The Territory of New Mexico developed a unique personality.
Spanish settlements in New Mexico grew differently from those in Texas. Following the trail of early explorers, colonists hoped to find gold someplace beyond El Paso and up the Rio Grande river. What they found instead was good ranching country and colonies of sedentary Indians in Pueblos.
At first, Spanish rule set aside agricultural land for the Pueblos. But the Hispanic population grew at the expense of the Pueblos, and eventually pushed its way up the more remote river valleys such as the Chama. Relationship with the Indians worsened, aggravated by the nomadic Comanches and Pawnees. The Spaniards accused the Pueblos of aiding and sheltering the nomads.
New Mexico was more remote than Texas. Long distances and the Chihuahuan desert made for infrequent contact with Mexico City. New Mexico’s troubles were its own.
After Mexico won its independence from Spain, matters worsened. Three governing authorities regulated the county – civil, military and religious. For remote areas such as New Mexico, the most significant one was the Catholic Church. Twelve years later a Bishop made the long trip, and found church property abandoned and religion practices gone slack.
Besides, the opening of the Santa Fe trail permitted increasing trade with the United States – trade that bypassed Texas. So President Mirabeau Lamar sponsored the Santa Fe Expedition, which left Austin in 1841 and struck out, cross country, for Santa Fe. Their purpose – to convince the New Mexicans to revolt and join the Republic of Texas. And also, to establish a profitable trade route.
It didn’t work. After a hazardous journey, the frazzled expedition straggled into New Mexico and was captured without firing a shot. As invaders, the Texans were marched to Mexico City and imprisoned, until released in 1842. New Mexico didn’t want to be part of Texas.
Five years later, Winfield Scott and the U.S. Army landed into Las Vegas, New Mexico, and announced to its citizens that they were now Americans, and must swear allegiance to the Constitution of the United States.
New Mexicans didn’t like that, either.