James Gadsden and the Purchase
As tension increased, the President, Franklin Pierce sent James Gadsden to negotiate with the Mexican President on a new border. The south also encouraged him to negotiate a new border that would allow a route for the Southern Transcontinental Railroad.
​
Originally, the plan was to acquire the mesilla valley region as well as parts of California for $50,000. The Mexican president however, refused the offer and thus Gadsden revised the plan.
​
This time, he would offer that the United States would pay $15,000 for lands of the New Mexico Territory (45,000 square miles). Needing money, Mexico accepted and on December 30th of 1853, a treaty was signed finalizing the purchase.
​
Less than a year afterwards, the treaty was revised because of tensions between southern and northern states. Because of this, The United States reduced the pay by $5,000 and resized the land purchased (30,000 square miles). Also, as stated in Article II of the treaty, the United States are no longer responsible for the Native Attacks that occur. This releases some tension between the countries. As stated in the first paragraph of the treaty, the treaty is meant for strengthening the relationship between the two countries.
