Manifest Destiny and New Mexicans In The Period 1598 To 1846

New Mexicans contributed to the success of "Manifest Destiny", every bit as much as any American, maybe more, maybe much more. New Mexicans living in those days may not have heard of Manifest Destiny, but they contributed to it.

By keeping the majority of the population ignorant and uneducated the government contributed to it. The Spanish government contributed to it between 1598 when don Juan de Onate led the colony north from Mexico. When the Spanish were ousted during the liberation movement of the early 1800's the Mexican government took over the contributions. During this whole time New Mexicans contributed to it by allowing themselves to be led through this uneducated ignorance.

The first Americans who came to New Mexico, themselves an uneducated and mostly ignorant lot, made note of the widespread illiteracy and ignorance on the part of the average New Mexican. This knowledge was transferred back to "the states" and confirmed by future travelers to New Mexico. Soon the United States government knew this too. They also knew that New Mexico was, for all intents and purposes, unarmed and unable to defend itself. Especially against persons, such as Americans, with modern weapons.