Final answer:
California did not become an American territory immediately after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo due to disputes over the border, resistance from the California population, and negotiations regarding Mexican citizen rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why California didn't become an American territory immediately after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, ceded the Alta California territory to the United States. However, California did not become an American territory immediately due to several factors:
- Disputes over the exact border delineation: There were disagreements between Mexico and the United States over the precise border lines.
- The California population resisted American governance: The Mexican citizens and Mexican-Americans residing in California were concerned about their land ownership, citizenship, and rights under the treaty.
- Negotiations regarding Mexican citizen rights: Mexico had an interest in ensuring that Mexican citizens in the ceded lands would be protected and provided for under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and there were debates and amendments regarding these rights.
The tensions and negotiations surrounding these issues delayed the immediate incorporation of California into the United States, but eventually, California became a state in 1850.