Since the end of the war, the relationship between the two countries has been difficult at times. The U.S. gained a huge amount of territory, allowing the country to expand through population and economic growth.

For Mexico, it was not so simple. The U.S. never acknowledged how devastating it was for Mexico to lose more than half of its territory. To this day Mexico has more than a little distrust of its neighbor to the north, arguing that America has invaded them three times: first in 1846, second in 1914 to land at Veracruz, and finally in 1916 in Chihuahua to search for Pancho Villa. What would keep the U.S. from invading a third time? Americans continue to perceive Mexicans as shifty and lazy, and sadly these racial stereotypes are perpetuated through books, films and radio.

The impact of Mexican culture is evident throughout (but not limited to) the southwestern U.S. in art, architecture, clothing, jewelry, and food. Many Mexicans and Mexican-Americans contend that their participation in the creation of American culture is not fully recognized, and that Americans take these contributions for granted, assuming that they were always a part of American life.