the states of Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, and California. As we head into the spring months we can look back on February with gratitude for the South Western part of our nation.