Expansion- Gadsden Purchase!

- The Gadsden Purchase or treaty was an agreement between the United States and Mexico in 1853.

- The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo formally ended the Mexican- American War in 1848, but tension between the Mexican government and U.S. grew.

- The Mexican government wanted money for Native American attacks that occurred in their region because the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo promised them that.

- The U.S refused to pay for the Native American attacks, and Americans continued to move into the Mexican region.

- The U.S. wanted to build a transcontinental railroad where they could move South. The only route they felt was available was through the Mexican territory.

- In 1853, Mexican officials forced Americans off their property in Mesilla Valley. But the U.S claimed Mesilla Valley as part of the U.S territory in New Mexico. Mexican president Antonio de Santa Anna refused to let the U.S occupy the region and sent troops to the area.

- The U.S president, Franklin Pierce, wanted to defuse the situation, so he sent James Gadsden (an American businessman) to the territory to negotiate with Santa Anna.

- The area would provide the U.S a railroad route, and a release from paying Mexico over Native American attacks- the U.S wanted the area for our own!

- Santa Anna refused to sell a large portion of Mexico, but he wanted money to help his country, so he signed a treaty called, The Gadsden Purchase.

- The Gadsden Purchase: The United States agreed to pay Mexico $10 million for 29,670 square miles (this later became part of Arizona and New Mexico).