[RJS1950]

It wasn't Mexico that ceded lands with the treaties, it was SPAIN. Spain could have just as easily ceded Mexico to the U.S. as California. Mexico was not an independent country when these were ceded, they were colonies of SPAIN. Therefore, they have no more claim to New Mexico and California than they do to the various other former Spanish territories in South and Central America. Why don't they try to lay claim to El Salvador, or Venezuela.

[bagman]

You are incorrect. Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1820 or so. The Texas Revolution was 1836, the Mexican War was in 1847, as I recall. These territories were acquired from Mexico, not Spaion.

[Nachum]

Timeline of the formation of New Mexico:

1841 Texas soldiers invade New Mexico and claim all land east of the Rio Grande. Efforts thwarted by Gov. Manuel Armijo.

1846 Mexican-American War begins. Stephen Watts Kearny annexes New Mexico to the United States.

1847 Taos Rebellion against the U.S. military. Gov. Chat Charles Bent killed.

1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends Mexican-American War.

1850 New Mexico (which included present-day Arizona, southern Colorado, southern Utah, and southern Nevada) is designated a territory but denied statehood.

1851 Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy arrives in New Mexico and establishes schools, hospitals and orphanages throughout the territory

1854 The Gadsden Purchase front Mexico adds 45,000 square miles to the territory

1861 Confederates invade New Mexico front Texas. The Confederate Territory of Arizona is declared with the capital at La Mesilla. Territory of Colorado is created. New Mexico loses extreme northern-most section to the new territory

1862 Battles of Velarde de and Glorieta Pass fought, ends confederate occupation of New Mexico.

1863-68 Known as the "Long Walk," Navajos and Apaches are relocated to Bosque Redondo: finally allowed to return to their homelands after thousands die of disease and starvation.

1863 New Mexico is partitioned in half. Territory of Arizona is created.

1878 The railroad arrives in New Mexico, opening full-scale trade and migration from the east and midwest. Lincoln County War erupts in southeast New Mexico

http://www.ppsa.com/magazine/NMtimeline.html

The treaty of Hidalgo was with Mexico

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Guadalupe_Hidalgo

[Kokojmudd]

1821 Mexico declares independence from Spain. Santa Fe Trail opened to international trade.
1828 First major gold discovery in western U. S. made in Ortiz Mountains south of Santa Fe.
1837 Chimayo Revolt against Mexican taxation leads to the assassination of Gov. Albino Perez and top officials.
1841 Texas soldiers invade New Mexico and claim all land east of the Rio Grande. Efforts thwarted by Gov. Manuel Armijo.
1846 Mexican-American War begins. Stephen Watts Kearny annexes New Mexico to the United States.
1847 Taos Rebellion against the U.S. military. Gov. Chat Charles Bent killed.
1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends Mexican-American War.
1850 New Mexico (which included present-day Arizona, southern Colorado, southern Utah, and southern Nevada) is designated a territory but denied statehood.

Really the Mexicans did little to control these lands after independence from Spain. The argument that Mexico is still the legitimate owner of these lands is a joke, but that is probably what is being taught in school these days.

[brytlea]

I was just making the point that I like NM alot more than CA. I don't think we should give them anything. Well, except maybe 20 million of their own citizens back.
susie

[3AngelaD]

Tell that to President Polk. As a matter of fact, Mexico stole what is now Chiapas from Guatemala in the aftermath of the Mexican war for independence from Spain. They did not pay for it like we paid for what we received at the end of the Mexican War, which was a good 20 years after Mexico achieved its independence, by the way.

[Fruit of the Spirit]

"Why don't they try to lay claim to El Salvador, or Venezuela." (?)

Because, like politicians, they think they can get rich quick in America.

What do El Salvador and Venezuela (Honduras, Costa Rica, et al) have to offer that Mexicans really would like to have?