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Description
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A Brief Description Native American Indians built amazing cliff dwellings here many centuries before the first Europeans arrived in the Americas, and structural remains of those cultures are spread across the state for all to see.
In 1536, the Spanish reached this undiscovered land, and in 1540, Vásquez de Coronado, led an expedition north from Mexico City in search of the fabled "Seven Cities of Gold."He discovered the Grand Canyon, and made it all the way to Kansas, but in the end those "Cities of Gold" turned out to be a fabricated legend.
Over the next sixty years, Spanish exploration continued here, albeit slowly. Missionaries and settlers traded with the indigenous Pueblo Indians, and by the end of the 16th century, churches were being built, including the first one in all of North America.
The Spanish called this land New Mexico, appointed a governor and established Santa Fe as the capital; priests began to convert the local Indians to Christianity and many thousands of settlers moved in.
Discontent with Spanish control grew, and in 1680, the Pueblo Indians revolted; they killed and terrorized the colonists;
burnt their religious buildings, and surrounded Santa Fe - forcing hundreds to flee to Mexico.
A decade passed and the Spanish returned with just fifty soldiers; using diplomacy and an inflated military strength bluff, the Pueblo people surrendered. Many years of bloodshed and war followed, including raids by the Apache and Comanche Indians. In the end battles were won and agreements were forged, as the Spanish settlers were very determined - and here to stay.
Following Mexico's successful War of Independence from Spain in 1821, the New Mexico Territory came under Mexican control. Then, during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), both America and Mexico fought for control of Texas. When that war ended, (by agreement) the fast-growing U.S. took possession of Texas, and what is now California, Nevada, Utah, parts of Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming, and of course, the New Mexico Territory.
America's Civil War had a minor impact in New Mexico, but the westward expansion of America would change this land forever. Greedy cattleman and lawyers swindled local Indians out of their long-held land, and eventually, tragically, the U.S. army forced the once-proud Apache and Navajo Nations onto reservations.
In the 1880's the railroads arrived; commerce began flowing in and out, and the population expanded rapidly. It was still a mostly lawless territory when it achieved statehood on January 6, 1912, as the 47th state.
During World War II, troops from New Mexico served with honor. Especially notable were the Indian "code talkers" as they used their native languages to help confuse the Japanese and win the war in the Pacific.
In the post-war era New Mexico prospered, as this marvelous land of deserts, lakes, mountains and Indian legends - this "Land of Enchantment" - has blossomed into a business center, major tourism destination, and a vital part of America's past, present and future.
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Famous Natives NEW MEXICO FAMOUS NATIVES - here! Fast Facts NEW MEXICO FAST FACTS - here! Flag and Symbols NEW MEXICO FLAG AND SYMBOLS - here! Landforms NEW MEXICO LANDFORMS - here! Land Statistics NEW MEXICO LAND STATISTICS - here! Latitude and Longitude NEW MEXICO LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE - here! Links NEW MEXICO LINKS - here! Maps NEW MEXICO MAPS - (a large selection) here! Time TIME IN NEW MEXICO - here! Timeline of History NEW MEXICO TIMELINE - here! Travel Information NEW MEXICO TRAVEL - here! Weather NEW MEXICO WEATHER - here!  
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