Episode 6: A Brief History of the American Southwest for Kids

Nationalization

In 1864, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo making the American Southwest a United States territory where the land would soon be crisscrossed with train tracks and roads, with new economies of health, culture and anthropological tourism, as well as harsh and inhumane impacts to the indigenous people.

The 6th and final episode of our Brief History of the American Southwest for Kids series recording tells the story of the era of nationalization of the American Southwest after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo made the region a territory of the United States. Journey with us through the early part of the 20th century, when the Camino Real and Santa Fe Trail transformed into routes that paved the way for railway development, new economies of health, cultural, and anthropological tourism, as well as military industrialization, and statehood.

We learn about the harsh and inhumane impact these changes had on the people who already lived in the southwest, and what they had to endure to preserve and sustain their communities and culture while their lands were annexed to the US Government.

Our experts include historian Melanie LaBorwit, along with Pueblo Educator Jon Ghahate, and archaeologist Mary Weahkee from the New Mexico Center for Archeological Research.