What was "the Gadsden Purchase"?

Why did we buy that?? There's nothing there but cactus!

quote:

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Originally posted by mahal:
Why did we buy that?? There's nothing there but cactus!

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Assuming you're not just joking, I'd add that there was good land for a railroad to California.

I see that Lighteningrodd's link concurs:

"President Franklin Pierce wanted to insure U. S. possession of the Mesilla Valley as it was the most practical route for a southern railroad to the Pacific, but it was still owned by Mexico" (ibid.).

[This message was edited by referenth on 07-20-02 at 03:37 PM.]

Now I think it's the practical route of Interstate 8 and 25,000 Mexicans every year.