Gadsden Purchase C+

History
The Gadsden Purchase refers to a land deal that was made between the United States and Mexico in 1853. The reasons for this acquisition are many and most point to unresolved or lingering problems left over after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the Mexican American War, and the need for a southern transcontinental railroad route. One these problems was a border dispute arising from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; ironically one of the same reasons that started the war with Mexico. The disputed territory was called the Mesilla Valley (later to become the Gadsden Purchase) and both the United States and Mexico claimed the land after the Mexican American Wari.1 The origins of the dispute lie in a map that was used to delineate a border between the United States and Mexico in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The map used was 25 years old and showed the Rio Grande 8 miles north of El Paso. However, surveyors hired by the government showed that in reality the Rio Grande was 36 miles further south and 100 miles further west of El Paso than the original map had shown. 2 Other problems included Mexicos demand of monetary compensation for damage caused by Indian raids, which the United States refused claiming that the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo never stated that the U.S. was responsible for raids if they did occur. Mexico had also accused Americans of illegally sneaking into Mexico and inciting rebellions.3

"Gadsden Purchase, 18531854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian."Gadsden Purchase, 1853 1854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.

Kluger, Richard. Seizing Destiny: How America Grew From Sea to Shining Sea. (2007) ISBN 978-0-

375-41341-4.
3

"Gadsden Purchase, 18531854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian."Gadsden Purchase, 1853 1854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.

Most importantly, the reason for the acquisition had to do with the Souths desire for a southern railroad route to the west coast. Initially, railroad companies wanted the route to go through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, located in Mexico because an American route proved too mountainous for train travel. However, this created another problem. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec had already been given away as a land grant to a man named Don Jose Garay that planned on starting an American colony similar to the previous Texas colony. President Santa Anna was fearful of another rebellion, such as the Texas Rebellion, and revoked the land grand thereby bankrupting American investors that had sponsored the colony. Now, American investors were upset with the Mexican government.4 In 1853, the Mexican government, under President Santa Anna, evicted Americans from the disputed Mesilla Valley. The United States federal government refused to act, so the territorial governor of the New Mexico Territory, William Lane, declared that the Mesilla Valley was part of the New Mexico Territory. Santa Anna responded by sending troops to the valley.5 United States President Franklin Pierce, trying to cool down the situation, sent the Minister to Mexico James Gadsden to negotiate with Santa Anna for a new border including land ideal for a railroad, to eliminate the request for compensation of Indian raids, and for compensation to American investors who lost money in the Garay affair. Gadsden finally met with Santa Anna in September of 1853 and was given negotiating directions from the President through a man named Christopher Ward, who happened to be one of the investors in the Garay project that lost money. Gadsden was told to offer Santa Anna $50 million for Lower California and New Mexico, or $15 million for a smaller deal.6 Gadsden and Ward did have their own
4

"Gadsden Purchase, 18531854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian."Gadsden Purchase, 1853 1854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.
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"Gadsden Purchase, 18531854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian."Gadsden Purchase, 1853 1854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.
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"Gadsden Purchase, 18531854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian."Gadsden Purchase, 1853 1854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.

agendas however. First, Ward lied and told Gadsden that monetary compensation for investors who lost on the Garay project had to be written into any treaty negotiated with Santa Anna. Secondly, Gadsden was bent on acquiring land for the railroad to spread southern influence in the west. Gadsden had previously suggested splitting California in half to make the lower section open to slavery. Gadsden was also quoted saying that slavery was a social blessing and that abolitionists were the greatest curse of the nation.7 After negotiations, Santa Anna agreed to a $15 million deal in order to fund an army for ongoing rebellions and to protect the border from the United States. Had this deal been ratified the United States would have: acquired 45,000 square miles south of New Mexico; assumed the debts of private American citizens (including those involved in the Garay project); promised to work hard at trying to stop Indian raids into Mexico. Mexico in turn would have dropped their property damage claims against the government for Indian raids.8 The deal was never ratified but a revised treaty was. In the revised treaty, which Santa Anna did sign, the United States gave Mexico $10 million for 29,670 square miles of land. The new treaty also removed any language dealing with Indian raids and private monetary claims.9

Explanation of the Grade

The Davis Consulting Group, LLP gave the Gadsden Purchase a C+ for several reasons. First, the Davis Group cannot support the spread of slavery. This was the ultimate goal of the southern transcontinental railroad. The railroad, on the surface, was supposed to keep the

Richards, The California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War. (2007) ISBN 0-307-26520-X.

"Gadsden Purchase, 18531854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian."Gadsden Purchase, 1853 1854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.

"Gadsden Purchase, 18531854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian."Gadsden Purchase, 1853 1854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.

South in the national trade loop and to make sure that it would not be edged out by new states in the west. However, the real purpose of the railroad was open the west to southern influence and settlement.10 The treaty, being signed in 1853, occurred just after the Compromise of 1850 in which several western territories were open to slavery. The only way these territories could become slave states was to have them settled by pro-slavery settlers. The railroad would have provided the access to these new territories. Secondly, the treaty that allowed for the purchase of the territory did not solve any of the problems that led to its creation other than the need for a railroad. A major source of tension between the United States and Mexico was the Indian raids into Mexico. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo stated that the United States would do its best to stop raids, but it said nothing of the case when raids did occur. Mexico wanted financial restitution for damage caused during raids, and the United States refused claiming that they were under no obligation as per the treaty. The new Gadsden Purchase Treaty said nothing of the raids and left the problem absolutely unresolved.11 Thirdly, the Gadsden Purchase Treaty failed to resolve the issue of financial restitution. One of the major American complaints subsequent to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was financial compensation for private citizens that lost money in Garay project. This issue was never resolved and it was left unresolved on the part of the government intentionally. Peirce felt that matters involving private citizens and foreign countries were none of the governments business.12 Lastly, the purchase simply resulted in a new border dispute. The border dispute simply moved further south of where it had been in 1852-1853. So, in the end, the treaty responsible

10

Richards, The California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War. (2007) ISBN 0-307-26520-X.

11

"Gadsden Purchase, 18531854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian."Gadsden Purchase, 1853 1854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.
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"Gadsden Purchase, 18531854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian."Gadsden Purchase, 1853 1854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014

for the Gadsden Purchase solved not one of the issues causing tension between the United States and Mexico. On the upside, the treaty did allow for the southern transcontinental railroad, which was completed in 1871. However, another railroad was built in the northern section of Arizona in 1881.13 Was the Gadsden Purchase absolutely necessary? Mexican citizens felt the answer was no. They continued to harbor resentment towards the United States for stripping away their country, and felt betrayed by Santa Anna who sold away their country and squandered the money.

Suggestions
The Davis Consulting Group, LLP has several suggestions as to what the federal government could have done to get a higher grade. First, we must assume that the government needed the land. That being the case, and knowing why the government needed the land, for southern influence to spread into the western states, the highest grade the government could have possibly obtained would have been a B+. They could have received a B+ if they would have made a few changes to the treaty. 1. The government should have lowered the price of the purchase to $7 million. 2. The savings of $3 million should have been applied to making certain concessions to Mexico, such as building up defenses along the border to better put an end to Indian raids, and to compensate American investors that lost money in the Garay project. 3. Additional money should have been applied to Mexican citizens that lost property due to Indian raids as a show of friendship. True, Americans were not bound by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to do this, but it would have looked better to Mexican citizens

13

"RailsWest.com Second Transcontinental Line Brings Competition." RailsWest.com Second

Transcontinental Line Brings Competition. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.

than giving a bigger purchase price to Santa Anna for the land. This could have potentially made for more favorable relations with the United States and Mexico.

Bibliography
1. "Gadsden Purchase, 18531854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian."Gadsden Purchase, 18531854 - 18301860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.

2.

Kluger, Richard. Seizing Destiny: How America Grew From Sea to Shining Sea. (2007) ISBN 978-0-37541341-4.

3. "RailsWest.com Second Transcontinental Line Brings Competition." RailsWest.com Second Transcontinental Line Brings Competition. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.
4. Richards, The California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War. (2007) ISBN 0-307-26520-X.