THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR
In 1845, Texas became the 28th state to join the United States. Until 1836, Texas was part of Mexico. Texas fought for independence from Mexico and became its own country from 1836-1845.
At that time, Mexico still claimed much of the land in the southwest between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Mexico also wanted Texas to be part of Mexico again.
Colonel Charles May's troops charge at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma during the Mexican-American War.
In 1846, the U.S. went to war with Mexico over Texas and other land that Mexico controlled in the southwest. This war is called the Mexican- American War.
Other wars that the United States fought in the 1800s include:
The Mexican-American War was one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
• War of 1812
The U.S. won the Mexican-American War in 1848. After the war, the United States and Mexico signed a treaty. In the treaty, Mexico agreed that Texas was part of the United States. Mexico also agreed to sell the land it claimed in the southwest to the U.S. The territory the U.S. gained from Mexico later became the states of California, Nevada, and Utah. It also included territory that became parts of the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
• Spanish-American War
Today, the states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas all border Mexico.
Territory of the Original 13 States MARYLAND
This map shows the United States after the Mexican-American War.
ONE NATION, ONE PEOPLE: THE USCIS CIVICS TEST TEXTBOOK