This collection contains archived versions of the CNMS site pages as well as some relocated content.
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Timeline of New Mexico Statehood
Celebrating New Mexico Statehood
Sixteen slides with information about New Mexico's journey to statehood.
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Lesson Plans and Assignments on New Mexico Statehood
Center for Southwest Research
These resources were created by the staff of the Center for Southwest Research in celebration of the centennial of New Mexico Statehood.
(Photo: Governor Larrazolo receiving troops from overseas. Octaviano A. Larrazolo Papers, 1841-1981, Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico)
Exploring an Era: The Social, Political, and Economic History of New Mexico's Struggle for Statehood
Choose a time period and describe the changes which took place during that era. This small group activity will utilize social studies, technology, and public speaking skills by having the students prepare and present reports from a particular time period relating to the social, political, economic, and tourism issues concerned with the struggle for statehood. Recommended Grade Level: Grade 7-8; with modifications could be used for other grades.Time Required:This lesson should take approximately five 45-minute class periods.
Debate For and Against New Mexico Statehood
This individual or small group activity will utilize social studies, technology, and public speaking skills by having the students argue for and against statehood from a variety of perspectives. Recommended Grade Level: Grade 7; with modifications could be used for other grades. Time Required: This lesson should take approximately four 45-minute class periods.
Governor O. A. Larrazolo and New Mexico's Quest for Statehood
This small group or individual activity will utilize social studies and technology skills by having the students research and describe the life and politics of New Mexico Governor O. A. Larrazolo or another New Mexican involved in the struggle for statehood. Students will use primary source documents to formalize their arguments. Recommended Grade Level:Grade 7; with modifications could be used for other grades.Time Required:This lesson should take approximately four 45-minute class periods.
The Creation of New Mexico's Constitution
Research the formation of New Mexico's Constitution and then draft your own constitution of your own fictional state. This small group or individual activity will utilize social studies, technology, and public speaking skills by having the students research the formation of New Mexico’s Constitution. The students will then draft their own constitution of their own fictional state including their own creative and descriptive state name. The student will then report their findings as well as their own original ideas both in writing and orally. Recommended Grade Level:Grade 7; with modifications could be used for other grades.Time Required:This lesson should take approximately four 45-minute class periods.
New Mexico Statehood Timeline
Create a timeline chart of New Mexico's quest for statehood using primary source documents. This individual or group activity will utilize social studies and technology skills by having the students create a timeline chart of New Mexico’s quest for statehood using primary source documents. The students could then design a final project such as a travel journal, storytelling, newspaper or magazine article, PowerPoint presentation, or a video. Recommended Grade Level:Grade 7; with modifications could be used for other grades.Time Required:This lesson should take approximately six 45-minute class periods depending on the final project options.
Public Relations Writing Assignment
Create a pamphlet emphasizing the advantages of visiting your home town or some other attraction. Originally developed by Center for Southwest Research staff for the Online Archive of New Mexico, this activity is appropriate for all grade levels.
Writing New Mexico
Write about one of the places in New Mexico that you would like to visit. Originally developed by Center for Southwest Research staff for the Online Archive of New Mexico, this activity is appropriate for Middle School grades.
Persuasive/Argumentative Writing Assignment
Write an essay describing in detail why someone might want to visit the area around Santa Fe, N.M. Originally developed by staff of the Center for Southwest Research, this activity is appropriate for High School grades.
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A little history of Santa Fe, NM
Kevin J. Comerford
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of Santa Fe County. Santa Fe (literally 'holy faith' in Spanish) had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Santa Fe County and is part of the larger Santa Fe-Española Combined Statistical Area. The city's full name when founded was "La Villa Real de la Santa Fé de San Francisco de Asís" ("The Royal Town of the Holy Faith of St. Francis of Assisi").
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Citing Primary Sources Found Online
Kathleen Ferris
Libraries and archives around the world are making historic documents available for research from anywhere by digitizing original, primary source materials and putting them online. Using primary sources online is a great way to give your research more depth and make your resulting paper or project more interesting.
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Enabling Acts of 1876 and 1893
Kathleen Ferris
Several attempts at statehood marked the late nineteenth century. While politicians in both Washington and New Mexico worked to get the territory admitted, success proved elusive.
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Racism as an Impediment to Statehood
Kathleen Ferris
New Mexico spent an unusually long period as a territory, 62 years in total. For comparison, consider the length of territorial status for other states in the West: Colorado-15 years, Nevada-14 years, Utah-46 years, Montana-25 years, Wyoming-22 years, Idaho-44 years. A small population and an underdeveloped economy were two common reasons given at the time to explain the delay in admitting New Mexico. Although New Mexico did lag at times behind other territories in the growth of its population and economy, by the late nineteenth century it had more people and a larger economy than many older states had when they were admitted to statehood. Why then did Congress not admit New Mexico as a state sooner? Many historians have identified racism as a key factor in the delay.
