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Questions and Answers
What was the purpose of hiring surveyors and translators when the US acquired New Mexico as a territory?
What was unique about the land grants in New Mexico?
How did Catron acquire the Tierra Amarilla land grant?
What did Catron and the Santa Fe Ring do around the turn of the twentieth century?
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How did Catron's actions affect the political system in New Mexico?
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What was the result of Catron and the Santa Fe Ring's land sales?
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What was Thomas Catron's occupation when he came to Las Cruces, NM in 1867?
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What was the main factor that contributed to Thomas Catron's rise in politics in New Mexico?
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What was Thomas Catron's role in the government in 1869?
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Why did President Ulysses S. Grant appoint Catron as the US Attorney in New Mexico?
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What was the main area of law that Thomas Catron specialized in?
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What was the Santa Fe Ring?
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Who were the main victims of Thomas Catron and the Santa Fe Ring's land seizures?
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What was the most famous land grant seized by Thomas Catron?
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Study Notes
Thomas Catron's Early Life and Career
- Thomas Catron arrived in Las Cruces, NM in 1867 as a Confederate Army veteran with a law degree.
- By 1869, Catron became the state attorney for New Mexico due to his rapid rise through the ranks of attorneys in the state.
Rise to Prominence
- Catron played a crucial role in bringing the Republican Party to New Mexico, which led to President Ulysses S. Grant appointing him as the US attorney in New Mexico.
- Despite fighting for the Confederates during the Civil War, Catron's influence in New Mexico earned him this appointment.
Land Grant Law and the Santa Fe Ring
- Catron specialized in land grant law and made a significant amount of money by buying and selling land grant titles.
- He organized a group of powerful New Mexico men known as the “Santa Fe Ring,” which was not a formal organization but rather a group of influential businessmen and politicians who shaped the state's affairs.
- Although Catron and ring members denied its existence, the Santa Fe Ring was known for its tactics, and Catron was seen as its leader.
Land Seizures and Controversies
- Catron and the Santa Fe Ring used their knowledge of land grant legal technicalities to seize land from New Mexicans, Native Americans, and Hispanics who had occupied the lands for generations.
- One of the most notable land seizures was the Tierra Amarilla land grant, where Catron took over 600,000 miles of land that had been occupied by a Mexican family and Native American tribes.
- Catron's actions led to the displacement of many communities and the accumulation of massive wealth and power.
Later Life and Legacy
- By the turn of the twentieth century, Catron and the Santa Fe Ring began selling off the lands they had acquired, making them extremely wealthy and influential in New Mexico politics.
- Although they eventually held elected offices, Catron and the Santa Fe Ring are remembered more for the power they wielded over elected officials before their own elections.
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Description
Learn about Thomas Catron, a Confederate Army veteran who became a prominent figure in New Mexico politics. He rose to become the state attorney and was instrumental in bringing the Republican Party to the state.
