What was the significance of the Gadsden Purchase?
O It ended the Mexican-American War, giving the United States increased territory over the Southwest.
O
It doubled the size of the United States and greatly encouraged westward movement of Americans.
It forced the Spanish to leave the Southwest, allowing the United States control over the resources and territory of the
region.
It gave the United States the land needed to complete the southern branch of the transcontinental railroad.
The significance of the Gadsden Purchase lies in its impact on the territorial expansion and transportation infrastructure of the United States. The correct answer is:
O It gave the United States the land needed to complete the southern branch of the transcontinental railroad.
To arrive at this answer, let's break down the options and examine each one:
Option O: It ended the Mexican-American War, giving the United States increased territory over the Southwest.
This option is incorrect because the Gadsden Purchase did not end the Mexican-American War; the war had already concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. The Gadsden Purchase took place in 1853, several years after the war ended.
Option O: It doubled the size of the United States and greatly encouraged westward movement of Americans.
This option is also incorrect. While the Gadsden Purchase did add new territory to the United States, it did not double its size. Furthermore, while westward movement of Americans did occur during this time period, the Gadsden Purchase did not play a primary role in encouraging it.
Option O: It forced the Spanish to leave the Southwest, allowing the United States control over the resources and territory of the region.
This option is not relevant to the Gadsden Purchase. The Spanish had already ceded control of much of the Southwest to the United States through the aforementioned Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Option O: It gave the United States the land needed to complete the southern branch of the transcontinental railroad.
This option is correct. The Gadsden Purchase provided the United States with a strip of land in present-day Arizona and New Mexico, which helped establish a southern route for the transcontinental railroad. This railroad connected the eastern and western parts of the country and played a crucial role in facilitating trade, transportation, and communication.
Therefore, the correct answer is that the Gadsden Purchase gave the United States the land needed to complete the southern branch of the transcontinental railroad.