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Lesson 16 of 84 · Westward Expansion

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The Gadsden Purchase

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The Gadsden Purchase, finalized in 1854, involved the United States acquiring a strip of land from Mexico that is now part of southern Arizona and New Mexico.

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The Gadsden Purchase, finalized in 1854, involved the United States acquiring a strip of land from Mexico that is now part of southern Arizona and New Mexico. This purchase was intended to facilitate the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad and to resolve lingering border issues following the Mexican-American War. The Gadsden Purchase added approximately 29,670 square miles to the U.S. territory, continuing the nation’s westward expansion and impacting future transportation and trade.

Key Facts

1

The Gadsden Purchase was finalized in 1854.

2

It aimed to support railroad construction.

3

The purchase added about 29,670 square miles to the U.S.

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What was one purpose of the Gadsden Purchase?

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The Gadsden Purchase — Westward Expansion | 5th Grade Social Studies | LittleActivity