The US paid $15 million to Mexico
Nicholas Trist
Tejanos lost land and were intimidated from voting
They were free from Mexican overreach
Mexicans living in Texas would be able to keep their land.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, ended the Mexican-American War and resulted in several consequences. One of the terms of the treaty was that the United States agreed to pay Mexico $15 million in compensation for the Mexican cession of nearly half of its territory, which included present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, and parts of Texas.
Nicholas Trist, a diplomat, played a crucial role in negotiating the treaty on behalf of the United States. Despite opposition from President James K. Polk, Trist decided to engage in direct negotiations with Mexican representatives and eventually secured a peace agreement.
Before the war, Texas had been an independent republic and earned its independence from Mexico in 1836. However, many Tejanos, Mexican Texans, faced numerous challenges during this period. As the Anglos (mainly American settlers) flocked to Texas, the Tejanos lost considerable amounts of land. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo did not address this issue, leading to further land loss for Tejanos.
Furthermore, after Texas joined the United States in 1845, Tejanos faced intimidation and discrimination that often prevented them from exercising their voting rights. They were marginalized politically, and their voices were often silenced in the new state's affairs.
Despite these negative consequences for the Tejano population, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo did offer some benefits for Mexicans living in the ceded territories. Under the treaty, the rights of Mexicans living in the newly acquired US territories were protected. They were granted the option to retain their Mexican citizenship and keep their land if they desired. Nonetheless, many Mexicans faced hostility and discrimination in the years following the war, leading to various challenges for Mexican communities in these regions.
Overall, while the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo resulted in the payment of $15 million to Mexico by the United States, its impact on Tejanos and Mexicans living in the ceded territories was mixed. Tejanos lost land and faced intimidation, while Mexicans in the newly acquired territories had the option to keep their land, but still faced discrimination and marginalization.