The mexican cession included a large tract of territory in the a: northeast. b: northwest. c: southeast. d: southwest.

The correct answer is D. The Mexican Cession included a large tract of territory in the Southwest.

Explanation:

The Mexican Cession are the territories that Mexico was forced to cede to the United States to end the military occupation of the country between 1846 and 1848, as a result of the Mexican-American War. This transfer was formalized through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848. The United States paid $ 15,000,000 as compensation, which was half of what they had offered with intent to buy it before the war. The land transferred by Mexico is 14.9% of the total area of the current United States territory and 119% of the current territory of Mexico.

The region includes all of the current states of California, Nevada, and Utah, as well as parts of:  

-Arizona, excluding the region later annexed in the Gadsen Purchase.

-Colorado, west of the boundary of the former Republic of Texas.

-New Mexico, west of the Rio Grande and excluding the Gadsen Purchase.

-Wyoming, west of the border of the former Republic of Texas and south of the 42nd parallel.

-Oklahoma and Kansas, the part that borders the North of the former Republic of Texas