The Mexican Cession resulted from the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). The conflict began over a territorial dispute between the United States and Mexico. The event that ultimately led to the Mexican Cession was the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848. Under this treaty, Mexico ceded a large portion of its territory to the United States, including present-day California, Nevada, and Utah, as well as parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. In return, the United States agreed to pay Mexico $15 million and assume around $3.25 million in debts owed to American citizens by the Mexican government.
