WI U.S. would have bought BAJA peninsula from Santa Anna

First of all, Santa Anna never really just out and out offered to sell Baja to the US. What he did was to hint to the Pierce Administration that he might be willing to part with bit of land so as to cover the big national debt he was racking up during his "third time's the charm" attempt at ruling Mexico. He also sent a strongly worded message demanding a large cash payment to cover losses incurred by Mexican citizens from Indians who frequently raided across the border. (The old Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo stipulated that the US had to prevent these raids and reimburse any losses incurred by said raids.)

Pierce, a doughface, was eager to by more land from Mexico that might then be opened to slavery. He sent Gadsden to Mexico to look into it. Gadsden wrote up six different proposals ranging from $50 million to buy most of northern Mexico to $15 million to by a much smaller parcel. Santa Anna really wanted the money, but he knew that if he sold too much he'd be out on his ass for once again handing a large portion of Mexico to the gringos.

In the end Santa Anna agreed to sell a plot of about 98,000 km for $15 million, which the Northern's in Congress cut 23,000 km off of before it could get passed. In the end Santa Anna only got $10 million and Mexico had to renounce all claims resulting from cross border Indian raids. Santa Anna wasted or hid the money and by 1855 he was once again kicked out of office.

BUT...there is evidence that if Pierce hadn't been so worried about Congress's reaction and had given Gadsden more time to pressure Santa Anna, he would have sold a bit more land including the Baja peninsula. As this was prior to the hated Kansas-Nebraska Act, Pierce probably could have gotten a sale costing upwards of $25 million through Congress but at great political expense. As per the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Compromise of 1850 these new territories would have automatically been slave territories regardless of previous Mexican law. This alone would have made getting the controversial Kansas-Nebraska Act through and this enlarged Gadsden Purchase might have greatly increased sectional tension.

AS AN ASIDE...The filibustering campaign of William Walker, which occurred during Gadsden's attempts to buy land, spooked Santa Anna and hardened his resolve not to sell too much of Mexico. If American authorities had arrested Walker before his invasion of Baja it would have made Santa Anna far more trusting and willing to sell.

Benjamin
 
First of all, Santa Anna never really just out and out offered to sell Baja to the US. What he did was to hint to the Pierce Administration that he might be willing to part with bit of land so as to cover the big national debt he was racking up during his "third time's the charm" attempt at ruling Mexico. He also sent a strongly worded message demanding a large cash payment to cover losses incurred by Mexican citizens from Indians who frequently raided across the border. (The old Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo stipulated that the US had to prevent these raids and reimburse any losses incurred by said raids.)

Pierce, a doughface, was eager to by more land from Mexico that might then be opened to slavery. He sent Gadsden to Mexico to look into it. Gadsden wrote up six different proposals ranging from $50 million to buy most of northern Mexico to $15 million to by a much smaller parcel. Santa Anna really wanted the money, but he knew that if he sold too much he'd be out on his ass for once again handing a large portion of Mexico to the gringos.

In the end Santa Anna agreed to sell a plot of about 98,000 km for $15 million, which the Northern's in Congress cut 23,000 km off of before it could get passed. In the end Santa Anna only got $10 million and Mexico had to renounce all claims resulting from cross border Indian raids. Santa Anna wasted or hid the money and by 1855 he was once again kicked out of office.

BUT...there is evidence that if Pierce hadn't been so worried about Congress's reaction and had given Gadsden more time to pressure Santa Anna, he would have sold a bit more land including the Baja peninsula. As this was prior to the hated Kansas-Nebraska Act, Pierce probably could have gotten a sale costing upwards of $25 million through Congress but at great political expense. As per the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Compromise of 1850 these new territories would have automatically been slave territories regardless of previous Mexican law. This alone would have made getting the controversial Kansas-Nebraska Act through and this enlarged Gadsden Purchase might have greatly increased sectional tension.

AS AN ASIDE...The filibustering campaign of William Walker, which occurred during Gadsden's attempts to buy land, spooked Santa Anna and hardened his resolve not to sell too much of Mexico. If American authorities had arrested Walker before his invasion of Baja it would have made Santa Anna far more trusting and willing to sell.

Benjamin

That's very interesting. Never new that about the Gadsden Purchase. Where exactly was the territory that Congress trimmed off the sale? South of New Mexico? Did a quick google search but couldn't come up with a map that showed it.
 
Yeah, I've been looking too. As it was a full 25% of the original intended purchase it would have been pretty substantial. I'm not at home so I don't have my full library of History of US Foreign Diplomacy books. Some of them have maps with alternative border settlements.

It may have been the proposed corridor to connect Arizona to the Gulf of Mexico, but I'm not sure. I'll continue to look and post any images if I find them.

Benjamin
 
During the MAW several American Ships anchored in La Paz, so Baja was on the Table at the Treaty Negotiations.

The American and Mexican Negotiators had a Card Game over who got Baja. The loser had to keep it.
I've heard this many times but I sdon't understand why. Would it really be that much of a liability to administer Baja? Couldn't possibly be...
 
I've heard this many times but I don't understand why. Would it really be that much of a liability to administer Baja? Couldn't possibly be...
Just that except for La Paz there was nothing else there. It wasn't till the 1880's that the Japanese began Pearl Fishing in the Gulf of California.
 
Just that except for La Paz there was nothing else there. It wasn't till the 1880's that the Japanese began Pearl Fishing in the Gulf of California.
So nothing to gain or lose? WHhy not just gain? Especially if you gain La Paz...and sea acces to New Mexico/Arizona...
 
Top