---
title: "Today in military history: Mexico ratifies Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo"
description: "On May 19, 1848, Mexico ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, thus ending the Mexican-American War. Learn more here."
date: "2022-05-19"
modified: "2023-05-17"
authors:
  - name: "Team Mighty"
    job_title: "Author"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/teammighty/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/today-in-military-history-mexico-ratifies-treaty-of-guadalupe-hidalgo/"
categories:
  - "History"
---

# Today in military history: Mexico ratifies Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

![Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo mexico](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Treaty-of-Guadalupe-Hidalgo.jpg>)

On May 19, 1848, Mexico ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, thus ending the [Mexican-American War](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/how-the-us-could-have-easily-lost-the-mexican-american-war/>).

The war began over territory disputes in what was then the Republic of Texas, Nuevo Mexico, and Alta California. After two years of fighting, Mexico surrendered and peace talks began.

https://youtu.be/DW0zpU0WfoQ

As part of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the United States paid Mexico $15 million in exchange for all or parts of present-day Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Texas. [Per the terms of the agreement](<https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/guadalupe-hidalgo>), the Mexican government ceded fifty-five percent of its territory and recognized the Rio Grande as the southern boundary with the United States.

Adjusting for inflation, that’s almost a third of the continental United States for about what *La La Land* earned at the box office. Though it did indeed expand U.S. territories, it reignited the tension over free- and slave-holding states and contributed to the cause of the Civil War just twelve years later.

![treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Treaty-of-Guadalupe-Hidalgo.jpg>)

## Author
Team Mighty's experience encompasses intel, special ops, military history, tactical expertise, aviation, gear, and weapons. Authors on Team Mighty include veterans, spouses, and active and reserve service members from every branch of the military, as well as former CIA employees.