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The Americans gained this territory after going to war with Mexico and forcing them to sell the land. There was an area of land that each country thought was theirs, and when the Mexicans attacked the Americans in this zone, the Americans declared war.

Below is an image of the disputed land from the Mexican Territory. Before 1836, the boundary was along the red line. However, after 1836, the boundary was along the Rio Grande (blue line). The dark brown shows the disputed land.

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How did gaining this territory benefit the U.S.?

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How did gaining this territory benefit the U.S.?

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A benefit of gaining this territory was that gold had been found in this area and this would be very profitable for the Americans.  Finding gold meant that entire cities would form around the mines and expansion would continue.

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What were the costs of gaining this territory, for the U.S.?

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What were the costs of gaining this territory, for the U.S.?

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Some of the costs of gaining this territory were that people started to protest as the war with Mexico grew longer. Opposing politicians started to attack the president. Some people believed that the war was a Southern scheme to expand slavery.

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How did U.S. acquisition of this territory impact those who already lived there?

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How did U.S. acquisition of this territory impact those who already lived there?

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People who already lived in this area were forced to become Americans or leave. Many wanted to stay under the Mexican flag. People who refused to become citizens had their land confiscated and to make this decision they were only given a year. If, by the end of the year, people living in the newly acquired land had not chosen one side or the other, they were assumed to be American citizens.

The image below shows the occupation of the Mexican Capitol by Americans.

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How did the original inhabitants resist American expansion?

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How did the original inhabitants resist American expansion?

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In New Mexico the lands that were not owned were open to be used by whomever. With the cattle ranchers came barbed wire that cut through lands owned by Mexicans. Because the lands that were used to raise animals and raise crops were fenced off, three brothers (Pablo, Nicolo, and Juan) organized a resistance movement. They called themselves Las Gorras Blancas. They cut down barbed wire and burned railroads and bridges.

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Was the US justified in acquiring this territory?

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Was the US justified in acquiring this territory?

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The US was not justified in acquiring this territory. Initially, the US attempted to buy the Mexican Territory from Mexico. However, when the answer was no, President Polk decided to send troops to the disputed land in an attempt to provoke the Mexicans. The Americans then used the war to force the Mexicans to sell the US the land.

Below is a depiction of the Mexican-American War in action.