US Baja California

So say that at the end of the Mexican war the US takes Baja as well as every thing they took in OTL. What sort of effects would this have on the US and Mexico, as well as the rest of the world? Or does it not really make a difference?
 
I think it's a good possibility California would be split into two states with Baja California and the Southern 1/3 of California being one and the Northern 2/3 becoming another.

As to implications, well it'd give America a 'protected harbour' (I don't remember what it's called), apart from that though I don't think it'd change that much, I mean it's not a very populated place even today (the entire peninsula only has 3.7 people IIRC) and does'nt appear to have ever been that important to Mexico, I mean it was a territory right on up into the second half of the 20th century (North gained statehood in the 50's, the South in the 70's).
 
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I agree with Iori. I think the plan to split California would go through. Also there may be move to fill the Salton Sink with water and maintain a lake there by diverting the Colorado River. If this is done it may prevent Hoover Dam.

Benjamin
 
I think it's a good possibility California would be split into two states with Baja California and the Southern 1/3 of California being one and the Northern 2/3 becoming another.

Why? California is already a geographically massive state as it is, (A thousand miles drive, or the better part of, from top to bottom isn't it?) and there's nothing in Baja California to merit it being it's own state. If Baja California is acquired after California statehood, then annexing it to an existing state would be problematic I would have thought, but not if it's taken in the Mexican-American War.
 
Why? California is already a geographically massive state as it is, (A thousand miles drive, or the better part of, from top to bottom isn't it?) and there's nothing in Baja California to merit it being it's own state. If Baja California is acquired after California statehood, then annexing it to an existing state would be problematic I would have thought, but not if it's taken in the Mexican-American War.

The "Baja" state Iori's talking here would include LA and San Diego, so that'd be a very populous state. And the OP is suggesting it's taken as part of the Mexican Cession ITTL, so before OTL Californa Statehood.



Well, to answer OP the US gains rights to the Colorado Delta (the river is the likely border) as well as acess to the Gulf of California. That's good for Arizona as it's a shorter path to a port, though not exceptionally better than the route to San Diego or LA, though you do avoid having to pass through the Imperial Sand Dunes or the mountains. Still, it's a long sea trip out of the Gulf into the Pacific, so there's a tradeoff if you're going any direction but south.

Now, having a port farther south on Baja is helpful for strategic control of the central Pacific trade lanes, so a fort/navy base near Cabo San Lucas would be useful strategically, as will (eventually) an air base.

I don't believe the peninsula has much in the way of resources, though I could be wrong.
 
And California became its current size because of the Gold. The State essentially drew its own borders and Congress agrees because they wanted the gold.

Add the Peninsula to the mix and you might have a bargaining chip for moving the OTL East Border further Southwest, expanding OTL Nevada. Then again, California Might Demand the Border it currently has PLUS the Peninsula for the hell of it, and Congress would have little choice but to accept.. And the Lower Peninsula would make a great place for the Southwest Indians to be "relocated" to.
 
If all of California was taken, I suspect it would have been divided into two states, right along the Missouri Compromise line.
 
If all of California was taken, I suspect it would have been divided into two states, right along the Missouri Compromise line.
This requires a change to the gold rush and the Compromise of 1850.

Baja is mostly harmless and would be added onto California. Little OTL changes.
 
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