Annexation_of_Texas

The Annexation of Texas Steven Wolcott AIU Online Abstract When Texas was annexed, it was the largest state in the Union; however it was its own country before that. Texas was, at one point, a part of Mexico until it seceded and became the Republic of Texas. During this time period there were many battles with Mexico over land disputes and the Mexican government didn’t accept Texas’s independence. This annexation was the largest expansions to the United States and one of the most difficult to accomplish. The Annexation of Texas The state of Texas was a part of Mexico in the early 1800’s and in 1836 won its independence after it revolted. Texas then became the Republic of Texas and soon wanted to be annexed by the United States but was turned down on multiple occasions. However in 1845, worried about British interference, President Polk influenced Congress to annex the massive state. This in turn brought about the Mexican-American War which lasted from 1845-1848 and ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Both John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson tried to purchase the Texas territory from Mexico, in the 1820’s, but due to political unrest the offers were blatantly refused. Then, in 1836, Texas and other territories of Mexico revolted, winning its independence. Soon afterward the Texas Senate, inspired by President Sam Houston, voted unanimously on annexation into the United States. When this was proposed in Washington D.C., Congress and President Martin van Buren did not accept the proposal because Northern politicians didn’t want the balance of slave states to increase. The threat of war with Mexico also aided in the decision not annexing Texas. In 1842 Mexico tried to retake Texas twice, exposing vulnerabilities that the British would attempt to exploit, President John Tyler didn’t want the British to interfere in the affairs of Texas, Mexico or the United States. For this reason he pushed Congress for the annexation of Texas, which also brought the United States into conflict with Mexico because they never recognized the independence of Texas. At the annexation ceremony, the President of Texas, Anson Jones stated "The final act in this great drama is now performed; the Republic of Texas is no more." as he relinquished power over to Governor James Pinckney Henderson. After the annexation of Texas, diplomatic relations with Mexico ceased thus the Mexican-American war was in the works. In 1845 war between Mexico and the United States was eminent. A land dispute of more than a 100 mile wide piece of land, the area between the Rio Grande River and the Nueces River instigated the war; however, President James Polk, a strong believer in manifest destiny, attempted to purchase the disputed land, along with New Mexico and California for 30 million dollars. The Mexican government refused the offer. A skirmish with Mexican forces, that attacked a U.S. patrol, gave Polk the leverage he needed to declare war in 1846. After several major victories by U.S. forces, they took Mexico City in 1847. This in turn forced the Mexican government into signing the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 that granted control of not only the disputed land and the land previously inquired about but also Nevada, Arizona, and parts of Wyoming and Utah. Ultimately there were very few short term effects of this expansion, mainly the Mexican-American War, but several long term effects. The expansion was the largest single acquisition in United States history, heightened mistrust of the British and Mexicans, and the admission of Texas as a slave state. Texas, once a part of Mexico, had fought for and won its independence to become a republic of its own. Later, the government and people of Texas realized the advantages of being within a union, proposed annexation within the United States but wasn’t annexed until ten years later. References: Course material http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/mga02 http://history.state.gov/milestones/1830