Struggle to Become a State

5 Things that prevented us from becoming a state General ignorance about the territory and the citizens Corrupt political and business leaders National politics interfered in the process Indian Wars The territories image of being the “Wild West”

Mexican-American War 1846- NM claimed as US land by Stephen Watts Kearny Revolt of 1847 targeted individuals sympathetic to the new US govt. US Sent troops to up rebellion down, were successful 1848- US gets control of NM with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Mexico ceded (gave up) NM, AZ, CA, NV, UT! Half of their territory!

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Mexican citizens were allowed to keep their Mexican citizenship They could move back to Mexico if they wanted The Protocol of Queretaro Extension to treaty Protected property rights of former Mexican citizens who had received land from Mexico or Spain Ownership was hard to prove, many lost all land when US took over

New Mexico Becomes a U.S. Territory A convention of representatives met to draft the state constitution Ratified with a vote of 8,371 to 39! Henry Connelly was elected governor, Manuel Alvarez as lieutenant governor U.S. govt rejected constitution, NM would have to wait Compromise of 1850- settling the issue of slavery in the US Admit Cali as a free state Allow NM and UT territories to decide if they wanted to allow slavery End the slave trade in Washington D.C. Pass a new Fugitive Slave law US paid TX $10 million to drop land claims in NM

Civil War in NM Pushed NM statehood out of consideration War began in 1861 Slavery, economic issues, states rights TX joined the south Confederates saw NM as a link to CA Summer of 1861 Texas troops invaded, took control of southern NM 1862, confederates move north along Rio Grande Valley Battle of Valverde = southern victory South then occupied ABQ and SF, looking to take Fort Union Union cut them off at Glorieta Pass, Union wins

Indian War and Defeat of the Navajo and Mescalero Apaches Indian raids on pueblo peoples and white settlers in NM increased US govt. built military forts Also established Indian agencies near where Indians lived Navajo continued to raid 1863- Navajos told to surrender peacefully or crops and livestock would be destroyed “Kit” Carson followed through Navajo were forced to move to Bosque Redondo (Navajo Long Walk) Apache also sent to Bosque Redondo Bosque Redondo was a disaster, many died of disease and starvation Eventually Navajos were allowed to return home, apache given different reservation

Law and Disorder in the Territory Many saw NM as a lawless land filled with gunslingers Had high levels of murder, bank robberies, etc. Lincoln County Wars:1878-1881 Competing men trying to get control over military posts and Indian reservations Tunstall Vs. Murphy Each hired men to fight for them, Tunstall hired Billy the Kid War began when Tunstall was murdered, ended when Billy the Kid was killed

Overcoming the Obstacles to Statehood What helped improve our image? Introduction of the railroad New Mexicans helped fight in the Spanish-American War End of the Santa Fe Ring Violence in the territory died down New Mexicans thought joining AZ would improve chance of becoming a state in 1906 Voters approved the idea in NM, AZ voters rejected it