How did the removal of Article X from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo affect Mexican land grants?

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The removal of Article X from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo by the U.S. Senate significantly undermined the security of land ownership for Mexican citizens in the newly acquired territories.

Article X was originally intended to protect land rights granted by the Mexican government. By striking it out, the U.S. government gained the authority to validate the legitimacy of existing land grants, which facilitated the acquisition of these lands by new settlers. This policy shift placed the burden of proof on original landholders to confirm their deeds through complex and costly legal proceedings.

Combined with factors such as the California Gold Rush, illegal land seizures, and a lack of familiarity with American legal systems and tax structures, many Mexican landholders were ultimately forced into debt or lost their property entirely.1