In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king. And in New Mexico in 1846 on the eve of the American invasion, New Mexicans were the blind and the Americans were the one eyed men.
They had had spies in the country since 1810 or so, all over the place. The Santa Fe Trail was carrying more than money back to the "states". It was carrying information on the situation in New Mexico. They knew that guns and ammunition were scarce if not non existent amongst the common folks. They also knew the population numbers, the numbers of men capable of fighting should the Americans encounter resistance.
They were also aware that there were no reinforcements for New Mexicans should they decide to resist. Mexico had been having problems since their independence from Spain and New Mexico was too far away to be on the Mexican radar screen. They had problems closer to home.
Governor Manuel Armijo knew this too. He knew a lot more than the group of American spies that had infiltrated new Mexico. He decided to avoid a blood bath for the poorly armed New Mexicans who could expect no help from the Mexican nation. If New Mexicans went at it alone, they would lose. Governor Armijo knew this. So he did not fight and allowed the Americans to enter the province without a shot of resistance. He probably saved many thousands of New Mexican lives.
It was probably inevitable. And who knows what New Mexico would be like today if Mexico had retained not only New Mexico, but Arizona, California and parts of Colorado, Nevada, Utah and Idaho. AND DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU THEY KNOW, THEY DON'T.
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