gadsden purchase events leading up to becoming part of the US
The Gadsden Purchase, also known as the Treaty of Mesilla, involved the acquisition of a strip of land in present-day Arizona and New Mexico by the United States from Mexico. Here are the events leading up to the Gadsden Purchase:
1. Mexican-American War: The Mexican-American War, fought between 1846 and 1848, resulted in Mexico's defeat and the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. As part of the treaty, Mexico ceded large territories, including California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Texas, to the United States.
2. Border disputes: Following the Mexican-American War, disputes arose regarding the border between the United States and Mexico in the newly acquired territories. The original border was defined by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, but it was not clear or well-defined in certain areas.
3. Need for a southern route: The United States, under President Franklin Pierce, aimed to establish a southern transcontinental railroad route that would connect the southern states to the Pacific coast. There was a desire to avoid the harsh desert environments encountered along the southern border of the acquired territories.
4. James Gadsden's mission: In 1853, President Pierce appointed James Gadsden, a wealthy South Carolina businessman and diplomat, as the American envoy to Mexico. Gadsden's mission was to negotiate with the Mexican government for the purchase of land suitable for the southern railroad route.
5. Negotiations and agreement: Gadsden reached an agreement with the Mexican government on December 30, 1853. The Gadsden Purchase involved the sale of 29,670 square miles of semi-arid territory for $10 million. The purchased land included portions of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.
6. Ratification and implementation: The Gadsden Purchase treaty, signed on February 2, 1854, required ratification by both the United States Senate and the Mexican Congress. However, the Mexican Congress took several years to ratify the treaty due to political instability in Mexico. It was finally ratified in 1857.
7. Incorporation into the United States: After the ratification process, the Gadsden Purchase was officially incorporated into the United States as part of the Arizona Territory and the New Mexico Territory. The new territory was vital for the completion of the southern transcontinental railroad, which was completed in 1883.
Overall, the Gadsden Purchase was primarily driven by the need for a southern railroad route and the desire to resolve border disputes between the United States and Mexico in the acquired territories.