The Push West

The Mexican War

Like Arizona, Texas was a part of Mexico. Then Texas won its independence from Mexico and became a part of the United States. Mexico was angry about losing Texas and did not accept the new borders. When Mexican troops crossed the new border into Texas, the United States declared war. During the Mexican War, U.S. soldiers fought their way to Mexico City. Two army groups crossed Arizona.

Learn more about the Mexican War

The Army of the West

Stephen Kearny led the "Army of the West" across Kansas to the muddy village of Santa Fe. Kearny left his army in Santa Fe and took about 100 soldiers down along the Gila River across Arizona. Pack mules carried the groups supplies. At the Pima village, Kearny got cornmeal, flour, beans, pumpkins and melons. Further downstream, he was able to get cattle from the Maricopa Indians.

In California the Mexican War was not quite over. Kearny's troop battled with the Mexicans and many of his soldiers were killed. Soon after, the Mexican army gave up.

Learn more about Stephen Kearny

The Mormon Battalion

Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) asked their people to volunteer to join a battalion or a group of soldiers to help fight the Mexican War. Before the War the Mormons had been driven out of their homes in Illinois by people who did not life their religious beliefs. The Mormons wanted to prove that they were loyal to the United States, and they needed the money that the United States paid their soldiers.

The Mormon Battalion traveled across Arizona. The group fought only one battle when they were attached by a herd of wild bulls. The bulls, killed their mules, broke a few wagons and injured some soldiers.

Building a Road

Captain Phillip St. George Cooke took charge of the Mormon Battalion in Santa Fe. His orders were to build a road from Santa Fe to San Diego because the United States wanted a good road into California. In all the Mormon Battalion made a road over 1,000 miles long. It was called Cooke's wagon route. The road later became known as the Gila Trail.

The Gila trail was an important route to California. Later people would travel it on their way to find gold in California. The road would provide a way to get supplies and mail to the towns along the trail. The Gila Trail was important in helping Arizona and the West grow.

Learn more about the Mormon Battalion

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

When the Mexican War ended, the United States and Mexico signed a treaty in the small town of Guadalupe Hidalgo. In the treaty, Mexico gave almost half of their country to the United States in exchange for $1.5 million dollars. The land that Mexico gave up was called the Mexican Cession. This was a huge chunk of land in the West and included present day California, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico and most of what is now called Arizona.

Learn more about the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Gadsden Purchase

A few years later, the United States bought more land from Mexico. A bad map had been used when the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed and the United States said it had not gotten all of the land that it should have. The United States wanted more land to build a railroad to the Pacific Ocean.

The United States made five different offers to buy the Mexican land. The United States offered $50 million for a large amount of land south of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Mexico, however, was willing only to sell enough land for the railroad route. Mexico refused to sell the United States a seaport on the Guild of California.

After a long debate a compromise was reached, The United States agreed to less land and Mexico agreed to sell the land for less money and kept its land route to the Pacific Ocean.

Learn more about the Gadsden Purchase

Let's Go to Work!

Now that you have learned about Arizona as a Part of Mexico it is time to complete the activities for Chapter 6. Click on the Journal icon at the top of the page and complete the activities for this section. When you are done, you can continue to explore Arizona.

Return to Chapter 6 Outline Return to Top