You might want to re-think that, kids.
As the youngsters say, “Bring the receipts.” OK, here you go… to include the original signatures.
But first, I’d like to cite what largely undeveloped wilderness was going for back then;
- The US purchased Louisiana (and most of the Central states) from France in 1803 for $15 million
- The US purchased the Western states from Mexico in 1848 for $15 million
- The US purchased what is now southern Arizona and southern New Mexico from Mexico 1854 for $10 million
- The US purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million
Back to the topic at hand. Here are particular sections I’m citing that are taken directly from the US Archives, specifically pertaining to the Treaty of Guadelupe-Hildago from the official website of the US Archives (emphasis mine);
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which brought an official end to the Mexican-American War (1846-48), was signed on February 2, 1848, at Guadalupe Hidalgo, a city to which the Mexican government had fled with the advance of U.S. forces.
With the defeat of its army and the fall of the capital, Mexico City, in September 1847, the Mexican government surrendered to the United States and entered into negotiations to end the war. The peace talks were negotiated by Nicholas Trist, chief clerk of the State Department, who had accompanied General Winfield Scott as a diplomat and President Polk’s representative. Trist and General Scott, after two previous unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a treaty with President Santa Anna, determined that the only way to deal with Mexico was as a conquered enemy. Nicholas Trist negotiated with a special commission representing the collapsed government led by Don Bernardo Couto, Don Miguel Atristain, and Don Luis Gonzaga Cuevas.
ARTICLE V [An especially long article, this is just the last paragraph. I’m including this just to emphasize exactly what the Mexican government agreed to.]
The boundary line established by this article shall be religiously respected by each of the two republics, and no change shall ever be made therein, except by the express and free consent of both nations, lawfully given by the General Government of each, in conformity with its own constitution.ARTICLE IX
The Mexicans who, in the territories aforesaid, shall not preserve the character of citizens of the Mexican Republic, conformably with what is stipulated in the preceding article, shall be incorporated into the Union of the United States. and be admitted at the proper time (to be judged of by the Congress of the United States) to the enjoyment of all the rights of citizens of the United States, according to the principles of the Constitution; and in the meantime, shall be maintained and protected in the free enjoyment of their liberty and property, and secured in the free exercise of their religion without restriction.ARTICLE XII
In consideration of the extension acquired by the boundaries of the United States, as defined in the fifth article of the present treaty, the Government of the United States engages to pay to that of the Mexican Republic the sum of fifteen million of dollars.Immediately after the treaty shall have been duly ratified by the Government of the Mexican Republic, the sum of three million of dollars shall be paid to the said Government by that of the United States, at the city of Mexico, in the gold or silver coin of Mexico. The remaining twelve million of dollars shall be paid at the same place, and in the same coin, in annual installments of three million of dollars each, together with interest on the same at the rate of six per centum per annum. This interest shall begin to run upon the whole sum of twelve million from the day of the ratification of the present treaty by–the Mexican Government, and the first of the installments shall be paid at the expiration of one year from the same day. Together with each annual installment, as it falls due, the whole interest accruing on such installment from the beginning shall also be paid.
Here is the last page of the treaty, complete with signatures.
NOTE: The Treaty of Guadelupe Hildago is written in both English (left side) and Spanish (right side). All the signatories signed under both the English and Spanish text.
