Explain the causes and effects of the U.S.-Mexican War
The U.S.-Mexican War was a conflict between the United States and Mexico that lasted from 1846 to 1848. The war was caused by a dispute over the U.S. annexation of Texas, which Mexico still considered to be part of its territory. The U.S. also sought to acquire additional land from Mexico, including parts of California, New Mexico, and Arizona.
The immediate cause of the war was a Mexican attack on a U.S. Army patrol in April 1846. In response, President James K. Polk ordered U.S. troops to occupy disputed territory in the Rio Grande region. Mexico responded by declaring war on the United States.
The war had several effects. The U.S. emerged victorious, and as a result, it acquired a large amount of land from Mexico, including California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. This land acquisition was known as the Mexican Cession. The war also resulted in the death of thousands of people, both Mexican and American, and caused significant economic damage to both countries. The war also had a lasting impact on the relationship between the two countries, as it led to a period of distrust and animosity that lasted for decades.