Today Historian Rick Britton talks about THIS WEEK IN AMERICAN HISTORY -The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, is the peace treaty signed on February 2, 1848, in the Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo (now a neighborhood of Mexico City) between the United States and Mexico that ended the Mexican–American War (1846–48).

With the defeat of its army and the fall of its capital, Mexico entered into negotiations to end the war. The treaty called for the US to pay $15 million to Mexico and to pay off the claims of American citizens against Mexico up to $3.25 million. It gave the United States the Rio Grande as a boundary for Texas, and gave the US ownership of California and a large area comprising roughly half of New Mexico, most of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado. Mexicans in those annexed areas had the choice of relocating to within Mexico’s new boundaries or receiving American citizenship with full civil rights. Over 90% chose to become US citizens.

Interestingly, the Treaty was negotiated by Nicholas Trist, born in Charlottesville on June 2, 1800. He had attended West Point and had studied law under Thomas Jefferson. Trist married one of Jefferson’s granddaughters, Virginia Jefferson Randolph.

You can also catch Rick Britton’s 6-session lecture class at the Senior Center starting on February 18. It’s called Jefferson’s Legacies.