Why was the Mexican-American war so significant? (choose all that apply)The war helped complete U.S. Continental expansion, so land ceded.*
Mexicans were often sold as slaves, making the slavery debate worse.
New territories added to the US due to the war furthered the slavery debate.*
Because of the war, Mexicans were sold as slaves. *
The Mexican-American war was a significant event in American history for multiple reasons. Let's analyze the options you provided and determine which ones are correct:
1. The war helped complete U.S. Continental expansion, so land ceded.
This statement is accurate. The Mexican-American war resulted in the United States gaining a significant amount of territory from Mexico. Through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, Mexico ceded almost half of its territory, including what is now the southwestern United States. This expansion played a crucial role in fulfilling the idea of "Manifest Destiny" and furthering the continental expansion of the United States.
2. Mexicans were often sold as slaves, making the slavery debate worse.
This statement is incorrect. While slavery was a contentious issue during this time period, the Mexican-American war itself did not directly contribute to Mexicans being sold as slaves. The primary focus of the war was territorial disputes between the two nations.
3. New territories added to the US due to the war furthered the slavery debate.
This statement is accurate. The acquisition of new territories, particularly those gained from Mexico, intensified the debate over slavery in the United States. The question of whether slavery would be allowed in these newly acquired territories became a significant point of contention and fueled the tensions between the North and the South.
To recap, the correct statements are as follows:
- The war helped complete U.S. Continental expansion, so land ceded.
- New territories added to the US due to the war furthered the slavery debate.