What’s the story behind the United States trying to buy a land from Mexico for 3 million
The story you are referring to is the Gadsden Purchase, which took place in 1853. At that time, the United States sought to acquire a strip of land from Mexico for $10 million, not $3 million.
The Gadsden Purchase was driven by the necessity to construct a transcontinental railroad route in southern portions of the United States. The chosen route required land that was deemed essential to create a more efficient connection between the eastern and western parts of the country. The available choices included a southern route through Mexico, or a more arduous and expensive northern route through the Rocky Mountains.
James Gadsden, the U.S. Minister to Mexico, negotiated with Mexican President Santa Anna and his administration to acquire the needed land. Eventually, after several revisions to the initial proposal, a treaty was signed in December 1853. The United States agreed to pay $10 million to Mexico for a strip of land covering around 29,670 square miles, located in what is now parts of Arizona and New Mexico.
The Gadsden Purchase was met with mixed reactions in both countries. In the United States, some supported it as a strategic decision to secure a route for the transcontinental railroad, while others criticized it as an unnecessary purchase or an expansion of slavery. In Mexico, the sale of such a significant territory was seen by some as a humiliating act, while others welcomed the economic benefits it brought.
Overall, the Gadsden Purchase was an important event in U.S. history, as it provided the land needed for the construction of the transcontinental railroad along a southern route, which played a crucial role in shaping the development and connectivity within the United States.