In 1848, the Mexican-American War ended with Mexico ceding nearly half of its territory in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to the United States; including what is now, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Colorado.
The territorial boundary line in what is now Arizona was north of the Gila River (making the Tucson area part of Mexico). This restricted access to California via the established Mormon Battalion route which remained part of Mexico. Settlers in that area were often under attack and without protection.
...a purchase of land that includes Oro Valley
President Franklin Pierce, sent James Gadsden, U. S. Minister to Mexico, to Mexico City to purchase additional land needed to connect the lower Mississippi to California. Initially, the parcel of land was to include all of Baja California and the Port of Guaymas on the Gulf of California.
With the looming conflict between the North and the South, the northern states were wary of the possible expansion of a southern route to the west which could strengthen the southern economy as well as expand slavery.
Gadsden had been given six boundary line proposals by the U. S. Senate with commensurate purchase prices to take to the Mexican government. Finally, in 1853, a compromise was reached in Congress, and the border was set to cross Arizona south of the Gila where it stands today. The Gadsden Purchase ($10,000,000) acquired all of New Mexico south of the 34th Parallel plus the land between New Mexico and California (now Arizona). The newly acquired land became the Territory of New Mexico and part of the United States. Arizona did not become its own territory until 1863.
Purchase accommodated building the rail roads
Bringing commerce to Tucson and the surrounding region
With the looming conflict between the North and the South, the northern states were wary of the possible expansion of a southern route to the west which could strengthen the southern economy as well as expand slavery.
Gadsden had been given six boundary line proposals by the U. S. Senate with commensurate purchase prices to take to the Mexican government. Finally, in 1853, a compromise was reached in Congress, and the border was set to cross Arizona south of the Gila where it stands today. The Gadsden Purchase ($10,000,000) acquired all of New Mexico south of the 34th Parallel plus the land between New Mexico and California (now Arizona). The newly acquired land became the Territory of New Mexico and part of the United States. Arizona did not become its own territory until 1863.
Purchase accommodated building the rail roads
Gadsden did not believe the ratified treaty for the land was in the best interest of either the U. S. or Mexican governments. That being said, the Gadsden Treaty that was signed December 30, 1853, would add the needed territory to build the southern transcontinental railroad which in large part was the primary reason for the purchase.
Bringing commerce to Tucson and the surrounding region
Though Gadsden did not see the fruition of his efforts, the railroad lines that he envisioned did come to be. Between 1878 and 1881 the Southern Pacific Railroad built the southern transcontinental line between Yuma and El Paso. The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad linked to the port of Guaymas in Sonora, Mexico. All of these lines are within the Gadsden Purchase area and make it one of the busiest lines in the Western Hemisphere. Needless, to say it put Tucson and the greater
Tucson area on the map and on the road to progress.
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This month visit the the Pusch House Museum to learn more about "Traditions, Toys and Trains"
Want to find out more about railroad lines in our area? Stop by the Pusch House Museum on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to Noon, December 3, 10, and 17 for the Oro Valley Historical Society’s new exhibit, “Traditions, Toys, and Trains”. The exhibit features familiar holiday traditions, the history of some of our favorite toys and local train history and the connection between trains and Christmas. Children can also drop off letters to Santa in our “special mailbox” on those dates AND on Saturday, December 17 from 10 to Noon, they can meet Father Christmas!
