Territorial evolution of New Mexico
Okay kiddo, let's talk about how New Mexico became the state we know today.
New Mexico was once home to many Native American tribes, who lived there for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. Then, in 1821, Mexico gained independence from Spain and New Mexico became a part of Mexico.
But things didn't stay the same for very long. In 1846, a war broke out between Mexico and the United States. The U.S. Army invaded New Mexico and by the end of the war, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in 1848. This agreement meant that Mexico had to give up a lot of land to the United States, and New Mexico was now a part of the U.S. territory.
However, New Mexico was not yet a state. It was considered a territory, which means that it was controlled by the federal government but did not have the same rights and privileges as a state. This changed in 1912, when New Mexico became the 47th state of the United States.
Even after becoming a state, New Mexico's boundaries continued to change. In 1850, the southern parts of New Mexico were given to Texas in the Compromise of 1850. Later, in 1863, the eastern part of New Mexico became a part of the new territory of Arizona, which became a state in 1912. Finally, in 1949, the U.S. government transferred a small portion of land from Texas to New Mexico in order to straighten their border.
So, that's how New Mexico's territorial evolution went. From a Native American land to a part of Mexico, to a U.S. territory, to a state with changing borders. It's been quite a journey!
New Mexico was once home to many Native American tribes, who lived there for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. Then, in 1821, Mexico gained independence from Spain and New Mexico became a part of Mexico.
But things didn't stay the same for very long. In 1846, a war broke out between Mexico and the United States. The U.S. Army invaded New Mexico and by the end of the war, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in 1848. This agreement meant that Mexico had to give up a lot of land to the United States, and New Mexico was now a part of the U.S. territory.
However, New Mexico was not yet a state. It was considered a territory, which means that it was controlled by the federal government but did not have the same rights and privileges as a state. This changed in 1912, when New Mexico became the 47th state of the United States.
Even after becoming a state, New Mexico's boundaries continued to change. In 1850, the southern parts of New Mexico were given to Texas in the Compromise of 1850. Later, in 1863, the eastern part of New Mexico became a part of the new territory of Arizona, which became a state in 1912. Finally, in 1949, the U.S. government transferred a small portion of land from Texas to New Mexico in order to straighten their border.
So, that's how New Mexico's territorial evolution went. From a Native American land to a part of Mexico, to a U.S. territory, to a state with changing borders. It's been quite a journey!