In history we find events that completely changed the shape of a nation. An example of this is the Sale of the Table. Through this transaction of an economic and territorial nature in 1853, the boundaries and constitution of two neighboring nations were forged , significantly transforming their legacy and future. Sale of the Mesilla

In this multinational agreement, the desperation of a nation to protect itself played an important role, while its counterpart was able to take advantage of its weaknesses with great efficiency to its own advantage.

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What is the Sale of the Table?

La Mesilla refers to the region that is currently occupied between the states of New Mexico and Arizona . Therefore, the event known in history as the Sale of the Mesilla corresponds to the business agreement of this area, carried out on June 24, 1853 between the nations of Mexico and the United States , in this case the Spanish-speaking nation being the party seller and the northern country the buyer.

It is interesting that the area sold has a wide extension of 76,845 ^km2 . The guidelines implemented in this agreement served as the basis for setting the territorial limits of both nations to date.

During the agreement, a map and a treaty were made that established the boundaries between the two nations . At first, because there was a difference between the two documents, no immediate consensus was reached, however, through peaceful negotiations and repeatedly heated disputes, it was agreed to cede the territory occupied by Mesilla to the United States. . Sale of the Mesilla

Bedside Sale Characters

The following main characters intervened in this definitive chapter of American history:

• Franklin Pierce : He was a famous congressman and lawyer. In addition, he was president of the United States since 1852. Among the first decisions he made in his new position was to acquire a part of the territory of Mexico.
• Antonio López de Santa Ana : He was the president of Mexico for three years, from 1853 to 1856. He participated in important events that consolidated the independence of Mexico such as the takings of Tula and Jalapa. During his presidency, the country experienced difficult times in the economic aspect, which resulted in the sale of the region known as La Mesilla for a value of 10,000,000 US dollars.
• Jefferson Davis : He was an influential military man who had a great effect on American President Franklin Pierce. His interests were focused on the extension of the territory occupied by the United States. In addition, he supported the initiative to build a railway that would increase the economic possibilities of his country.
• James Gadsden : Although the information on this character is relatively little, it is known that he was a brilliant negotiator, soldier and diplomat. In fact, Gadsden is credited with acquiring the Mesilla territory for the leading role he played in this important chapter in United States history. He had been sent especially to Mexican territory in order to carry out the process of purchasing the Mesilla area, which was part of the plans for the construction of the important railroad in the North American country. In his memory, his name was used to identify one of the counties in the state of Florida. Sale of the Mesilla

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Causes of the Sale of the Table

The main reason for the sale of the Mesilla was economic . During the presidential term of Antonio López Santa Ana, the Mexican country experienced critical moments in its economy. In fact, Mexico urgently needed revenue to strengthen the militias that defended it from the Americans themselves .

Although the Americans were interested in a broader extension than only the Mesilla covered, they ended up crediting that population by offering an amount that Santa Ana did not despise: ten million dollars.

In addition, in the United States the construction of railways was planned that would cross the nation in order to expand the commercial field . The area occupied by the Mesilla played an important role in these plans, as it had the necessary typography for the plans of the United States. Sale of the Mesilla

Treaties that constituted the Sale of the Table

Giving up a space of land is not a simple matter. The series of agreements that were included in the sale of the Mesilla demonstrate this. These treaties or pacts specified the conditions and limits under which the commercial exchange would proceed . These agreements became known under the names of the Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty and the Mc Lane-Ocampo Treaty .

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

From the year 1846 to the year 1848 there was a war between the United States and Mexico. The Guadalupe Hidalgo agreement stopped the conflict . On the other hand, this treaty made it possible to define the border points of Mexican and US territory. In fact, the Rio Grande or Rio Grande located to the north represented this border demarcation. Additionally, what was agreed under Guadalupe Hidalgo protected the citizens of Mexico, since it established protection measures for them .

McLane-Ocampo Treaty

It was the proposal that had been made in 1859. By means of this pact, the United States would be given the right to freely travel along trails that were to the north of Mexican territory . The purchase would be carried out for four million pesos. During this period Benito Juárez was in power in Mexico. However, the proposal of this treaty was annulled in the year 1860 by the members of the United States Senate , who were fragmented between pro-slavers and those who were against said tendency, so they did not reach any kind of alliance. Sale of the Mesilla

Consequence of the Sale of the Table

The agreement reached through the Sale of the Table included nine provisions. They established the conditions that both countries had to meet to enforce the sale of the territory. One of these guaranteed to the Mexican nation that the Indians of the United States would not cross into their territory and that they would commit crimes such as theft of cows or harm to the inhabitants . However, this was not an easy promise to keep.

Half a decade after the sale, the United States had invested a figure that exceeded by two million dollars the amount of money it had invested in the purchase of the territory of Mexico . The frustrated guarantees translated into discomfort for the two countries. In the case of the United States, they realized that the surveillance of the border territory was not an easy task. On the other hand, Mexico felt unprotected so it demanded compensation for the damages caused. Even so, no agreement was reached that would fulfill the requests of both. Sale of the Mesilla

On the other hand, the Sale of the Mesilla reflected the weak point of the then president of Mexico, Antonio López de Santa Ana . The decision to sell this expansion of territory led him to the end of his participation in the world of politics. This was because the majority of the country’s inhabitants perceived the agreement as an unforgivable act of treason.