SUMMARY OF THE TEXAS ANNEXATION
The Spanish were first to colonize the states that now make up the American southwest, including Texas. In the early 19th century, Spain allowed some Americans to settle in Texas. In 1821, Moses Austin got permission to lead a group of 300 American families to create a new settlement there. After Moses died, his son Stephen took over and proceeded with the plan. By 1835, about 20,000 American, Mexican, and European settlers had come to Texas, bringing 4,000 slaves. The Mexican government tried to limit the amount of settlers, to their advantage. In 1835, a fight started between the Mexican Army and Anglo-American colonists who were mad at the Mexican government for trying to limit slavery and for violating the Mexican constitution. In 1836, they made Texas an independent state, and they called it the Republic of Texas. After the Texans won the Battle of San Jacinto later that year, the fighting stopped. The Mexican government had never recognized the new state, and for the next ten years or so, the Lone Star Republic had a small existence. It was under pressure of the invasion from Mexico, and the government didn't have enough money in its treasury to work well enough. In 1845 the Republic of Texas asked to be a part of the United States, and United States government agreed to form the nation. Mexican leaders warned the United States that if it tried to make Texas a state, they would go to war. Almost right after Texas joined the union, United States and Mexico went to war about where the border for Texas should be. The Republic of Texas included the present-day state of Texas as well as some of New Mexico, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming.
The Spanish were first to colonize the states that now make up the American southwest, including Texas. In the early 19th century, Spain allowed some Americans to settle in Texas. In 1821, Moses Austin got permission to lead a group of 300 American families to create a new settlement there. After Moses died, his son Stephen took over and proceeded with the plan. By 1835, about 20,000 American, Mexican, and European settlers had come to Texas, bringing 4,000 slaves. The Mexican government tried to limit the amount of settlers, to their advantage. In 1835, a fight started between the Mexican Army and Anglo-American colonists who were mad at the Mexican government for trying to limit slavery and for violating the Mexican constitution. In 1836, they made Texas an independent state, and they called it the Republic of Texas. After the Texans won the Battle of San Jacinto later that year, the fighting stopped. The Mexican government had never recognized the new state, and for the next ten years or so, the Lone Star Republic had a small existence. It was under pressure of the invasion from Mexico, and the government didn't have enough money in its treasury to work well enough. In 1845 the Republic of Texas asked to be a part of the United States, and United States government agreed to form the nation. Mexican leaders warned the United States that if it tried to make Texas a state, they would go to war. Almost right after Texas joined the union, United States and Mexico went to war about where the border for Texas should be. The Republic of Texas included the present-day state of Texas as well as some of New Mexico, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming.
KEY POINTS OF THE TEXAS ANNEXATION
The Texas Annexation of 1845 was the voluntary annexation of the Republic of Texas to the United States of America, becoming the twenty-eighth state.
Anglo-American immigrants, primarily from the South, began immigrating to Mexican Texas in the early 1820s at the request of the Mexican government, which sought to populate the sparsely inhabited lands of its northern frontier.
In August 1837, James Freeman, the Texan ambassador to the United States, submitted an annexation proposal to the Van Buren administration. Believing that annexation would lead to war with Mexico, the administration declined Texas’ proposal.
In 1843, President John Tyler came out in support of annexation, entering negotiations with the Republic of Texas for an annexation treaty, which he submitted to the Senate. On 8 June 1844, the treaty was defeated 35 to 16, well below the two-thirds majority necessary for ratification.
James K. Polk, a Democrat and a strong supporter of territorial expansion, was elected president in November 1844 with a mandate to acquire both the Republic of Texas and Oregon Country.
The Texas Annexation of 1845 was the voluntary annexation of the Republic of Texas to the United States of America, becoming the twenty-eighth state.
Anglo-American immigrants, primarily from the South, began immigrating to Mexican Texas in the early 1820s at the request of the Mexican government, which sought to populate the sparsely inhabited lands of its northern frontier.
In August 1837, James Freeman, the Texan ambassador to the United States, submitted an annexation proposal to the Van Buren administration. Believing that annexation would lead to war with Mexico, the administration declined Texas’ proposal.
In 1843, President John Tyler came out in support of annexation, entering negotiations with the Republic of Texas for an annexation treaty, which he submitted to the Senate. On 8 June 1844, the treaty was defeated 35 to 16, well below the two-thirds majority necessary for ratification.
James K. Polk, a Democrat and a strong supporter of territorial expansion, was elected president in November 1844 with a mandate to acquire both the Republic of Texas and Oregon Country.