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Mexican Independence from Spain
Who: Creoles, Indians, and Mestizos
What: A revolutionary movement for independence.
Where: New Spain
When: 1810-1821
Why: The Creoles of New Spain where unhappy with the Spanish system of government. They wanted to be the custodians of the Spanish monarchy, and were also heavily influenced by ideas for independence from the United States and France.
So what? : Without having achieved a state of independence from Spain, we would not know the Mexico that we know today. -
Texas Independence from Mexico
Who: Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican states Coahuila y Tejas
What: A war of independence
Where: Mexican territories
When: October 2, 1835-1836
Why: Abolition of the federal Constitution of 1824 and the proclaiming of a new constitution in 1835, which angered many of the Mexican people and brought forth ideas of secession and acts of violence.
So what? : The independence of Texas from Mexico played a huge role in determining the territories of Mexico and the United States. -
Mexican-American War
Who: Military forces of Mexico and the U.S.
What: An argument over terms of land expansion that eventually led to war.
Where: California, New Mexico, and Mexico
When: 1846-1848
Why: Mexico was angered with the issue of Texas’ independence and U.S. President James Polk was outraged with Mexico’s refusal to negotiate with him and the offers he presented.
So what? : The war between Mexico and the United States was a significant event in history because it brought an end to the fueled anger the two -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Who: U.S. and Mexico
What: The treaty that would finally bring an end to the countries’ ongoing conflict.
Where: The main altar of the old Basilica of Guadalupe at Villa Hidalgo in northern Mexico City.
When: February 2, 1848
Why: Mexico entered negotiation with the United States and were left no choice but to surrender after the defeat of its army and fall of its capital.
So what? : Ended the Mexican-American War and brought a total of ten different states into the U.S. -
Gadsden Purchase
Who: James Gadsden and Franklin Pierce.
What: The $10 million U.S. purchase of 29,670 square miles of land from Mexico, known as the regions of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.
Where: Undisclosed location.
When: December 30, 1853.
Why: U.S. President Franklin Pierce wanted more land to fulfill transcontinental railroad expansion in the West.
So what? : The last acquisition of land that completed the United States we know today.
