How did the Santa Fe Trail impact America?

How did the Santa Fe Trail impact America?

Between 1821 and 1880, the Santa Fe Trail was primarily a commercial highway connecting Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico. After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war in 1848, the Santa Fe Trail became a national road connecting the more settled parts of the United States to the new southwest territories.

What is the main purpose of the Santa Fe Trail?

The Santa Fe Trail (aka, Santa Fe Road) was an ancient passageway used regularly after 1821 by merchant-traders from Missouri who took manufactured goods to Santa Fe to exchange for furs and other items available there. Mexican traders also provided caravans going to western Missouri in this international trade.

What was the impact of William Becknell’s Santa Fe Trail?

The Santa Fe Trail became an early major transportation route through central North America that connected Franklin, Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico, serving both trading and emigrant parties.

How did the Santa Fe Trail play a part in the US Civil War?

In 1858, many of the 1,800 wagons traveling the Santa Fe Trail carried military supplies. In 1862, the Civil War arrived in the West. Confederates from Texas pushed up the Rio Grande Valley into New Mexico, intent on seizing the territory and Fort Union, and ultimately the rich Colorado gold fields.

What challenges did pioneers face on the Santa Fe Trail?

While some travelers made the trip without incident, the unforgiving climate, illness, mechanical failures, starvation, dehydration, and the potential for violent encounters created an array of challenges to prepare for and overcome. While some struck it rich, others lost their fortunes, their health, or their lives.

How did the Santa Fe Trail connect the eastern United States and Mexico?

The 900-mile trail connected Old Franklin, Missouri to Santa Fe and was the lifeline linking the New Mexico Territory to the eastern United States. When the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war in1848, the Santa Fe Trail became a national road connecting the United States to the new southwest territories.

Why did settlers take the Santa Fe Trail?

After Louisiana (New France) was sold to the United States in 1803 (Louisiana Purchase), Americans improved and publicized the Santa Fe Trail beginning in 1822, in order to take advantage of new trade opportunities with Mexico which had just won independence from Spain in the Mexican War of Independence.

Why was Becknell’s Journey important to the United States?

The profits made by William Becknell’s first trading trip brought much-needed money and valuable goods into central Missouri, where the Panic of 1819 had a devastating effect on the economy. This economic depression was caused, in large part, by a short supply of money.

How did William Becknell influence the American settlement of New Mexico?

How did William Becknell influence the American settlement of New Mexico? He was the first American to arrive in New Mexico using a new route, the Santa Fe Trail, to bring goods to trade. Americans thought this would be a safer border than a foreign country and would open trade to East Asia.

What did they bring on the Santa Fe Trail?

For almost 60 years the Santa Fe Trail was the conduit which brought goods to New Mexico and the southwest and had sent back silver, furs, and mules. But ideas were also exchanged across this route along with culture.

Which number corresponds to the Oregon Trail?

Ans- number 1 corresponds to the Butterfield Overland Trail.

Why did the Santa Fe Trail start in Independence Missouri?

U.S. visitors to Santa Fe recognized opportunity in the area for manufactured goods and supplies. In 1821, the Mexican people revolted and won independence from Spain, and gone were the impediments to trade. The Santa Fe Trail was first used in 1821 by William Becknell.