US Gains Mexican Land!
1848
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo and the Mexican Cession
After a hard fought war, the United States has successfully defeated the Mexican army at San Jacinto. We forced Mexican President Santa Anna to surrender and sign the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. The treaty officially ended the Mexican-American War on February 2, 1848. Mexico agreed to give up its Texas territory in exchange for $15 million offered by our President James K. Polk. This territory is called the Mexican Cession, and will be split into several new states that will be ready to enter the Union.
Lewis Cass
Proposed that states entering through the Mexican Cession should excercise popular sovereignty on the legalization of slavery.
Stephen Douglas
Democratic politician who advocated for popular sovereignty after the Mexican War.
Jefferson Davis
Mississippi senator, Mexican war hero who opposed secession but favored southern interests concerning slavery and secession.
Political Dissent Over the New Land
The addition of new land sparked the question of the time: should the new states be free or slave states? Generally the rule was to accept new states according to the Missouri Compromise, with gradual emancipation. As American continues to grow, so does the continued debate of slavery.