On this day in 1856 , the United States establishes Fort Buchanan. Named for recently elected President James Buchanan, Fort Buchanan was located on the Sonoita River in present-day southern Arizona. The U.S. acquired the bulk of the southwestern corner of the nation from Mexico in 1848 as spoil after wining the Mexican War. The United States eager to begin construction of a southern railroad required the border be farther to the south. The government directed the U.S. minister to Mexico, James Gadsden, to negotiate the purchase of an additional 29,000 square miles. The Mexican ruler Santa Ana was in danger of losing office unless he could quickly find funds to replenish the nearly bankrupt nation. Gadsden and Santa Ana agreed that the narrow strip of southwestern desert land was worth $10 million. With the treaty signed on December 30, 1853 it became the last addition of territory to the United States south west thus creating the modern-day boundaries of the American West.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 16:30:37 +0000
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