The Mexican-American War started over a boundary dispute dealing with Texas. Mexico believed the boundary was at the Nueces River. If this was the boundary, Texas would have been much smaller than we said it was. We believed the boundary was at the Rio Grande River.
The United States wanted to resolve the issue. We sent John Slidell to Mexico to negotiate. We were prepared to offer Mexico $30 million for California and for New Mexico. We also wanted the border with Texas and Mexico to be at the Rio Grande River. However, Mexico wouldn’t meet with us. When Mexico attacked our troops in the disputed territory, the Mexican-American War began.
The United States was very successful in this war. We were able to capture New Mexico with little opposition. General Zachary Taylor defeated Santa Anna at Buena Vista. This secured the border with Mexico at the Rio Grande River. General Winfield Scott landed at Veracruz and later captured Mexico City.
As a result of the Mexican-American War, the United States got much of the land Mexico controlled in what is now the southwestern part of our country. We also established the border between Texas and Mexico at the Rio Grande River. We paid Mexico $15 million. This was part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
The Mexican-American War was a huge success for the United States.
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