What treaty ended the Mexican War and resulted in significant land acquisitions for the U.S.?

The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, signed in 1848, officially ended the Mexican-American War and led to substantial territorial gains for the United States. Under its terms, Mexico ceded approximately half of its territory, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico, to the U.S. This acquisition significantly expanded the size of the nation and was a pivotal moment in the country's westward expansion and the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny.

This treaty not only reshaped the physical landscape of the United States but also had lasting implications for the demographic, economic, and political development of the region. The land gained was crucial for future settlement, resource extraction, and ultimately contributed to tensions over slavery as the nation grappled with the question of whether new states admitted from these territories would be free or slave states. The significance of this treaty thereby extends beyond mere territorial gain; it is intertwined with the broader narrative of American expansionism and its complexities.