What was the primary consequence of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo?

The primary consequence of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, which was signed in 1848, was the significant expansion of U.S. territory, increasing its size by about one-third. This treaty marked the end of the Mexican-American War and resulted in the United States acquiring vast regions, including present-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.

This territorial expansion played a crucial role in shaping the future of the United States, facilitating westward expansion, the idea of Manifest Destiny, and ultimately leading to complex social, political, and economic developments, including debates over slavery and the status of new territories. The acquisition not only bolstered the U.S. geographically but also economically, as it opened up rich resources and land for settlement.

Other options do not directly relate to the core impact of the treaty. Control of the Great Plains was not a primary focus of the treaty, as the lands acquired were mostly in the southwest. While Texas did gain recognition and solidify its status following the annexation, it was already independent before the treaty and thus not a direct consequence of it. The issue of slavery in newly acquired territories became a significant topic in the years following the treaty, but the treaty itself did