New land would go on to form California, New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona
The US used this further land to gain a suitable rail route to the Southwest
This was the US’s last major purchase of land (apart from Alaska)
Mexico received only $15 million for this land
The US gained a continental empire
In 1853, the US purchased a further 75,000 sq km of land from Mexico for $10 million
Mexico had little use of this land and so were glad to sell
Around 2.6 million sq. km. of land was gained from Mexico
This deal was known as the Gadsden Purchase
The US’s international reputation was damaged
This would lead to huge migration westwards and the ‘gold rush’
The age of expansion was over, the age of development had begun
The war cost the US $100 million
During the war, California rebelled and became independent
The war began the careers of many military men who would become significant later
The treaty led to huge disagreement among US politicians about what to do with the land
1,700 US soldiers were killed
The war led to long-lasting bitterness between the countries
Gold was discovered here in 1848
Would the areas be free states, or slave states?
11,000 US soldiers died of disease
This disagreement would continue for years and was one of the underlying causes of the Civil War
This is because many southerners had fought in the war
50,000 Mexicans were killed in the war
The US landed Marines in California and added it to its territory
Mexico lost nearly half its territory
Northerners feared more slave states would lead to the south dominating the US
Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant and Zachary Taylor all held commands in the war
Southerners were incensed by the thought that they would not be allowed to extend slavery
