The Impact Of The Treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo

In 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico in an attempt to acquire the disputed Rio Grande. It was after the US annexation coupled with failed efforts to purchase the territory from Mexico. The war went on for close to two years. By the end of this period, the US was divided on whether or not the merits exceeded the demerits. The Congress, for example, debated about how much was enough territory for the US to acquire when the war ended. Eventually, the US and Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The treaty provided an understanding between the two governments. This paper will analyze the effects of the agreement about the welfare of the Mexican people.

Through the agreement, the US promised that all Mexicans who occupied the newly acquired US territory were going to be incorporated into the Union of the United States. They were to enjoy all the rights of the US citizens. To be classified as citizens of the US, something had to be done since the US did not accept people of color as

As a consequence, legislations that were created afterwards diluted the contents of the treaty hence poking holes into the law and making the treaty less effective in protecting the rights of Mexicans and Communal land, for example, it was protected by the treaty, but private land was not. Additionally, the US had a right to use any of the submerged lands belonging to Mexico.

The treaty saw to a situation where individuals in the ceded land were no longer citizens of Mexico. The government of Mexico would not protect them. At the same time, the government of the US did not extend any special guardianship to these individuals. While they awaited the US citizenship, their rights and property were threatened by discrimination. During the California Gold Rush, for example, the fear that Mexicans who were native to California would monopolize the profits of gold led to violence, vigilantism, and