New Mexico Territory

Before the formation of the Territory

In 1846, during the US-Mexican War , a provisional US government was created in New Mexico. Territorial borders were not defined. In 1848, Mexico City officially transferred the region to the United States. The interim military government lasted until September 9, 1850.

The Compromise of 1850 and the Debate over Slavery

Territory changes

The territory of New Mexico at the time of its creation (September 9, 1850) included most of the modern state of New Mexico , more than half of modern Arizona , as well as part of the modern state of Colorado and southern Nevada .

In 1853, the so-called Gadsden Purchase ^[1] took place, thanks to which the southern part of modern Arizona and a small area located in the southwestern part of the modern state of New Mexico were added to the New Mexico Territory. As a result, the Territory has become the largest in its history.

On February 28, 1861, the Territory of Colorado was formed, to which part of the Territory of New Mexico departed. On February 24, 1863, Arizona Territory was formed, to which the lands moved west of the 109th meridian. After that, the territory of New Mexico adopted the borders coinciding with the borders of the modern state of New Mexico ^[2] .

Civil War

During the Civil War, the territory of New Mexico, being the road to California , was controversial, changing hands. The settlers of the southern part of the region in 1861 willingly joined the United States , forming the Arizona territory of the United States . This included the southern half of New Mexico, unlike the Territory of Arizona , created by the Union in 1863, which included the western half. Confederate Territory Arizona became the first territorial unit called Arizona.

After the Union took control of the region ^[3] . However, the Arizona Confederate Government continued to work in exile in El Paso until the end of the civil war.