write me 2 paragraphs on the Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War was a conflict that took place between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. The war was primarily sparked by disputes over the border between Texas and Mexico, as well as the annexation of Texas into the United States. The United States argued that the Rio Grande River marked the southern border of Texas, while Mexico claimed that the Nueces River defined the boundary. As tensions escalated, the U.S. sent troops to the contested region, resulting in several skirmishes and ultimately leading to a full-scale war.
The conflict led to significant territorial changes, as the United States emerged as the clear victor. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, forced Mexico to cede a massive amount of territory to the United States. This included present-day states such as California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. The war also had profound consequences on both sides, with thousands of lives lost and significant economic hardships. It fueled debates over slavery in the United States and strained diplomatic relations between the two countries for decades to come. Despite its relatively short duration, the Mexican-American War played a pivotal role in shaping the geopolitical landscape of North America.