What significant territories were acquired by the United States as a result of the Mexican War?

The Mexican War, which took place from 1846 to 1848, resulted in a significant territorial expansion for the United States, most notably through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty led to the acquisition of vast amounts of land that included present-day California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and parts of Colorado. These territories were integral in fulfilling the concept of Manifest Destiny, which was the belief that the expansion of the United States across the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

The other options do not reflect the territories acquired directly from the Mexican War. Florida and Texas were already part of the United States prior to the conflict, with Texas having gained independence from Mexico in 1836 and becoming a state in 1845. Oregon and Washington were largely settled through the Oregon Trail and the Oregon Treaty of 1846, which was separate from the Mexican War. Alaska and Hawaii were acquired much later, with Alaska purchased from Russia in 1867 and Hawaii gaining statehood in 1959. Therefore, the correct answer accurately identifies the territories gained as a direct consequence of the Mexican War.