The Gadsden Purchase in 1853 involved the United States acquiring land from Mexico, specifically parts of present-day southern Arizona and New Mexico. This purchase aimed to facilitate the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad route to California. The U.S. government believed that a more direct route would improve transportation and commerce in the region. The acquisition ultimately helped in the expansion of rail infrastructure across the western United States.
This purchase was made to obtain a strip on land over which to build a trans-continental railroad to connect the rest of the US with California.
The Gadsden Purchase of 1853, was mainly designed to provide a good railroad route to California, to transport heavy items such as mining supplies. One eastern hub was thought to be New Orleans. Another hub could have been Charleston, South Carolina. Neither city was, as Omaha, Nebraska would be connected to Sacramento, California in 1869. The Gadsden Purchase was a waste of time and money.
The Gadsden Purchase which was made to facilitate a Railroad route to California.
Gadsden
jim bridger
There were a number of events that increased interest in a route to California. Probably the most important was the acquisition of California in the Mexican-American War, and the immediately following California Gold Rush. The Civil War added urgency to the transcontinental Railroad, and was very important as well.
The Gadsden Purchase completed the New Mexico and Arizona southern borders and was made to provide land for a transcontinental railroad route.
The Gadsden Purchase was purchased as a southern transcontinental railroad route that didn't need to go over the Rocky Mountains.
The Gadsden Purchase of 1853 purchased land that Mexico had retained under the Mexican Cession. The land south of the Gila River allowed a southern route to Texas, avoiding mountainous terrain.
The Underground Railroad was a secret route that led slaves to freedom.
Across the continent?
Mexico