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The Northern Mexican Frontier

Encounters exhibition

Life along the United States - Mexico border changed dramatically after Mexico won its independence in 1821. As their economy was improved by the Bourbon reforms, Mexicans welcomed the American traders eager to find new markets for their goods. The economic depression of 1819 had been very hard on American traders, and they enthusiastically made the journey across the prairies from Missouri to Santa Fe. They brought a wide array of American goods, including bolts of calico cloth, hammers and nails, kitchen utensils, wallpaper and window glass. These were traded for silver and mules offered in Santa Fe. Some Americans moved to the Santa Fe region, becoming part of the rich culture, which already was a mixture of Spanish and Pueblo Indian traditions. New immigrant communities joined older ones, and both were changed in the process. The new settlers added eastern American elements to the furniture, clothing, cooking and art of the region, repeating the pattern of earlier years. Further west, cattle ranching dominated life in Mexican California. After the Spanish missions were broken up in the 1830s, elite families took over the large ranching estates. They changed very few of the missions' practices, and continued to employ Indian vaqueros (cowboys). Once a year, the vaqueros rounded up the herds of cattle, butchered them and prepared the hides for export. The ranching elite, known as Californios, sold the hide and tallow to European and American traders. With their profits, they bought silks and satin, silver, spices, china and musical instruments from all over the world. Even owners of the smaller ranches, and some of the working people, purchased simple tableware and cotton cloth. The demand for luxury goods insured that the encounters between the Eastern merchants and the Western settlers would continue.