The historical links between U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and Mexican President Benito Juarez have been long studied by historians. The shifting of the course of the Rio Grande that began the Chamizal conflict began while these two Presidents were in office, and both were locked in battles to save their respective republics (The Civil War for Lincoln, The War against France for Juarez).

Some of the contributions of these first Hispanic pioneers and subsequent expeditions to North America are the introduction of the Spanish language, Christianity, European musical instruments, farming and mining equipment, spices, cookware, fruit tree cuttings, seeds and domestic animals, that included cattle, pigs, and goats. Most dramatic historically among the livestock introduced on the Oñate expedition was the horse – war horses and mares --which became so culturally vital to Native Americans in subsequent years.