This land is our land

We had an armed conflict with Mexico from 1846 to 1848 it ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848.

Before we get into this though we should go back a little further. In 1823 a man named Moses Austin was granted a large tract of land with the dream of bringing American families to the land but died. Luckily, his son Stephen Austin was successful and brought 300 families to the land starting a trend of migration. At some point, in 1829 the Mexican government realized there were more Americans than Mexicans. The Mexican government then tried to end slavery and convert all to Roman Catholicism. The American settlers refused which then led the Mexican government to close Texas to immigration. People kept coming. General Santa Anna, in 1834, declared himself dictator and enforced Mexican laws in Texas which led to the American immigrants declaring independence and becoming an independent republic establishing diplomatic ties with Britain, France, and the United States.

This brings us to 1845 when President Tyler of Texas signed a resolution that led to President Polk of the United States signing a law making Texas the 28th state. It was this event that started the war with Mexico and America and ended with the present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah and parts of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming being bought for half the amount offered before the hostilities started.

California became the 31st state in September 1850. Today California is one of the most populous states in America and the third largest by area.