Part 1: Episodes in the History of U.S.-Mexico Relations

The histories of the United States and Mexico have been closely linked since at least the middle of the 19th century, when Mexico lost half of its territory to the United States with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. Since that time, the two countries have had close relations as events that occur in one country invariably affect the other. The presence of a large Mexican-American population in the United States and the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) clearly demonstrate the continued importance of U.S.-Mexico relations.

Part II: Contemporary Issues in U.S.- Mexico Relations

The presence of a large Mexican-American population in the United States and the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) clearly demonstrate the importance of contemporary U.S.-Mexico relations. In this unit, students will examine three key contemporary issues: immigration, NAFTA, and the environment. This unit is Part II of the U.S.-Mexico Relations series. (Published in 2000)

Part III: U.S.-Mexico Economic Interdependence: Perspectives from Both Sides of the Border

The United States and Mexico are more than neighbors living side by side; their economies are intertwined and interdependent, made more so by the inception of NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement) in 1994, which made Mexico the United States' third-largest trading partner. If asked, most students would acknowledge an awareness of the fact that the two economies are linked in some way. This curriculum unit acquaints students with some aspects of the U.S.-Mexico relationship by focusing on the so-called "twin cities" along the border, where the impact of the two economies on one another is most visible, understandable, and dramatic.