Historedia
AmericasEvent

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the Mexican–American War

When
1848
Where
Basilica of Guadalupe; Mexico City
Episodes
2

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, officially ended the Mexican–American War. Negotiated by U.S. envoy Nicholas Trist and Mexican representatives, the agreement was reached after the fall of Mexico City in September 1847. The treaty established territorial boundaries and resolved the conflict, marking a significant shift in North American geopolitics.

Episodes

  1. 1848-02-02 · Basilica of GuadalupeSigning of the Treaty

    The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2, 1848, ending the Mexican–American War. U.S. envoy Nicholas Trist and Mexican representatives finalized the agreement at the Basilica of Guadalupe.

  2. 1848-05-30 · Mexico CityExchange of Ratifications

    The two countries exchanged ratifications of the treaty on May 30, 1848, including a three-article protocol to explain amendments. This formalized the end of the war.

Background and detail

Background. Following the invasion of Mexico by the United States, which began in April 1846, U.S. forces under Major General Winfield Scott captured Mexico City in September 1847. This military success led to peace negotiations. Although President Polk initially relieved his envoy Nicholas Trist, Trist ignored the order and continued negotiations, ultimately concluding the treaty in early 1848.

Negotiation and Signing. The treaty was signed on February 2, 1848, at the Basilica of Guadalupe in Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo. U.S. diplomat Nicholas Trist and Mexican plenipotentiaries Luis G. Cuevas, Bernardo Couto, and Miguel Atristain finalized the agreement. The signing occurred while U.S. troops occupied the area, reflecting the complex political and military situation in Mexico.

Ratification and Aftermath. The Mexican Congress and President Manuel de la Peña y Peña faced challenges in ratifying the treaty due to internal separatism and anarchy. Ratifications were exchanged on May 30, 1848, accompanied by a protocol to explain amendments. The treaty's terms significantly altered the territorial boundaries between the two nations.

People involved

Sources

  1. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Wikipedia
  2. Mexican–American War Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-10

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.