Estado de Occidente facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Estado de Occidente |
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| State of Mexico | |||||||||||
| 1824 - 1830 | |||||||||||
.svg) Flag
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.svg) Sonora y Sinaloa within Mexico |
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| Capital | El Fuerte Cosalá (unknown date) Álamos (1828-1830) |
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| • Type | Federal Republic | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
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• Established
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1824 | ||||||||||
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• Disestablished
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1830 | ||||||||||
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| Today part of |  Mexico
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The Estado de Occidente (which means Western State in English) was a state in Mexico. It was also known as Sonora y Sinaloa. This state was created in 1824, soon after Mexico became an independent country.
Its first capital city was El Fuerte, Sinaloa. The first governor of the state was Juan Miguel Riesgo. The Estado de Occidente included the areas that are now the Mexican states of Sonora and Sinaloa. It also covered parts of what is now Arizona in the United States, roughly south of the Gila River. However, many native groups like the Yaqui, Pima, and Apaches in these northern areas did not always accept the state's rule.
A New State is Born
When Mexico created its first constitution in 1824, Sonora and Sinaloa were joined together as one state. The federal government called it "Sonora y Sinaloa." However, the state's own constitution, written in 1825, officially named it the Estado de Occidente.
The new state constitution had an important rule: it made all people living in the state citizens. This meant everyone had to follow the same laws and pay taxes.
Challenges and Conflicts
This new rule caused problems with the Yaqui people. Before, they did not have to pay taxes. They also believed they had their own independent land and rights. The new constitution threatened these rights.
Because of these disagreements, a war broke out between the Mexican government and the Yaqui people. This conflict is known as the Yaqui Wars. The Yaqui forces were led by a brave leader named Juan Banderas.
As the war continued, the capital city of Occidente had to be moved for safety. It first moved to Cosalá and then, in 1828, it moved again to Álamos.
Splitting Up
The Estado de Occidente faced many internal disagreements and challenges. Because of these constant problems, the state was divided into two separate states in 1830. These new states were Sonora and Sinaloa. The area of Sinaloa today is almost the same as it was when it became a separate state.
Changing Borders
In the 1820s, the northern part of Sonora stretched much further north than Mexico's current border with the United States. There were only a few small towns in the very south of what is now Arizona. The exact northern border was not clearly set. Old maps from that time show the border reaching as far as the Gila River or even the Colorado River.
Later, events like the Mexican–American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 changed the border. The Gadsden Purchase in 1854 finally set the border exactly where it is today between Mexico and the United States.
See also
In Spanish: Estado de Occidente para niños
