The California Campaigns of the U.S.-Mexican War, 1846-1848

<p> For the Mexican government to go to war with its more powerful northern neighbor in 1846 was folly. Mexico surrendered to the United States more than half a million square miles of territory, contributing to a legacy of distrust and bitterness towards the U.S. that has never entirely dissipated.</p><p> The real prize was California. The Californios--Spanish speaking, non-native inhabitants of the province of Alta (Upper) California--had ambiguous loyalties to the Mexican go