Welcome to the Santa Fe Trail!
Before Mexican Independence
Spanish explorers and traders had followed the trail long before Becknell pioneered his own route. In fact, a French man working for the Spanish government, Pedro Vial had blazed many trails across the Great Plains in order to connect French and Spanish Settlements. Unlike Spanish individuals and those working for the Spaniards, Americans who had attempted reaching Santa Fe were unsuccessful. This is because just before reaching Santa Fe, individuals were captured and arrested by the Spanish soldiers. They'd then be sent to jails in Mexico City.
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William Becknell gets lucky
William Becknell was a Virginian who moved to Missouri Territory in the year 1810. After buying shares in the Boone's Lick Saltworks, Becknell was faced with hefty debt and even jailed. When released for a period of a few years to attempt paying off the debt, he had no choice but to take a chance to reach Santa Fe. He left Franklin, MO with $300 of trade goods. Since Mexico recently had gained independence, there were no Spanish soldiers to interfere in their journey. Therefore, Becknell and those who had joined him on the trading trip, became the first Americans to reach Santa Fe in November 1821. He kept a journal during this journey and many of his entries were published in the Missouri Intelligencer.
The residents of Santa Fe were excited to purchase the goods Becknell had to offer. They were also willing to pay high amounts for articles like cotton cloth and calico and Becknell earned profits of $6000. He was able to repay his debt and made two more trips, which returned even higher profits. Following the trips, he helped surveyors hired by the Congress map his route and became known as the "father of the Santa Fe Trail".
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The Santa Fe Trail and the Mexican-AmericaN War
At first, the Santa Fe Trail was an International Route allowing trade between the USA and Mexico. However, following the Mexican-American War, it became a national route connecting different regions of America.
The Santa Fe Trail was vital to America during the Mexican-American War and they successfully used it to invade parts of Mexico.
Mexico had declared war on America in 1846, following America's annexation of Texas in 1845. During that time, Texas had viewed itself as an independent nation but Mexico claimed ownership of it.
During the Mexican-American War, American soldiers used the trail to annex what is now present-day New Mexico.
After America's victory, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in 1848 granting America large portions of land previously owned by Mexico. The trail then became home to many US Army forts which patrolled the route to prevent any violence and danger.
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how the Santa Fe trail faded into history
In 1863, the Kansas Pacific Railway began building a railroad, hoping it would stretch the entirety of the trail. As the railroad extended in length, travelers would take the train to the last stop and then embark on the actual trail. Taking the train was much easier and safer than crossing the Great Plains. Following the Mountain Route, which was relatively safer in comparison to the Cimarron Route, the railroad eventually reached Colorado. Atchinson, Topeka, & Santa Fe, another company was simultaneously building a railroad, and the two reached a point in Colorado at the same time in 1876. However, Kansas Pacific was pushed out of the competition when AT&SF acquired the sole rights to the Raton Pass, the last stretch of the trail. The railway was finally completed in 1880. As the train route was a much safer and easier alternative, the Santa Fe Trail faded into history.
