Describe the events that led to US control over New Mexico and Arizona in 1846?

In 1846, the United States acquired New Mexico and Arizona from Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American War, which lasted from 1846 to 1848. The war was sparked by a number of factors, including disputes over the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845, the issue of slavery, and disagreements over the boundary between the United States and Mexico.

In April 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico, and American troops began to invade Mexican territory. In September 1846, General Stephen Watts Kearny led a force of American troops into New Mexico, and by August 1846, the United States had occupied Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico. In December 1846, General Kearny led a force of American troops into Arizona, and by January 1847, the United States had occupied Tucson, the capital of Arizona.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, ended the Mexican-American War and resulted in the United States acquiring a vast amount of territory, including New Mexico and Arizona. The United States paid Mexico $15 million for the land, which included California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas.

The acquisition of New Mexico and Arizona by the United States had a significant impact on the region. The United States quickly established a territorial government in New Mexico and Arizona, and began to develop the region economically and politically. The United States also began to settle the region with Americans, which led to a demographic shift in the area. By 1860, the population of New Mexico and Arizona was over 100,000 people, and the region was on its way to becoming a full-fledged state of the United States.