Could the US have gotten an even more favorable transcontinental treaty with Spain, perhaps involving the US purchasing Spanish Texas, New Mexico, and Alta California?
Perhaps by dragging the negotiations out further, while Spain's position in Latin America continued to decline?
Might things reach a sweet spot, where Spain realizes Mexico soon will be lost, so might as well take American cash for the northern peripheral territories that the Americans are interested in?
If this is the result, and the US has a treaty ratified by 1821-1822, will slave versus free status in the new territories be determined simply by extending the Missouri Compromise line west to the Pacific?
Perhaps by dragging the negotiations out further, while Spain's position in Latin America continued to decline?
Might things reach a sweet spot, where Spain realizes Mexico soon will be lost, so might as well take American cash for the northern peripheral territories that the Americans are interested in?
If this is the result, and the US has a treaty ratified by 1821-1822, will slave versus free status in the new territories be determined simply by extending the Missouri Compromise line west to the Pacific?