Unit 6: Chapter 12, Section 4 Title: Texas Becomes A State Main Idea: Efforts for Texas annexation were given a boost by the changing political atmosphere in the United States. Key Terms: manifest destiny, joint resolution Key People: Mary Maverick, James K. Polk, Henry Clay, Anson Jones

Life in the Republic of Texas Mary Maverick, and her husband Samuel, established a large ranch near the San Antonio area. She recorded her daily life in diaries and journals between the days of the Republic of Texas and the Civil War. She worked hard making sure the history of Texas was preserved (see excerpt on page 309).

Mary Maverick

Freedoms and Slavery in the Republic of Texas The establishment of the Republic of Texas was based on freedoms most Texans had when they lived in the United States. This meant that they would not live under a dictatorship (political) and their civil liberties (civil/religious) like speech, religion, press, and assembly would be protected under a constitution. Slavery was legalized, and free slaves had to get an act of Congress to remain legal in Texas.

The Texas Question Throughout the years of the Republic, most Texans still wanted Texas to join the U.S.A. By Houston’s second term, the “Texas Question” became an important issue in American politics. Some Americans were against annexing Texas because it would benefit slave owners and might cause war with Mexico.

The Texas Question By April 1844, the U.S.A. and Texas signed a treaty that would make Texas a territory of the U.S.A. Texas would also give all its public lands in exchange for the U.S.A. to pay all its debts. Most Texans were surprised when the U.S. Senate rejected the treaty by a vote of 35 to 16. Most senators opposed it because Texas would enter the U.S. as a slave state and give the South an advantage in the Senate (i.e. South > North).

Polk Wins the U.S. Election In the U.S. presidential election of 1844, James K. Polk of the Democratic Party narrowly defeated Henry Clay from the Whig Party. Polk heavily favored annexation of Texas. Polk and most Americans believed the U.S.A. was destined to expand from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast—manifest destiny.

Polk vs. Clay

Manifest Destiny

U.S. Congress and Texas Approve Annexation How did Texas become a State? (3 steps) First, the U.S. Congress proposed that Texas be annexed by joint resolution, a resolution passed by both houses of Congress that has the force of law and a simple majority of each house (instead of two-thirds majority vote required by the Senate to approve a treaty). Congress passed this on February 28, 1845. The joint resolution provided for immediate statehood, bypassing the time Texas would be a territory.

U.S. Capitol Building

Mexico Offers Recognition France and Great Britain preferred Texas stay an independent nation, rather than joining the U.S.A. They tried to convince Mexico to recognize Texas so the annexation wouldn’t happen. In May 1845, Mexico offered to recognize Texas on 1 condition – Texas must reject annexation by the USA. Texas rejected the proposal and voted to approve annexation by the U.S.A.

U.S. Congress and Texas Approve Annexation How did Texas become a State? (3 steps) Second, Anson Jones, president of Texas in 1844, called a special session of the Texas Congress to consider and vote for annexation. The Texas congress approved annexation on October 13, 1845. They also wrote a new state constitution. Third, on December 29, 1845, U.S. President Polk signed the resolution that made Texas a state.

Texas Capitol Building

“The Republic of Texas is No More!” On February 19, 1846, Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic, turned the government over to J. Pinckney Henderson, the first governor of the state of Texas. The Lone Star flag was lowered, and the Stars and Stripes flag was raised. Texas officially became the 28th state in the United States of America.

Texas Becomes a State