The Road to Statehood
New Mexico did not become a state overnight it actually took us 64 years for a variety of reasons. Let `s explore why!
The Civil War
New Mexico became a territory of the US as the country lingered toward the start of the Civil War. The question of whether New Mexico would be a slave or free state only hindered the process of statehood.
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The Compromise of 1850Civil War Comes to New Mexico!
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Racism, Prejudice, and Fear of the Unknown
Read the following article to understand how many Americans viewed the idea of New Mexico becoming a state.
http://www.newmexicohistory.org/filedetails.php?fileID=271 In an interview to the Pittsburgh Times, Bernard Rodney said: "Nothing is so hard to dispel as a popular misconception, and the Nation at large has a misconception of New Mexico. The eastern tourist is the person largely responsible for this false impression. He or she comes out here armed with a Kodak and every blanket Indian, every old adobe house and every burro in the Territory is the object of a snapshot, to be carried back East as typical of the New Mexico of today. They go miles to get snapshots at an Indian pueblo, but Albuquerque and our other towns, with wide, well-kept streets, elegant stores, handsome residences, churches, school houses and colleges, are hardly given a second look, let alone a thought. They are too like similar things in the East, and the tourist comes out here to see something strange to him." |
Examine the political cartoon thats shows how many felt about New Mexico becoming a state. |
Part 1
1. Based on the above information what are six reasons New Mexico had a difficult time becoming a state?
2. Why did the Compromise of 1850 deter New Mexico from becoming a state?
3. What were the terms of the Compromise of 1850?
4. Do you think that Bernard Rodney was correct in his description of how many misconceive New Mexico? and why?
5. Look at the political cartoon above and explain what is depicted in the cartoon?
6. How does manifest destiny explain part of the reason New Mexico was not quickly added as a state?
1. Based on the above information what are six reasons New Mexico had a difficult time becoming a state?
2. Why did the Compromise of 1850 deter New Mexico from becoming a state?
3. What were the terms of the Compromise of 1850?
4. Do you think that Bernard Rodney was correct in his description of how many misconceive New Mexico? and why?
5. Look at the political cartoon above and explain what is depicted in the cartoon?
6. How does manifest destiny explain part of the reason New Mexico was not quickly added as a state?