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The areas labeled "foreign areas" were in reality the Spanish provinces of California, New Mexico and Texas. You can see that a lot happened in our history between 1820 and and 1846 when the Americans annexed this area.
New Mexico was New Mexico before Mexico became Mexico. Does that make sense? Well it should because New Mexico was called New Mexico way before the country of Mexico came into being in the early 1800's. New Mexico was New Mexico by the middle to late 1500's and Antonio de Espejo was the man historical records indicate first used the name for land previously called La Tierra Nueva.
New Mexico was New Mexico before Mexico became Mexico. Does that make sense? Well it should because New Mexico was called New Mexico way before the country of Mexico came into being in the early 1800's. New Mexico was New Mexico by the middle to late 1500's and Antonio de Espejo was the man historical records indicate first used the name for land previously called La Tierra Nueva.
You see what is now the country of Mexico used to be several provinces in New Spain when ruled by the Spanish. It was not until after the war of independence with Spain that the country of Mexico came into being. At that time the province of New Mexico in Spain became the department of New Mexico in the new Mexican Nation.
When the Americans took over the northern territory of Mexico (New Mexico), it was a lot larger and included all of today's state of Arizona as well as parts of Colorado, Utah and Nevada. New Mexico was partitioned and parts of it went into new American states. And what we have left is the Land of Enchantment we know today.
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