The Santa Fe Trail, established in 1821, was a trail used in western expansion of America and connected Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The trail, although in 1792 was roughly followed by Pedro Vial, was pioneered by William Becknell, a mountain ranger during the War of 1812. It was originally used as a trade route between Mexico and America, and it brought manufactured goods from Missouri to Mexico. The Republic of Texas, after succeeding from Mexico, claimed Santa Fe as its own and sought out with military force to take the trail, even though they failed. During the Mexican American War it became the American route for invasion. After the Mexican American War, when America gained control of the southwest, the Santa Fe trail was imperative in Settler Expansion to the area. Later during history, when the railroad came about as the latest modern arrival, the "Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway" was erected, extending through much of the original Santa Fe trail. In addition to the perils of the desert and mountain landscapes the trail traversed through, the Santa Fe trail was unique because it passed through the land of both Comanches and the Apaches, who did not tolerate trespassing.