THE MEXICAN ERA
The Mexican War for Independence began in the second decade of
the 19th century and culminated in the establishment of a republic
in 1821. Although the struggle did not directly impact the region,
the consequences were substantial. The Spanish troops that were
stationed at the presidios were withdrawn and the relatively successful
administrative policies for pacifying the Apaches were abandoned.
As a result, militant Apaches instigated intensive raiding against
the European settlements and the local native populations. In addition,
some of the missionaries refused to declare allegiance to the new
republic, which eventually resulted in the expulsion of all foreign
missionaries from Mexico in 1827. Ultimately, these factors led
to the abandonment of all of the missions in southern Arizona except
San Xavier del Bac, south of Tucson.
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San Xavier del Bac, Side courtyard »Enlarge
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The continuing devastation wrought by the Apaches and the failure of
the civil authority to mount a concerted response resulted in the abandonment
of many smaller, outlying settlements. Population became concentrated
in central communities such as Tucson and Nogales. Moreover, continued
civil unrest in central Mexico and the inability of the central government
to establish effective administration in the region resulted in the isolation
of the southern Arizona population. Ultimately, these issues caused a
shift in the economic affiliations of people living in the border, and
they aligned with the expanding interests of the United States. With the
opening of the Santa Fe Trail by Americans in 1821, the southwestern region
became closer to the overland and sea routes that supplied communities
along the Mississippi River as well as the western region of the United
States. Although the southern Arizona area was retained by Mexico after
the Mexican-American War (1845–1848), it was eventually acquired
by the United States in the 1854 Gadsden Purchase. With that, the Mexican
era ended and the American era commenced.
Next: American
Era
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