The Struggle for Statehood

The Struggle for Statehood

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Struggle For Statehood

New Mexico became a territory of the United States following the Mexican American War. It remained a territory for 62 years. New Mexicans applied for statehood at least 50 times between 1850 and 1912. During that time period, many other territories, including Colorado, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, all became states. New Mexico had a far greater population than several of these new states. Yet New Mexico's petitions for statehood continued to be rejected. Why did it take New Mexicans so long to achieve their statehood goal? 

What is a Territory?

In the United States, a territory is a region that is governed by the federal government. Territorial citizens enjoy all the freedoms of Americans, but they cannot vote for the president of the United States, and they cannot elect representatives to Congress. Instead, they elect congressional delegates. A delegate is an elected or appointed representative of a U.S. territory in the House of Representatives. He or she can do everything a congressman can do except vote. 

Multiple Choice

A territory is

• a person appointed to represent people in congress

• a formal approval of the constitution

• a region that is governed by the federal government

• an area of the frontier

Multiple Choice

A person elected to represent a territory in the House of Representatives is a

• Senator

• Delegate

• Governor

• President

Territorial Government

When New Mexico became a territory in 1850, New Mexicans enjoyed new democratic rights. They elected representatives to their territorial legislature as well as a delegate to Congress in Washington, D.C. However, they did not elect their own governor or judges. The president chose these key leaders. 

Territorial Government

The governor and the territorial legislature made laws for the territory but all laws had to be approved by Congress. In short, New Mexicans enjoyed more democracy but not as much as if they had lived in a state. In 1850, President Millard Fillmore appointed James S. Calhoun to be the first territorial governor of New Mexico.

Multiple Choice

Who was New Mexico's first territorial governor?

• Millard Fillmore

• Susana Martinez

• James S. Calhoun

• N.M. didn't have a governor

Multiple Choice

Why was it so important to New Mexicans to become a state, not just a territory?

• They wanted to be able to vote for the president and elect representatives to congress.

• They wanted to be able to raise the American Flag over Santa Fe.

• They wanted to vote to leave the U.S.A.

Path To Statehood

To become a state, a territory must meet certain conditions. First, the population of a territory must be at least 60,000. Then the territorial legislature must petition Congress, asking for permission to become a state. If Congress approves, it issues an enabling act. An enabling act is a law that requires the territory to draft a constitution. The proposed constitution must uphold the principles of the U'S. Constitution. Further, it must guarantee certain basic civil rights for its citizens, including free speech and the freedom of religion. 

Path To Statehood

The citizens of a territory must ratify, or give formal approval of, the proposed constitution. Once ratified, it is submitted to Congress for final approval. If Congress approves, then it issues a proclamation that must be signed by the president. Then the president signs the proclamation, a territory becomes a state at last.

Multiple Choice

To give formal approval something

• Vote

• addition

• agree

• ratify

Roadblocks

From the start, New Mexico met the population requirement necessary for statehood. According to the 1850 U.S. Census. New Mexico's population equaled 61,547. By 1910, its population exceeded 300,000. Although Congress did not pass an enabling act, New Mexicans wasted no time in organizing a constitutional convention and drafting a proposed state constitution in 1850. The constitution failed when it became a part of the national debate over slavery. It was the first of several constitutions submitted by New Mexico but rejected by Congress. 

Elkins Handshake

Another attempt to win statehood was spoiled by a poorly timed handshake. In 1876, Stephen B. Elkins was New Mexico's delegate to Congress. He had made progress in lining up congressional votes in support of New Mexico statehood, and it seemed that statehood would be achieved at last. But then Elkins arrived in Congress at the end of an emotional speech given by a Northern congressman who opposed the South. Although Elkins did not hear the speech, he congratulated the Northerner with a handshake. Sothern congressmen saw this as a signal that New Mexico would support the North against the South in all regional disputes if it became a state. As a result, Southerners withdrew their support for New Mexico statehood and the territory was rejected again.

Improving The Odds

To improve their chances at statehood, New Mexico even considered changing the territory's name. Many people in other parts of the United States often confused New Mexico with the country of Mexico. When New Mexico applied for statehood, these confused citizens thought that Mexico, not New Mexico, was applying for statehood. Names like Acoma and Sierra were considered, but none were officially adopted.

Improving The Odds

Three other main problems prevented New Mexico's statehood. First, many people outside New Mexico only remembered violence when they thought of New Merico. News of the warring Indians and events like the Lincoln County War stuck in people's minds. Second, many Protestants in the rest of the United States were prejudiced against Catholics and the Catholic Church. They could not imagine a state where the vast majority of citizens were Catholics led, they believed, by the Pope rather than the U.S. president. Finally, the Santa Fe Ring hurt New Mexico's chances of becoming a state. Many from outside the territory criticized the ring and could not believe that a new state could exist with so much corruption. 

Multiple Choice

All of the following were problems for New Mexico becoming a state EXCEPT

• Many from outside the territory criticized the ring and could not believe that a new state could exist with so much corruption.

• Most people in New Mexico wanted to vote for president.

• many Protestants in the rest of the United States were prejudiced against Catholics and the Catholic Church.

• many people outside New Mexico only remembered violence when they thought of New Merico.

Joint Statehood Considered

In 1906, several powerful members of Congress favored the idea creating one big state from the territories of New Mexico and Arizona. The idea quickly gained favor with many leaders in Washington, including President Theodore Roosevelt. The question of joint statehood was put to a vote in both New Mexico and Arizona. New Mexicans overwhelmingly supported the idea. But voters in Arizona rejected it. They feared that they would be overshadowed by New Mexico, with its much larger population. As a result, the idea was dropped and both territories continued to strive for statehood separately.