Why Didn’t the United States Annex All of Mexico After Winning the War?

In 1848, the United States defeated Mexico and occupied its capital. With total military control and no army left to stop it, many Americans believed the U.S. could annex the entire country. Some even openly called for Mexico to be erased from the map.

So why didn’t it happen?

This video explains why the United States stopped short of annexing all of Mexico after winning the Mexican–American War. Through the decisions made in Washington, the pressures of slavery and politics, the realities of occupation, and the actions of a single diplomat, this story shows how victory created limits rather than certainty.

Rather than a simple military choice, the outcome was shaped by what the United States could realistically govern, absorb, and survive as a republic. By following the war beyond the battlefield, this video reveals why total conquest became a liability—and why Mexico remained on the map.

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