USA New Mexico - The History : USA  

USA New Mexico - The History - Travel guide

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USA New Mexico - The History

The History

The Apaches revolted against the Spanish in 1676, the Pueblo in 1680. The later Apache Wars against the United States ended in 1886 with the surrender of Geronimo. With over 16 million acres, the Navaho reservation is the nation’s largest. Navahos are known as a pastoral people, grazing sheep, while the Pueblo, who live in pueblos scattered across the state, are largely farmers. Other important tribes include the Apache and Ute.

The 1st Europeans was Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca may have wandered across southern New Mexico between 1528 and 1536. Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado traveled through the region while searching for gold in 1540-42.

The region was ruled by Spain until Mexico won its independence in 1821. Mexican then ruled the region until 1848.

The territory north of the Gila River (including much of present Arizona) was ceded to the U.S. in 1848, when the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War. It became part of the Territory of New Mexico in 1850. Later, the U.S. wanted to build a railroad through the area south of the Gila River and purchased more land from Mexico in the Gadsden Purchase in 1853.

New Mexico was organized as a Territory on September 9, 1850 (In 1863, part of New Mexico Territory was separated to form Arizona Territory.)

New Mexico became the 47th State to Unite under America on January 6, 1912.