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Lesson 48 of 84 · Westward Expansion

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The Gadsden Purchase

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The Gadsden Purchase, finalized in 1854, was an agreement between the United States and Mexico, in which the U.

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The Gadsden Purchase, finalized in 1854, was an agreement between the United States and Mexico, in which the U.S. acquired a small strip of land in present-day southern Arizona and New Mexico. This purchase was intended to facilitate the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad and to resolve ongoing border issues. The U.S. paid Mexico $10 million for the approximately 29,670 square miles of land. The Gadsden Purchase is often viewed as a significant step in U.S. territorial expansion and economic development.

Key Facts

1

The Gadsden Purchase occurred in 1854.

2

It involved a payment of $10 million to Mexico.

3

The purchased land is now part of Arizona and New Mexico.

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What was the purpose of the Gadsden Purchase?

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