Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican–American War and was signed in a town just north of Mexico City, while American troops occupied the capital. Under it Mexico recognized the Rio Grande as the southern boundary of Texas and ceded Alta California and New Mexico, a vast area that includes all or most of the present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, as well as parts of Colorado and Wyoming. The United States paid fifteen million dollars and agreed to take on certain claims by its citizens against Mexico. Mexicans living in the ceded lands were promised citizenship and the protection of their property, though these guarantees were often poorly kept. Mexico lost roughly half its territory.

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