Regional History

The history of southeastern Arizona between 1855 and 1900 is a tale of conflict, settlement, military activity, and economic development, shaped by the interaction of indigenous peoples, Mexican settlers, American settlers, and the U.S. government. This period saw the region transition from sparsely populated territory to a more settled and politically integrated part of the United States.

**Early Years (1855-1860s):**

**Mexican-American War and Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848):**
After the Mexican-American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) officially ended the conflict and ceded much of the southwestern United States, including present-day Arizona, to the U.S. Mexico, however, retained influence over the region, particularly in southeastern Arizona, which had many Mexican and indigenous inhabitants.

**First U.S. Settlements (1855):**
In 1855, the U.S. established military posts like **Fort Buchanan** to maintain control over the area. This post was meant to help protect the southern border from threats, such as Apache raids, and maintain peace with Mexican settlers. The U.S. also started surveying the land for transportation and economic development.

**Apache Conflict (1850s-1860s):**
The Apache tribes, including the Chiricahua and Mescalero Apaches, had a long history in southeastern Arizona, and they fiercely resisted U.S. expansion. The U.S. military, as well as settlers, faced frequent raids and conflicts with Apache groups. The struggle for dominance over the land led to violent skirmishes and several U.S. expeditions into the region.

**Civil War and Post-War Period (1861-1870s):**

**Civil War Impact (1861-1865):**
During the Civil War, Arizona was part of the Confederate Territory of Arizona, and several Confederate military units operated in the region. However, the Confederacy's hold on the area was weak, and the Union eventually regained control of the territory. Tucson, an important town in southeastern Arizona, was briefly occupied by Confederate forces before Union forces reasserted control in 1862.

 **Post-War Apache Wars (1860s-1870s):**
After the Civil War, the Apache Wars intensified. The U.S. government escalated military efforts to subdue Apache resistance, culminating in campaigns led by figures like General George Crook. The Apache resistance was particularly strong under leaders such as **Geronimo** and **Cochise**. Cochise, a prominent leader of the Chiricahua Apache, negotiated a peace settlement in 1872 that temporarily ended hostilities, but the peace was short-lived, and violence flared again in the 1870s.

**Late 19th Century (1880s-1900):**

**Railroad Expansion (1880s):**
The completion of the **Southern Pacific Railroad** in the 1880s brought significant changes to southeastern Arizona. The railroad provided better access to transportation, which spurred economic growth. The development of mining, especially in areas like **Tombstone**, and agriculture flourished as goods could be more easily shipped out of the region. Tombstone, in particular, became famous for its silver mines and became a boomtown during this period.

**The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1881):**
One of the most iconic events in the history of the American West occurred in **Tombstone** in 1881, when a gunfight broke out between the Earp brothers and the Clanton-McLaury gang. The famous **Gunfight at the O.K. Corral** remains one of the most well-known moments in Western folklore and exemplifies the lawlessness and tensions of the period.

**Apache Resistance and Geronimo's Surrender (1886):**
Geronimo’s surrender to U.S. forces in **1886** marked the end of major Apache resistance in southeastern Arizona. The relentless military campaigns led to Geronimo’s capture, and he and his followers were forcibly relocated to reservations. This event symbolized the conclusion of the Apache Wars and the final defeat of indigenous resistance in the region.

**Statehood and Economic Development (1890s-1900):**
As the century came to a close, southeastern Arizona saw increasing political and economic integration into the United States. The area began to see more settlements, with the establishment of towns such as **Bisbee**, which was founded in 1880 and became a key center for mining. The region continued to develop economically, with copper mining also becoming an important industry.

In 1898, Arizona's prospects for statehood began to take shape as its population grew, and its economy diversified. The **Gadsden Purchase** (1853), which had granted the U.S. a significant portion of land in southern Arizona from Mexico, helped solidify the region’s role in the growing United States.

**Summary:**
The history of southeastern Arizona from 1855 to 1900 was shaped by warfare, settlement, and economic expansion. The region saw violent conflict with the Apache people, the development of mining and railroads, and the formation of iconic towns such as Tombstone. By the end of the 19th century, Arizona was a rapidly developing region, setting the stage for its eventual statehood in 1912.