New Mexico, 1850-1912 and Arizona,

1863-1912

New Mexico as a Territory

• After New Mexico became part of the U.S. many New Mexicans favored statehood since it would allow them to vote for the governor and judges.

• A small percentage, the New Mexican elite, favored a territorial form of government because they could circumvent electoral democracy and directly lobby and influence the selection of public officials.

• On June 2, 1851, the Hispano (descendants of Spanish and Mexican colonists) elite controlled the first new Mexican territorial assembly with the help of Catholic Church hierarchy and merchants.

• The assembly supported slavery of Native Americans and did not fund public schools. The only schools were Catholic which only the rich could afford.

• Euro-Americans displaced many of the Hispanos in the power structure as they settled in New Mexico.

The Santa Fe Ring

• Like Texas, New Mexico was controlled by a political machine.

• In the two decades following the Civil War, ring members grabbed 80% of New Mexico land grants.

• The ring influenced the appointment of governors, judges, land surveyors, and other officials.

• The leader of the Santa Fe Ring, Thomas B. Catron, acquired over 1,000,000 acres of land just for himself.

• The U.S. and New Mexico government also took land, 54% of New Mexico.

• The result, the vast majority of Mexicans lost their land in New Mexico after it became part of the United States.

The Lincoln County War

• The conflict arose between two factions over the control of dry goods and cattle interests in the county in 1878.

• The conflict was marked by back-and-forth revenge killings.

• Further killings continued unabated for several months, climaxing in the Battle of Lincoln, a four-day gunfight and siege.

• It is also famous because Billy the Kid fought in it.

• In 1912 New Mexico became a state.

Arizona

• Arizona Territory was established in 1863 by congress.

• Its only economic enterprise was silver mining.

• Like Texas and New Mexico, it was controlled by a political elite.

• Arizona was a lawless and violent place.

Race Wars

• Cowboys from Texas used Tombstone as a base for raids on defenseless Mexican villages on the other side of the border.

• The situation would have deteriorated further but the threat of Apache forced whites and Mexican elite in Arizona to cooperate.

Native Americans

• The cooperation among races was not so commendable, as they raided Native American camps massacring men, women, and children.

• Along with the Apache, the Navajo, and Pima were all attacked, their land stolen, and their people killed.

It’s the Water

• Mining dominated Arizona and farming lagged behind. The problem was water.

• The Roosevelt Dam was built which provided irrigation for farms in Southern Arizona.

• The water was also used for agriculture in California and drinking water in Los Angeles.

• Arizona became a state in 1912.