Poll: 1 out of 3 Americans inaccurately think most Hispanics are undocumented

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. To answer your question

True, much of the West was once Mexico. But isn't it also true that much of the land that became Mexico and then a portion of the United States belonged to France or was controlled by France prior to the the time that Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed?

No, that territory was part of Nueva España, New Spain, until Mejico, original spelling, achieved indepdence from Spain in 1821, ironically 400 years after the fall of Tenochtilan, modern day Mexico City.

There was a war of the pastries with the French before the 1847 war with the United States that led to the treaty, which was more high comedy than war, see the name of the war...and then the French occupation of 1860-5, which some historians believe stopped not because Napoleon III got any qualms but the end of the American Civil War which they had their paws in...not clear how deeply to this day. My personal view, Maximilian was not that bright truly, so if Napoleon wanted any role in the American Civil war, there was no way. Also Maximilian had an issue with Juarez and an open revolt by the Liberales, who fought the French, and the Conservadores, conservatives, who supported the Second American Empire.

Fun fact, Maximilian's residence is the same military fort in Chapultepec American troops assaulted, where the red line comes in the pans of US Marines...nother fun fact, it currently serves as the National history museum.

What you are thinking is the Lousiana Purchase of 1801 iirc, which was done by Jefferson, and included only one small portion of formerly Spanish territory, surrendered to the French, and that be Florida.