Arizona statehood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Arizona statehood - Essay Example Wanting to return to Spain, de Vaca turned him down, and Marcos turned to Estevanico for help, letting him go ahead of him. Francisco Vasquez led an invading army of Spaniards, looking for the mythical gold cities, the following year (AZ Big Media, 2011). However, Coronado made it only as far as Kansas before turning back, his only major discovery being the Grand Canyon. For the next 250 years, from 1540-1810, the Spaniards ruled Arizona, considering it a desert land that was worthless and left its natives alone (The Robinson Library, 2012). It was referred to as New Spain’s Pimeria Alta colony. However, silver and gold were soon discovered and they began expanding their influence by moving in that area. Arizona’s name comes from Spaniard owned silver mines. Father Kino who was an Italian priest came along with the Spaniards and was the most famous European at this time. Father Kino was instrumental in bringing new farming methods and education. As a fierce opponent of slavery, he was hugely popular among the natives of Arizona (The Robinson Library, 2012). During his mission to bring the Southern Arizona tribes to Christianity, he established twenty-four towns and missions including Tucson. Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1810 and Arizona formed part of its territory. Some American mountain men did venture into Arizona, including Kit Carson who was the first American to travel the length of Arizona and back, but it was left alone for a while since its tribes were considered savages. America moved against Mexico in 1846 to seize land stretching from Texas down to the Pacific Ocean (e-RD, 2011). However, they had no way to get to California, which they had already established interest in before the beginning of the war. On the other hand, the Mormons had been evicted from Illinois, and they wanted to establish a colony in Utah. Therefore, they struck a deal with the US government as suppliers of labor to build a road from New Mexico to San Diego. They managed this but by using a longer route than was necessary, although this meant that they escaped the Apaches, who were known to be vicious and would have attacked them (e-RD, 2011). After, winning the Mexican war, the question turned to the drawing of the Southern border. The Northern States, which were the most dominant, wanted the line as north as possible since New Mexico and Southern Arizona was a slave friendly territory as it lay south of the line at Mason-Dixon (Facts About..., 2012). The border was thus drawn along the Gila River. Ambassador James Gadsden then travelled to Mexico with the view of making a purchase for some of Mexican territory. Mexico actually needed this money and offered the North of Mexico and Baja California. However, Congress authorized a bare minimum to regain the Mormon built road as they were afraid of adding more territory that ran slavery. According to Mexican law, native tribes had their land claims recognized but Americans only con sidered title deeds as land claims. The Apache wars lasted from 1848 to 1886 with the surrender of Geronimo after which the south of New Mexico was enjoined with the American Confederate States (Facts About..., 2012). Arizona has a unique political history. It was the first state to allow women voters, as well as the first to allow judges to be recalled. It was also the first state to let public petitions override the legislature and constitution of the state. Its recent reforms have included state