Mexican War

By 1848, the boundaries of the United States had changed significantly, largely as a result of the Mexican War. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war and gave the United States control over land that now includes the states of Texas, California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Examine the three maps below to trace America's changing borders.

Map A

In the western portion of the MANDAN DISTRICT (big green area), the mapmaker writes, “This District is a vast wilderness of immense plains and meadows interspersed with barren hills and almost destitute of wood except in the neighborhood of streams. It is traversed by numerous herds of Buffaloes and wild Horses and by a few roving tribes of Indians. Occasional bands of white hunters and trappers range this country for Furs."

^{Source: Barber, B.B.; Willard, A. Map of the United States of America. 1835. David Rumsey Collection.}

Map B

Source: Disturnell, John. Mapa de los Estados Unidos De Mejico. 1847. David Rumsey Collection.

Map C

Source: Colton, J.H. Map of the United States of America. 1849. David Rumsey Collection.

Questions:

1. List the ways that the territory of the United States changed between 1835-1849, according to these three maps.

2. Disturnell’s map (Map B) was actually used in negotiating the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Though the title of the map is in Spanish, it was produced in New York. How might the map have favored American territorial claims? [Hint: What were the boundaries of the Republic of Texas before the Mexican War?]