ABSTRACT
The early histories of the Republic of Mexico and the United States of America differ drastically, with alterations in the size of each country constituting the greatest contrast. This chapter begins with a sketch of the extraordinary transformation of the United States from a small collection of peripheral English colonies to the world's most powerful country. It focuses on the political impact on Mexico of dealing with a powerful and dominant neighbor. Clearly territorial expansionism and control of foreign lands significantly enhanced the might of the United States on the world stage. The loss of half of its territory to the United States constituted a colossal setback for Mexico because Texas, California, and other lost provinces had enormous economic value. Americans and European immigrants who entered Texas in the 1820s and 1830s had heard plenty about the extraordinary natural riches in that province. After the Mexican Revolution the relationship between Mexico and the United States underwent significant change.
