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The war that made America a true continental power - the Mexican-American War - ended this day in 1848 with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. It was a war of choice for President James Polk - a believer in Manifest Destiny /1 
The Mexican-American war added 525,000 square miles to the United States, expanding the country all the way to California. It would also boost the political careers of future Presidents Taylor, Pierce, Buchanan and Lincoln /2
You may not know that the United States acquired more territory during Polk's one term (1845-49) than during any other presidency
This Day, 1948: Harry Truman moved to desegregate the U.S. military, ordering it to happen "as rapidly as possible”
This Day, 1969: Dwight Eisenhower, his health declining, received a visit at Washington's Walter Reed Army Hospital from his former VP - now President - Richard Nixon. Eisenhower had two months to live
