President Mirabeau Lamar’s goals for the Santa Fe Expedition were to expand the Republic’s territory and gain access to the valuable trade conducted along the Santa Fe Trail, but the expedition was a disaster that left Lamar in disgrace. In 3–5 sentences, explain why the Santa Fe Expedition was a disaster for President Lamar.
The Santa Fe Expedition was a disaster for President Lamar because it failed to achieve its goals of expanding the Republic’s territory and gaining access to valuable trade along the Santa Fe Trail. The expedition was ill-planned, lacked necessary supplies, and faced harsh weather conditions. Additionally, the expedition encountered resistance from Mexican authorities and Native American tribes along the way, resulting in the loss of much of the expedition’s supplies and leaving them stranded in hostile territory. The failure of the expedition led to widespread criticism of President Lamar's leadership and ultimately tarnished his reputation.
