How the States Got Their Shapes: Is West the Best?
America won the west against 5 different countries by many ways but one is our firearms. The other one we bought that. The most southern part of Arizona and New Mexico was bought in the 1800's by a rich young man who then give it to the US. It was 10million dollars for 30,000 sq acres. 18x more per sq acres than the Louisiana purchase. 27x more than all of Alaska. Why? It was because the confederate states wanted a path to California but not through the northern states. So that is why we have that land. But to get people to move the US gave 10% or their land. Most people died got broke or many other things happened to early movers. Until trains that is. http://www.history.com/shows/how-the-states-got-their-shapes/videos/how-the-states-got-their-shapes-is-west-best?m=5189717d404fa&s=All&f=1&free=false