The Gadsden Purchase

By Leo Goldschmidt And Isak Johnson

What Was The Gadsden Purchase?A treaty that was ratified on December

30, 1853.

a 29,640-square-mile (76,800 km2) region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico that was

purchased by the United States

Why and What Happened?James Gadsden was the ambassador with Mexico at the time and signed the Gadsden treaty.

Franklin pierce, the president, finalized the decision and signed the treaty. Gadsden went to Santa Anna,

the Mexican president, to determine the purchases of the land.

The Mexican government was going through financial and political problems. They wanted money for armies so they could defend against the U.S.

Since they needed money, they wanted the price of the land to include damages from American Indian raids. Santa Anna wanted as much money for as little land as possible.

Santa Anna wasn't quite set on selling the land yet, he did not like "Gadsden’s antagonistic manner". Gadsden said that the "spirit of the age" would cause northern states to secede, so Santa Anna should

sell his territory now.

He asked 15 million for the land and Gadsden agreed since they needed the land for railroads. It was needed because it was the easiest route to get across the continent

How Did It Impact The United States?

"The Gadsden Purchase established the current border of the lower 48 states"

In the Gadsden purchase, the U.S. payed Mexico $10 million for a small piece of land just under the California territory and it determined the

border for New Mexico and Arizona.

Who Was Involved in the Decision Making?James Gadsden was the ambassador with

Mexico at the time and signed the Gadsden treaty. Franklin pierce, the president, finalized

the decision and signed the treaty.

Santa Anna negotiated with gadsden on the purchase of the land.