Answer:
With the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, the United States acquired a significant amount of land from Mexico. The treaty marked the end of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and resulted in the following territorial changes:
1. Mexican Cession: Mexico ceded a vast territory, known as the Mexican Cession, to the United States. This included the present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. The Mexican Cession added approximately 525,000 square miles (1.36 million square kilometers) of land to the United States.
2. Rio Grande Border: The treaty established the Rio Grande as the boundary between the United States and Mexico, recognizing the river as the border between Texas and Mexico. This confirmed the U.S. position that the southern border of Texas was the Rio Grande, rather than the Nueces River as claimed by Mexico.
In exchange for the territory acquired, the United States agreed to pay Mexico $15 million in compensation and assume approximately $3.25 million in debts owed by Mexico to American citizens.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo significantly expanded the territorial extent of the United States and played a crucial role in shaping its geography and future growth.