The Curious Case of Texas HUSH - Libertyville HS

Texas Annexation First Mexican Republic declared, 1821 Mexican Republic knew about manifest destiny idea of Americans

Texas Annexation Mexican colonization offer – 177 acres farmland or acres pasturage for FREE, per family! – Promised republican gov’t, liberty – Purpose? Deflection (empresario) Mexico demands of colonists – Learn Spanish – Become Mexican citizens – Adopt Catholicism – Offer Mexico goods for sale first – No slaves! By 1830: 20,000 Americans in TX with 5000 slaves 1833 map showing land grants to empresarios

Texas Annexation: Santa Anna Santa Anna take over government, 1824 Dissolves Mexican Republic, established federal system and military dictatorship 1830: Santa Anna prohibits further Anglo settlers into TX Texas – many Anglo settlers want to break away

Texas Annexation: Revolution March 2, 1836: Texans declare independence from Mexico – 1824 Mexican Constitution changed – Colonization guarantees had not been honored US style constitution, protecting slavery

Texas Annexation: War! Santa Anna leads army into Texas March 6, Alamo falls (US – Travis, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett) Massacre at Goliad April 21 - Battle of San Jacinto – Texan Army under Sam Houston defeats Santa Anna; Santa Anna captured – Treaty of Velasco signed, ending hostilities “Last Stand at the Alamo”

Texas Annexation: “Lone Star Republic” Treaty est. Rio Grande as border Guaranteed TX independence Mexico refused to recognize treaty (duress) Sam Houston elected President of the “Lone Star Republic” Sam Houston

Texas Annexation: The Debate Supporters – Texans – Southerners – Slave States – Expansionists (pro Manifest Destiny) – Potential southern advantage in Congress Opponents – Northerners – Fear of South’s power in Congress – TX revolution as Southerner conspiracy – Concern over war with Mexico Texas asked to join the Union in

Annexation: Jackson’s Position Houston a friend of Jackson Fellow slave owner Pro-expansion Westerner BUT Jackson’s primary concern was his successor: Election of Van Buren No action

Annexation: Van Buren’s Position Anti-Slave (from NY) Presidency occupied by Panic of 1837 No action Texas dropped its annexation request in 1838

Annexation: Harrison and Tyler Harrison: no action due to his death Tyler – Southern slave owner – Pro Texas annexation – Treaty for annexation signed, 1844 BUT rejected by Senate – Called for annexation by a joint resolution: passed March 1845 (Mexico reaction) – TX formally joined Union December 29, 1845 – FL became state on March 3, 1845, Tyler’s last day of Pres.

Mexican-American War ( ) Mexico refused to recognize US’ 1845 annexation of TX Claimed TX as breakaway province Texas claimed its southern border with Mexico = Rio Grande; Mexico said border was Nueces R (150 miles N)

Mexican –American War ( ) Polk provoked war – Placed Gen. Taylor, 3,500 troops at Nueces R. – Told Pacific naval squadron to seize CA ports, if war – Sent John Fremont (explorer) into CA in to lead revolt against Mexico (“playing the TX game”) – November 1845 – offered $25 million to buy land from Mexico (refused)

Mexican American War Polk ordered Taylor to Rio Grande – 63 US troops attacked by 2000 Mexican troops between Rio Grande and Nueces R Polk: Mexico “shed American blood on American soil” Congress declared war

Opposition to War Sectional divisions explained opposition –N–Northerners feared growing “Slave Power” –A–Also wanted to deepen economy w/ industrialization, not broaden it w/ new land –S–Southerners wanted expansion of slavery North population growing faster, feared losing edge in House Slave auction, c. 1840

Opposition to War: “Spot Resolutions” Abraham Lincoln (W) introduced “Spot Resolution” – Questioned where the spot was that US blood was shed – Anti-war resolution; never acted upon by Congress – Gained him notoriety

Mexican Cession Area of Mexican Cession (yellow part = Gadsen Purchase of 1853) Mexican cession gained for US territory to Pacific – CA – NV – UT – AZ With 1853 Gadsen Purchase, Mexico lost 2/3 of its territory, but only 8000 Mexican families