The confederates were interested in New Mexico. They were interested in it because they could use the resources and land to their advantage. For example, the gold found in the area was valuable and they could make a profit. The confederates could use the Rio Grande to transport troops quickly. Due to this, the confederates claimed the southern half of New Mexico as its own and waged the New Mexico Campaign in an attempt to control the American Southwest and open access to Union-held California.
Americans believed Europeans forced the United States into imperialism. Americans enjoyed the greater territory and power imperialism gave them. Americans thought it was unimportant to expand outside of North America.
