If history had run a different course, we in Northwest Colorado could be speaking Texican as our official language.
In our Rio Blanco County treasurer’s office is a huge map of the United States. No big deal, except that it shows the U.S. just after Texas had declared independence from Mexico and became the Republic of Texas, a separate country.
This new Republic claimed boundaries way beyond what is now the state of Texas. The map shows that the Republic of Texas envisioned a country that encompassed half of what is now New Mexico, and a big panhandle extending through western Colorado. That panhandle ran north to south just east of what is now Meeker and Craig. West of that line, Mexico claimed land all the way to California.
In 1776, the American colonies upset the British Crown. That same year, a small Spanish expedition traveled north through was to become Rio Blanco County. They traveled from the Rio Grande, over the Bookclilffs, over Douglas Pass and then westward traveling close to the White River into Utah. In true colonial fashion, the Franciscan Fathers claimed whatever ground they walked on for the Spanish Crown.
The 1821 Mexican Revolution ousted Spain but didn’t change any lines on a map. The 1836 Republic of Texas drew new imaginary boundaries. The Utes here still hunted, unaware of these changes.
Texas quickly realized that it didn’t have enough military muscle to defend even its new southern border. The politics were complex. The American government was under pressure from eastern farmers, miners, and land speculators to annex all the lands from the Mississippi to California. Meanwhile, the new Republic of Texas felt vulnerable to Mexican military forces to the south.
Some Texans believed that being annexed by the U.S. was their best defense. The Mexican government had no intention of letting the U.S. annex lands that they planned on reconquering. Mexico sent troops to challenge the new border, but was unprepared to defend it. U.S. President Polk took the opportunity to send General Zachary Taylor with his troops purposely into the disputed zone. On April 25, 1845, Mexican cavalry attacked the American troops. The U.S. responded with a total invasion of central Mexico by land and sea. General Winfield Scott landed his troops in Veracruz and marched to Mexico City and laid siege. If you have an opportunity to visit Mexico City, visit the American National Cemetery there. There are 750 brave American soldiers buried there along with other civilians.
Mexico signed a treaty acknowledging the Rio Grande as the new border, accepted Texas as U.S. territory, sold California and its other lands north of the Rio Grande to the U.S. The treaty was signed Feb. 2, 1848. Ironically, the gold that all the early Spanish expeditions sought was discovered on Jan. 24, 1848, at Sutters Mill. It was found just days before Mexico sold land to the U.S. The net gain to the U.S. was 525,000 square miles and enough gold to impress Europe. This short war changed our geography and economics.
The French, Spanish, and Mexicans relinquished all claims to the Colorado Territory. However, the Texans did reinvade Northwest Colorado in the 20th century with big rifles and hunting licenses.
By ED PECK