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'''New Mexico''' became 47th state to join the union on January 6, 1912. It is the fifth largest of the [[United States]], with a total land area of 121,412 square miles.<ref> http://www.newmexico.gov/</ref> New Mexico has the largest [[Hispanic]] population, and second largest [[Native American]] population, percentage-wise, of any US State. The State has a bold history and colorful culture, the official state question is "red or green?" in reference to the State's unique [[Chile (Capsicum)|chile pepper]]. Politically the State is very much as Independent swing state that usually votes for incumbents and, much like West Texas, the state also leans towards  [[Libertarian]] political stances especially in Central and Western New Mexico.

'''New Mexico''' became 47th state to join the union on January 6, 1912. It is the fifth largest of the [[United States]], with a total land area of 121,412 square miles.<ref> http://www.newmexico.gov/</ref> New Mexico has the largest [[Hispanic]] population, and second largest [[Native American]] population, percentage-wise, of any US State. The State has a bold history and colorful culture, the official state question is "red or green?" in reference to the State's unique [[Chile (Capsicum)|chile pepper]]. Politically the State is very much as Independent swing state that usually votes for incumbents and, much like West Texas, the state also leans towards  [[Libertarian]] political stances especially in Central and Western New Mexico. The capital is [[Santa Fe]], and its largest city is [[Albuquerque]].

Despite popular opinion, New Mexico's name originates from long before it was a territory of Mexico or the United States. New Mexico was named by Spanish explorers who mistook the advanced Pueblo natives as being related to the Mexica ([[Aztecs]]). The full name of the colony, as well as the Mexican and American territories, was Santa Fe de Nuevo México (Holy Faith of New Mexico).

Despite popular opinion, New Mexico's name originates from long before it was a territory of Mexico or the United States. New Mexico was named by Spanish explorers who mistook the advanced Pueblo natives as being related to the Mexica ([[Aztecs]]). The full name of the colony, as well as the Mexican and American territories, was Santa Fe de Nuevo México (Holy Faith of New Mexico).

The Native American groups of New Mexico are the Pueblo, and the Athabaskan groups of the Apache and Navajo. The Navajo Nation also is present in Arizona and Utah. Prior to these modern peoples, the current area of New Mexico was the home of the Mogollon, Hohokam, and the ancestors to the modern Pueblo peoples called the Ancient Pueblo, commonly known as the [[Anasazi]].  

The Native American groups of New Mexico are the Pueblo, and the Athabaskan groups of the Apache and Navajo. The Navajo Nation also is present in Arizona and Utah. Prior to these modern peoples, the current area of New Mexico was the home of the Mogollon, Hohokam, and the ancestors to the modern Pueblo peoples called the Ancient Pueblo, commonly known as the [[Anasazi]].  

====Ancient Pueblo====

====Ancient Pueblo====

===Santa Fe de Nuevo México (1598-1912)===

===Santa Fe de Nuevo México (1598-1912)===

The Spanish colony of Santa Fe de Nuevo México was started by Juan de Oñate in 1598, who initially believed that, similar to the Aztecs, the town dwelling Pueblo natives to be rich in Gold. He attempted to make the colony into a viceroyalty, but was unable to convince the leaders back in Europe. Instead the Spanish leadership from Europe made increasingly brutal laws against the Spanish colonists and the Pueblo natives. They banned Pueblo religious practices, and punished poorer colonists and Pueblos with forced labor and taxes.

The Spanish colony of Santa Fe de Nuevo México was started by Juan de Oñate in 1598, who initially believed that, similar to the Aztecs, the town dwelling Pueblo natives to be rich in Gold. He attempted to make the colony into a vice-royalty, but was unable to convince the leaders back in Europe. Instead the Spanish leadership from Europe made increasingly brutal laws against the Spanish colonists and the Pueblo natives. They banned Pueblo religious practices, and punished poorer colonists and Pueblos with forced labor and taxes.

====Pueblo Revolt (1680)====

====Pueblo Revolt (1680)====

The Pueblo first attempted to request more religious liberty, as the Pueblo religion was largely peaceful in nature, but Pueblo leaders that attempted the request were publicly executed. Popé, a Pueblo man from Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo near Santa Fe, became a charismatic leader of the Pueblo groups. He lead the Pueblos in a unified revolt against the Spanish, this was the first successful revolt of Americans against oppressive European rule.<ref>[http://newmexico.heavensentgaming.com/encyclopedia/history/ New Mexico History] on the [[New Mexico Cultural Encyclopedia, Lexicon, and News]]</ref> The Pueblos allowed the Spanish colonists to flee to [[El Paso]].

The Pueblo first attempted to request more religious liberty, as the Pueblo religion was largely peaceful in nature, but Pueblo leaders that attempted the request were publicly executed. Popé, a Pueblo man from Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo near Santa Fe, became a charismatic leader of the Pueblo groups. He lead the Pueblos in a unified revolt against the Spanish, this was the first successful revolt of Americans against oppressive European rule.<ref>[http://newmexico.heavensentgaming.com/encyclopedia/history/ New Mexico History] on the [[New Mexico Cultural Encyclopedia, Lexicon, and News]]</ref> The Pueblos allowed the Spanish colonists to flee to [[El Paso]].

====Return of the colonists (1692)====

====Return of the colonists (1692)====

Diego de Vargas lead the colonists back to New Mexico in 1692, in what was called the Bloodless Reconquest. The Spanish gave clemency to the Pueblos, and the Pueblo people agreed to peace under the agreement of greater representation and better religious freedoms. The Pueblo and Spanish still had several contentions, but relations between them was much better this time around, especially since forced labor and taxes were no longer enforced. They would often work together to stave off attacks from the Apache, Navajo, and Comanche. Eventually peace was also made with the Apache, Navajo, and Comanche.

The Pueblo continued to use and maintain the facilities in Santa Fe, the Palace of the Governors became a small place of government for the Pueblos, but since the Pueblos continued to be city-states nothing more came of it. The Pueblo also converted numerous Catholic churches into Pueblo kivas. Diego de Vargas lead the colonists back to New Mexico in 1692, in what was called the Bloodless Reconquest. The Spanish gave clemency to the Pueblos, and the Pueblo people agreed to peace under the agreement of greater representation and better religious freedoms. The Pueblo and Spanish still had several contentions, but relations between them was much better this time around, especially since forced labor and taxes were no longer enforced. They would often work together to stave off attacks from the Apache, Navajo, and Comanche. Eventually peace was also made with the Apache, Navajo, and Comanche.

====Mexican territory (1821)====

====Mexican territory (1821)====

Mexico declared independence in 1821. Mexico's policies worsened relations with the Native Americans, and again caused the resurgence in raids upon Spanish and Pueblo towns. This was the beginning of the Wild West, which lasted through the Mexican and American territorial phases, New Mexico was a major part of the Wild West supplying major Western icons such as the cowboy, the Sheriff, [[Billy the Kid]], old Spanish town squares, and the settings of deserts, prairies, and mountains. Troubles from the neighbors to the east also became an issue, [[Texas]] declared its own Independence from Mexico, and attempted to annex everything east of the Rio Grande. All the while, Mexico was taking land from the original settlers of New Mexico as well as American land-grantees.

Mexico declared independence in 1821. Mexico's policies worsened relations with the Native Americans, and again caused the resurgence in raids upon Spanish and Pueblo towns. This was the beginning of the Wild West, which lasted through the Mexican and American territorial phases, New Mexico was a major part of the Wild West supplying major Western icons such as the cowboy, the Sheriff, [[Billy the Kid]], old Spanish town squares, and the settings of deserts, prairies, and mountains. Troubles from the neighbors to the east also became an issue, [[Texas]] declared its own Independence from Mexico, and attempted to annex everything east of the Rio Grande. All the while, Mexico was taking land from the original settlers of New Mexico as well as American land-grantees.

During [[World War II]], New Mexico played a pivotal role as not only the namesake of the [[New Mexico-class battleship]], but also as the birthplace of the Navajo Code Talkers who created the only uncracked code of WWII which saved countless lives in the Pacific Theatre, and more importantly as the primary place of research and technology at Los Alamos which housed some of the smartest men in the country including [[Albert Einstein]], and the White Sands Military Testing Facility for testing the Nuclear bomb.

During [[World War II]], New Mexico played a pivotal role as not only the namesake of the [[New Mexico-class battleship]], but also as the birthplace of the Navajo Code Talkers who created the only uncracked code of WWII which saved countless lives in the Pacific Theatre, and more importantly as the primary place of research and technology at Los Alamos which housed some of the smartest men in the country including [[Albert Einstein]], and the White Sands Military Testing Facility for testing the Nuclear bomb.

New Mexico has continued to be at the forefront of science, including Sandia Labs and the Los Alamos Laboratories. Technology by Ed Roberts' MITS, with their Altair computer kits, attracted both [[Paul Allen]] and [[Bill Gates]] to start [[Microsoft]] in [[Albuquerque]]. [[Intel]] has continued this trend by having a fabricating facility in Rio Rancho, near Albuquerque.

New Mexico has continued to be at the forefront of science, including Sandia Labs and the Los Alamos Laboratories. Technology by Ed Roberts' MITS, with their Altair computer kits, attracted both [[Paul Allen]] and [[Bill Gates]] to start [[Microsoft]] in [[Albuquerque]]; [[Intel]] has continued this trend by having a fabricating facility in Rio Rancho, near Albuquerque, where they build [[Central processing unit|CPU]]s.

==Elected Officials==

==Elected Officials==

*[[Ralph Bunche]] (Nobel Peace Prize winner)

*[[Ralph Bunche]] (Nobel Peace Prize winner)

*[[John Denver]] (singer)  

*[[John Denver]] (singer)  

*Henry McCarty ([[Billy the Kid]])

*Henry McCarty ([[Billy the Kid]])

*[[Demi Moore]] (actress)

*[[Demi Moore]] (actress)

*Popé (leader during the Pueblo Revolt)

*Popé (leader during the Pueblo Revolt)

*[[Bill Richardson]] (former Governor)

*[[Bill Richardson]] (former Governor)

*Albert Sanchez ([[Al Hurricane]])

*Albert Sanchez ([[Al Hurricane]])

*Al Unser and Bobby Unser (auto racers)

*Al Unser and Bobby Unser (auto racers)