U.S. Territorial Expansion and Challenges

The video discusses the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War and established the Rio Grande as the boundary between the U.S. and Mexico. The U.S. acquired southwestern territories, including California, Utah, and Arizona. Mexico faced challenges populating its northern regions but benefited from the treaty. The acquisition raised issues about the balance of slave and free states in the Union, delaying statehood for some territories.

What was the main purpose of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

• To create a new currency

• To end the war and set a boundary

• To establish trade routes

• To form a new government

Which river was established as the official boundary between the United States and Mexico?

• Colorado River

• Missouri River

• Mississippi River

• Rio Grande

Which territories did the United States acquire as a result of the treaty?

• New York and Pennsylvania

• Oregon and Washington

• California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, parts of Wyoming and Colorado

• Florida and Georgia

What was one of Mexico's challenges regarding its northern territories?

• Difficulty in populating the area

• High taxation

• Lack of natural resources

• Frequent natural disasters

How much did the United States pay Mexico for the southwestern territories?

• Fifteen million dollars

• Twenty million dollars

• Five million dollars

• Ten million dollars

What significant discovery was made in California shortly after it joined the Union?

• Gold

• Silver

• Coal

• Oil

Why was the discovery in California important for the United States?

• It increased the state's value

• It resulted in a war

• It caused a financial crisis

• It led to a population decrease

What was a major concern regarding the new territories and the balance of power in the Union?

• They would remain unpopulated

• They would all become free states

• They would form a new country

• They would all become slave states

What was required for every slave state brought into the Union?

• A new constitution

• A free state

• A new capital

• A trade agreement

How long did Colorado have to wait to become a state?

• 40 years

• 20 years

• 30 years

• 10 years