Activity Set Two:

by:  Emily Socolov

Mapping the Border-Mexico/US; Texas/Chihuahua:/Coahuila/Nuevo Leon/Tamaulipas

The United States and Mexico share 2,000 miles (2,830 kilometers) of border. In Texas, the border is marked by the Rio Grande river.

1) Border States

  1. What are the four states in the United States that are on the U.S./Mexican Border?
  2. That are the six states in the Mexican republic which share a border with the United States?
  3. Texas shares its southern border with four states of the Mexican Republic. Which are those states?
  4. What are the names of the cities on the far western end and the easternmost end of the Texas border?
  5. What are the names of the two corresponding cities on the Mexican side?
  6. What body of water lies on the southeast border of Texas and the northeast border of Mexico?

2) The Border through History

Prior to 1700, European powers had entered the area which is today’s US/Mexican Border to gain new territories. By 1519, Ponce de Leon had explored the area for Spain. By 1687, La Salle had conducted exploration of the Mississippi and its tributaries for the French. 1607 marked the beginning of British colonial settlement.

Maps 1-5 provide five snapshots of the border throughout time. You will be asked to compare and contrast the border and the various nations which have occupied border territory.

 

 

 

 

A) Today’s Border and The Border pre-1763

Map 5 (Borderlands 1848-present)
Map 1 (Borderlands 1700-1763)
 

 

Compare Map 1 and Map 5

 

1. Describe the differences in where the Border is drawn today from where it used to be drawn. What three European countries had US border territories?

2. Vexillology is the study of flags. Look in a dictionary that has information on word origins to find out about the derivation of the word.

3. What flag flew over the area called Texas today? Sketch, paint or quilt an image of that flag. A website on vexillology is included at the end of this lesson.

 
B) Border Changes between 1763 and 1800

 

Map 1(Borderlands 1700-1763)
Map 2(Borderlands 1763-1800)

 

1. What changes do you notice between these maps?

2. At the conclusion of the French and Indian War in 1763, France ceded its territory to Spain. Find out the beginning date of the French and Indian War, and tell some of the reasons why it was fought.

3. How has the English territory changed? What is it called in Map 2?

 
C) Border Changes between 1800 and 1819

 

Map 2(Borderlands 1763-1800)
Map 3(Borderlands 1800-1819)

 

1. What changes do you notice between these two maps?

2. The Louisiana Territory was a gift to France from Charles the Fourth of Spain in 1800 in exchange for Italian territory given to Spain by France. It changed hands three years later. Which was the next country to claim this territory?

3. What has happened to the former English territory? What war enabled the United States to control this territory?

 
D) Border Changes between 1819 and 1848

 

Map 3(Borderlands 1800-1819)
Map 4(Borderlands 1819-1848)

Compare Map 4 and Map 3.

  1. What changes do you notice between these two maps? 
  2. The place name "Texas" has appeared on maps since 1718. But on this map Texas is mentioned because of the important changes that occurred in Texas over the 24 year period between 1821-1845. Name the three changes that occurred in Texas during this period.
  3. Which three flags flew over the Territory now called Texas? Sketch, paint or quilt an image of those flags. A website on vexillology (the study of flags) is included at the end of this lesson.
E) Border Changes between 1848 and the present day

Map 4(Borderlands 1819-1848)
Map 5(Borderlands 1848-present day)

Compare Map 5 and Map 4.

 

  1. What changes do you notice between these two maps? 
  2. The United States/Mexico border, as we know it today, goes back about one hundred and fifty years. The signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 ended the war between Mexico and the US. This treaty gave land to the US which had previously belonged to Mexico. The land included what is now Upper California, New Mexico and Texas. The land was sold for $15 million. Five years later in 1853, southern Arizona was acquired by the US from Mexico as part of the Gadsen Purchase.
  3. Can you name a place on today’s Texas border which would be in Mexico today if the earlier border was still in place?
  4. Can you name a place on the Mexican border which would today be in Texas if the earlier border was still in place?
 
3) Locating Photos

 

  1. Find an image from the place menu [from a list of where the photos were taken].
  2. Plot the location of that image on the Border map. Note your cursor location. Note the map coordinates for your location.
  3. Now write a short description of the city or town where the photograph was taken. If it is a Mexican location, find its closest Texas neighbor. If it is a Texas location, find its closest Mexican neighbor. 
  4. Repeat A and B with another photo from another location.