 In 1860 , just prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War , a group of people in the southern portion of New Mexico Territory passed a resolution condemning the United States for creating such a vast territory with only a single , small government in place at Santa Fe . They claimed by doing so the U.S. had ignored the needs of the southern portion , left them without a functional system of law and order , and allowed the situation to deteriorate into a state of chaos and near anarchy . The group declared secession from the United States and announced their intent to join the Confederate States of America under the name of the Arizona Territory . The U.S. Congress responded in 1863 by creating another Arizona Territory with different , but partially overlapping boundaries . The Confederate boundaries split New Mexico along an east – west line , the 34th parallel north , allowing for a single state connection from Texas to the Colorado River . This would give the Confederacy access to California and the Pacific coast . The Union definition split New Mexico along a north – south line , the 32nd meridian west from Washington , which simply extended the boundary between Colorado and Utah southward . The Union plan eventually became reality , and this created the quadripoint at the modern Four Corners . After the split , New Mexico resembled its modern form , with only slight differences . 
