The United States Government wanted More Land

The United States Government had a great desire to expand their territory in order to exploit mineral resources and open up a trade route to China from the Pacific coast.

They specifically wanted land over which they could build a railroad out to California and the Pacific Ocean.

They. Wanted. A. Trans-continental. Railroad.

Of course, there were already Native peoples and Mexicans living on these lands.

These postcards from our Arizona Postcards collection represent some of the people already living on the land the United States would soon annex. Please keep in mind that the subjects of these postcards may not have given permission nor been in a position to give permission to photographers to use their likeness on postcards for entertainment and profit.