February 2, 1848 Signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

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The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ended the Mexican-American War, which had lasted from 1846 to 1848. But to understand why the war was fought, we need to look back a little further than 1846.

Texas had fought with Mexico to become a free land and then was admitted into the Union as a new state in 1845. There were disputes over the border between Texas and Mexico that were not being successfully settled. President James Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to try to reach an agreement on the border issue and to try to buy other land from Mexico so that the United States could continue to expand. Mexico would not settle the disputes at that time, and President Polk sent troops into the land that was being claimed by both Mexico and the state of Texas. Mexico was angered at the presence of troops in this area and sent their own troops. President Polk declared that Mexico had invaded United States soil and asked Congress to declare war on Mexico. Congress agreed and on May 13, 1846, war with Mexico was declared.

After the Mexican army was defeated and the United States troops invaded Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, in September of 1847, Mexico surrendered and peace talks began. The war officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848, in Guadalupe Hidalgo, an area north of the capital of Mexico.

In the treaty, Mexico agreed to recognize the southern border of the United States as the Rio Grande river and gave up all claims to Texas. The United States received land that makes up all or parts of present-day California, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada. In return, the United States agreed to settle all claims that United States citizens had against Mexico at the time and to pay Mexico fifteen million dollars.

There were still problems with the exact borders that had to be worked out in the future with other agreements, but the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ended the Mexican-American War.

Many Americans became famous for their involvement in the Mexican-American War; some also went on to do other things that they are remembered for. At the bottom of this page is a box containing names of important historic figures. On the next page is a list of descriptions. Write the name of the correct person in the space provided with each description.

Lewis Armistead George G. Meade George H. Thomas Albert Sidney Johnston Joseph Hooker

Winfield Scott Stephen Kearny James K. Polk Thomas (“Stonewall”) Jackson George Pickett

Ulysses S. Grant Robert E. Lee Nicholas Trist Zachary Taylor John Slidell James Longstreet P.G.T. Beauregard

©2016 Bonnie Rose Hudson WriteBonnieRose.com ______A general during the Mexican-American War who won battles at Monterrey and Buena Vista, among others; he later became the 12th president of the United States.

______Served during the Mexican-American War and was decorated for bravery. A Confederate general, he was killed on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg. ______Born in New Jersey, a U.S. Army officer who helped win California and New Mexico during the Mexican-American War, using diplomacy rather than bloodshed whenever possible.

______In the Mexican-American War, he served under General Winfield Scott. Later, he served as a general for the Confederacy during the Civil War and was in command of the Confederate troops at the Battle of Fort Sumter. ______General during the Mexican-American War, he took extra forces to Mexico, captured Veracruz and other areas, and ended the war by marching his troops into Mexico City.

______Served under both General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott during the Mexican-American War. Later, he served as a general in the Union Army during the Civil War and was in command when the Confederacy surrendered at Appomattox Court House. He became the 18th president of the United States.

______Chief Clerk of the State Department during the Mexican-American War, he negotiated the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that formally ended the war.

______Fought in the Mexican-American War. He later served in the Union Army during the Civil War and was put in command unexpectedly just days before the Battle of Gettysburg. ______Served under General Winfield Scott in the Mexican-American War and proved to be brilliant in tactical matters. Later, he became commander of the Army of Northern Virginia for the Confederacy in the Civil War.

______Served and was recognized for distinguished service in the Mexican- American War. Although born in the South, he later served as a Union General in the Civil War and succeeded General Rosecrans as commander of the Army of the Cumberland. He served in various military positions after the Civil War ended.

______Served under General Winfield Scott at the Battle of Chapultepec and other battles, including the battle of Mexico City. Later, he served as a general for the Confederacy in the Civil War, fighting at the First Battle of Manassas, the Second Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, and many others, until wounded and killed in 1863.

______Served under General Winfield Scott and General Zachary Taylor in the Mexican-American War and was recognized for his bravery. Later, he served as a Union General during the Civil War, commanding the Army of the Potomac, but resigned just days before the Battle of Gettysburg. He continued to serve in other positions in the Army during the war.

______Fought in the Mexican-American War and later was a commander in the Army of the Confederacy. After the Civil War, he worked in various positions in the government and died in 1904.

______Entered the U.S. Congress in the early 1840s and served as the agent sent to Mexico to try to prevent war by offering a settlement to Mexico. The Mexican government rejected his attempts. ______Served in the Mexican-American War at the Battle of Veracruz and many other battles. Later, as a general for the Confederacy in the Civil War, he fought in many battles and led a charge in the Battle of Gettysburg that is remembered by his name. ______The 11th president of the United States, he was president during the Mexican -American War. ______Led Texas volunteers as a colonel during the Mexican-American War. He later became a general in the Confederate Army. He was killed at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862.

©2016 Bonnie Rose Hudson WriteBonnieRose.com Answer Key: ______Zachary Taylor ______A general during the Mexican-American War who won battles at Monterrey and Buena Vista, among others; he later became the 12th president of the United States. ______Lewis Armistead ______Served during the Mexican-American War and was decorated for bravery. A Confederate general, he was killed on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg. ______Stephen Kearny ______Born in New Jersey, a U.S. Army officer who helped win California and New Mexico during the Mexican-American War, using diplomacy rather than bloodshed whenever possible. ______P.G.T. Beauregard ______In the Mexican-American War, he served under General Winfield Scott. Later, he served as a general for the Confederacy during the Civil War and was in command of the Confederate troops at the Battle of Fort Sumter. ______Winfield Scott ______General during the Mexican-American War, he took extra forces to Mexico, captured Veracruz and other areas, and ended the war by marching his troops into Mexico City. ______Ulysses S. Grant ______Served under both General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott during the Mexican-American War. Later, he served as a general in the Union Army during the Civil War and was in command when the Confederacy surrendered at Appomattox Court House. He became the 18th president of the United States. ______Nicholas Trist ______Chief Clerk of the State Department during the Mexican-American War, he negotiated the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that formally ended the war. ______George G. Meade ______Fought in the Mexican-American War. He later served in the Union Army during the Civil War and was put in command unexpectedly just days before the Battle of Gettysburg. ______Robert E. Lee ______Served under General Winfield Scott in the Mexican-American War and proved to be brilliant in tactical matters. Later, he became commander of the Army of Northern Virginia for the Confederacy in the Civil War.

______George H. Thomas ______Served and was recognized for distinguished service in the Mexican- American War. Although born in the South, he later served as a Union General in the Civil War and succeeded General Rosecrans as commander of the Army of the Cumberland. He served in various military positions after the Civil War ended. _Thomas (“Stonewall”) Jackson _ Served under General Winfield Scott at the Battle of Chapultepec and other battles, including the battle of Mexico City. Later, he served as a general for the Confederacy in the Civil War, fighting at the First Battle of Manassas, the Second Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, and many others, until wounded and killed in 1863.

______Joseph Hooker ______Served under General Winfield Scott and General Zachary Taylor in the Mexican-American War and was recognized for his bravery. Later, he served as a Union General during the Civil War, commanding the Army of the Potomac, but resigned just days before the Battle of Gettysburg. He continued to serve in other positions in the Army during the war. _____James Longstreet ______Fought in the Mexican-American War and later was a commander in the Army of the Confederacy. After the Civil War, he worked in various positions in the government and died in 1904. ______John Slidell ______Entered the U.S. Congress in the early 1840s and served as the agent sent to Mexico to try to prevent war by offering a settlement to Mexico. The Mexican government rejected his attempts. ______George Pickett ______Served in the Mexican-American War at the Battle of Veracruz and many other battles. Later, as a general for the Confederacy in the Civil War, he fought in many battles and led a charge in the Battle of Gettysburg that is remembered by his name. ______James K. Polk ______The 11th president of the United States, he was president during the Mexican -American War. ____Albert Sidney Johnston ___ Led Texas volunteers as a colonel during the Mexican-American War. He later became a general in the Confederate Army. He was killed at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862.