Texas Independence
Let’s back up a bit…. Spain had controlled most of what is now the Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas..) In the early 1820’s Mexico wins independence from Spain and gained control of Span’s vast empire. They had difficulty controlling the “Northern Provinces,” however.
Mexico invites U.S. settlers to Texas Mexico invited US settlers to Texas to help populate the area and to fight the Natives who were living there. Americans came in droves in the 1820’s and 1830’s, and soon they outnumbered Mexican settlers.
Settlers bring slavery Mexico had outlawed slavery and there were upset with the slavery that Americans were bringing to their land. Stephen A. Austin, leader of Texas, began to petition Mexico for greater independence for Texas.
Austin goes to Mexico City He meets with the Mexican president, Santa Ana, to plead his case for Texas independence. On his way home, Santa Ana has him imprisoned for inciting a rebellion. This sparks the war between Texas and Mexico.
The Alamo Santa Ana led his own troops up to Texas for battle. In one of the most famous battles, The Alamo, he surrounded Texan troops who were inside the fort and massacred every last one of them.
Battle of San Jacinto Texans, led by Sam Houston, get their revenge at this battle. They kill 630 of Santa Ana’s troops in 18 minutes. They yelled “Remember the Alamo!” during the battle. Houston’s troops also capture Santa Ana
Santa Ana signs a treaty The Treaty of Velasco was signed, granting Texas its independence. Santa Ana was then released. Most people in Texas, including the President Sam Houston, want Texas to be “annexed” into the United States.
The “Annexation” Debate Annexation means that Texas would just become part of the United States. America was divided along sectional lines about the issue. The South wanted it, because it would expand slavery. The North didn’t want it, because it would expand slavery.
Texas Annexation Sam Houston asked for it in 1838. In 1844, James K. Polk is elected President, one of his platforms was Annexation for Texas. Texas becomes a state on December 29, 1845. This is going to cause war with Mexico.