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Hi all
The then president in 1853 Franklin Pierce sought to buy a part of Mexico in what is today known as the Gadsden Purchase as most of you will be aware. However what expansionist America we now know was more expansionist that most think.
He had many drawn out many proposals but I want to talk about America buying 125,000 square miles for 50 million dollars of Mexican territory. The reason why America did not buy more land is because of the then negotiator who represented America, James Gadsden. The reason behind this is because and I quote:
"Gadsden's antagonistic manner" alienated Santa Anna (the then president of Mexico). Gadsden had advised Santa Anna that "the spirit of the age" would soon lead the northern states to secede so he might as well sell them now. The Mexican President felt threatened by William Walker's attempt to capture BajaCalifornia with 50 troops and annex Sonora. Gadsden disavowed any government backing of Walker, who was expelled by the U.S. and placed on trial as a criminal. Santa Anna worried that the US would allow further aggression against Mexican territory. Santa Anna needed to get as much money for as little territory as possible. When Great Britain rejected Mexican requests to assist in the negotiations, Santa Anna opted for the $15 million package.
Bad negotiating techniques, to say the least.
My first question is who is the best possible alternative candidate to conduct the purchase other James Gadsden. I know the Americans went through a number of negotiators during the Mexican-America War and the Gadsden purchase.
My second question what would have happened to the area below if it were bought, For example:
What type of states may have been made?
How would the area develop? - cities, industry, culture, population
How would buying the land have changed the future to the present day? - American civil war, WW1, WW2 and this different border America would have with Mexico
Foreign policy would change and what type of issues would America face
Domestic issues would change but what are these issues and how would it affect America
Anything else you wish to talk about in how this purchase would affect the world.