Gadsden+Purchase+-+Eungi,+Sun+Young

Gadsden Purchase

By Sun Young Park & Eungi Choi media type="youtube" key="gjor2oPV0Ho" height="344" width="425" (Short video that summarizes the Gadsden Purchase)

On December 30th, 1853, the Gadsden Purchase Treaty/ Treaty of Mesilla between Mexico and United States was signed, concerning with a part of land in today's New Mexico and Arizona territories.
 * 1) What were the dates of the expansion?**


 * 2) Give a brief explanation of how and why the U.S. acquired the territory. Include discussion of conflicts that arose as a result of this expansion.**

The **Mexican-American War** of February 2, 1848 was “ended” by the **Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo**, despite the tension between the two governments that simmered for the next six years. The treaty stated that: After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, different motives that propelled the **Gadsden Purchase** sparked up. There was a debate over how the railroad route would look like between the Northerners and the Southerners that was decided through a close vote. The United State President **Franklin Pierce** sent a man named **James Gadsden**, the president of the South Carolina Railroad Company, to negotiate with **Antonio López de Santa Anna**, the Mexican President at the time. The two met on __September 26, 1853__ and signed the treaty on __December 30, 1853__. The treaty stated that:
 * Mexico** would lose its claim to Texas and had to give to the United States the territory that comprised of parts of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming, and the whole of California, Utah, and Nevada.
 * United States**, in exchange for the 200,000 square miles of land, would give $15 million and a promise to ensure the safety the Mexican citizens in these transferred territories by respecting the pre-existing property rights.
 * United states** wanted
 * 1) 1 To find a southern route for a //transcontinental railroad// that passed through the Mexican territory
 * 2) 2 To create //new boundary adjustments// in response to the southern railroad route
 * 3 To arrange financial help for //Native American attacks//
 * 1) 4 To settle monetary claims between countries related to the //Garay project//**
 * Mexico**
 * 1) 1 Needed to get //money// to fund an army to bring down ongoing rebellions
 * 2) 2 To create a //settlement of Indian claims// against the United States
 * 3) 3 Saw the railroad system as a benefit that would open up //trade opportunities//
 * United States** would pay //$15 million// for //45,535 square miles// south of New Mexico and assume private American claims (including the //Garay deal//). Also, the government agreed to try to prevent further American raids along Mexico’s borders.
 * Mexico** voided the Native American attack responsibilities of United State and sold the land.

__**However**__, the treaty was revised on __April 25, 1854__ and signed on __June 8, 1854__ with the following changes: The amount paid to Mexico decreased from $15 million to //$10 million//, the amount of land purchased changed from 45,535 square miles to //29,670 square miles//, and any mention of the //Native American attacks and private claims were erased//.

Mexican government, led by the president Santa Anna, desperately needed money to fund an army to stop rebellions occurring within the country. On the other hand, U.S. side wanted the land in northern Mexico for two reasons: to clarify the boundary question that remained on the *Mesilla Strip and to build a railroad that would connect east to the west. Thus, it was concluded that if the United States paid $10 million to Mexico, then Mexico would hand over a partial territory of the Gila River, which is now lying between the New Mexico and Arizona.
 * 3) Did the ruling governments of the territories approve of the deals? Why or why not?**


 * The problem of the Mesilla Strip can be referred back to the Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty. After the Mexican-American War, boundary commissioners from United States and Mexico surveyed on the international border that was agreed in the Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty. However, these two commissioners found out that there were longitude and latitude errors in John Disturnell’s 1847 map that was used while negotiating this very treaty. Thus, due to these errors, it seemed that the United States gained more land than they were supposed to gain, making the Mexico to feel frustrated. However, since the treaty specifically mentioned about how two countries should be both happy in order for the treaty to be finalized, the United States could not just get the land right away. Unfortunately, the treaty negotiator from Mexico, Pedro Gracia Conde, died from typhoid fever. Thus, this problem remained unsolved until 1853, when the new treaty – Gadsden Purchase Treaty – was established between these two countries.


 * 4) What was the impact on the inhabitants of the territory?**

Unlike some residents who detested the change in their territories, such as that of an expansion, the Mexican residents who initially lived in the territory, rather welcomed the Treaty of Mesilla with delight. They were not living under U.S. law and its protection. Only few head back to south with the Mexican troops after this treaty. However, the Mexicans in general, from other parts of the country, did not like this treaty at all. In fact, it was so unpopular that the president of Mexico, Santa Anna, resigned from his position in August, 1855.

a) economic change**
 * 5) What was the effect this expansion had on the U.S.? Consider the following topics when answering this:

Though the Gadsden treaty had been set, the United States kept cutting down the price of the land from $10 million to no more than $7 million. In addition, United States spent //$12 million// after only //five years// of the approved treaty.

- The built of railroads caused thousands of people to flourish in both Arizona and New Mexico. Moreover, the gold rush in the west coast brought more people in towards the area. For example, many Chinese immigrants from Florida flew into Arizona to work in building railroads. From there, some went to the west to seek gold. - New Mexico
 * b) population change**
 * || In 1900 || In 1950 || In 1990 || In 2008 || Population change from 1990 to 2000 ||
 * New Mexico || 195,310 || 681,187 || 1,515,069 || 1,984,356 || 20.1% ||

From this chart, we can see that the population growing dramatically. Surely, this shows that the area of Gadsden Purchase within New Mexico contributed to the growing population rate.

- Arizona:
 * || In 1900 || In 1950 || In 1990 || In 2008 || Population change from 1990 to 2000 ||
 * Arizona || 122,931 || 748,587 || 3,665,228 || 6,500,180 || 40.0% ||

From this chart, we can see that the population of Arizona gets much more bigger than that of New Mexico! Thus, these results obviously show that the area of Gadsden Purchase within Arizona partially contributed to the soaring population rate. President **Franklin Pierce** and **James Gadsden** wanted to purchase the land that included a port on the Gulf of California for more expeditious transports of heavy items such as //mining machiner, copper, and silver mines// though Mexico. Gadsden also wanted to increase the amount of railroad construction in the North due to the trade in //lumber, farm goods, and manufacturing goods//. Another event that sparked a greater desire for the railroad system was when gold was found in California during the 1848. Though some of these favors were rejected by Mexico, one can see just how much trade of natural resources had an impact upon what the United States were looking for during the purchase and the different resources that they obtained through the purchase. During the purchase, Mexico was allowed to retain Mesilla Valley in exchange for the Santa Rita Mountains which were believed to be rich with //copper deposits and some silver and gold// that had not been mined.
 * c) natural resources/ environmental changes**

Although the treaty was signed and all, there were many who proposed that the treaty was expanding the slavery issue. To build railroads, slavery was an important factor and since the treaty was now signed, it would promote the slavery instead of banning it. This soon caused intense debates within the Senate. However, in April 25th, 1854, it was concluded that the land grant should be cut down to $10 million from $15 million and in June, this very action was taken place.
 * d) impact on slavery or other institutions**

In **Mexico**, the Gadsden Purchase was so unpopular that **Santa Anna** was banished off his position as a dictator and **Gadsden** was recalled as the Minister to Mexico. During the **American Civil War** in 1861, the **Confederate Territory of Arizona** was formed and in 1863 the Union created its own Arizona Territory with the western half of New Mexico territory and the lands that were gained through the Gadsden Purchase. And on February 14, 1912, territory was later admitted to the Union as the **State of Arizona**. Even today, without the Gadsden Purchase, **Tuscan, Arizona** would be part of Mexico and the //University of Arizona// would cease to exist.
 * e) political impacts**

In conclusion, both the United States and Mexico did not have a significant benefit from the Gadsden Purchase (though most would see the purchase as beneficial to the United States).
 * 6) Overall, was the addition of this piece of land positive or negative? Consider all parties involved when developing your answer to this question.**

First, let’s talk about the issue from the perspective of **United States**. The deal was extremely profitable at first, considering that a tract of nearly 30,000,000 acres of land cost about //thirty-three cents per acre//. Also, a southern border of the present-day United States was created. Though seemingly positive at first, the negative consequences began showing up couple of years later: The border that was formed wasn’t actually //accurate// and caused quarrels with the Mexican state and federal government, the Mexicans were complaining that the United States needed to further //restrain the Native American raids//, though this was pretty much impossible due to the lack of infantry troop, and it was later discovered that the //best route// for the southern transcontinental railroad actually lay south of the Gila River.

Now let’s look through the perspective of **Mexico**. Mexico certainly had the bad side of the deal for they had to give up their lands for such a bargain at the time. United States kept cheating them by //cutting down the price of the land// and even the supposed promises of the pact weren’t even met with. //Native American raids increased// and //American filibusters// crossed the border freely when they wanted to detach completely from Mexico and absorb into United States.

For the addition of 45,535 square miles of land, was it necessary to go through such negative outcomes? However, all we can say in the present now is to accept the Gadsden Purchase and be thankful for the University of Arizona.

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