New Mexico's path to statehood had a rocky journey mainly due to:
- Religion (most of the population in New Mexico were Roman Catholic)
- Language barrier (Spanish was the predominant language)
- Prejudice against Hispanics
- General poverty and lawlessness in the region
- Texas outraged at New Mexico's petition to apply for statehood
- The outbreak of the American civil war
However, on January 6th, 1912 New Mexico officially became the 47th state of the union, due to in large part to:
- New Mexico fighting for the Union during the civil war
- The large New Mexican volunteer force that fought in the Spanish-American war
- Increasing economic growth
- Increasing social and cultural transformation
- Decreasing in lawlessness throughout the region
- Enabling Act of 1910 (Which cleared the way for New Mexico their own state government and constitution)