Texas Early Statehood

1. The Texas State Constitution maintains the 7 Principles of Government, and follows the U.S. Constitution with the three branches of government.

2. Texas no longer has a president but will instead have a Governor, or leader of the state. Official Annexation Date: December 29, Texas Governor Greg Abbott

3. James Pickney Henderson is elected the first governor of Texas once it is annexed by the U.S.

4. Mexico wants its territory back (Texas), which again causes many issues between the United States and Mexico.

5. James K. Polk (U.S. President) sends officials to offer to buy the remaining Mexican territory and give ‘compensation’ to Mexico for their loss of Texas.

~America wanted to buy all land between Texas and California to reach their goal of Manifest Destiny.~

1. Already angered by the loss of their land, Mexico claims America’s desire to buy their land is an embarrassment and is angered even more. Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga

2. Fighting breaks out once more over the disputed border territory between the U.S. and Mexico. ~Both are blaming each other for wrongdoings.~

3. American officially declares War on Mexico on May 13, 1846 to put a final stop to the disputes.

4. Texans begin to rally and say, “Remember the Alamo” and create their own forms of protection.

5. The Texas Rangers who are highly trained scouts, spies, and guides lead the war in Texas. ~Produced fierce fights that scared Mexican troops and militias.~

1. After many battles and skirmishes, the war ends with an American victory. ~Mexico could not compete with the United States Army.~

2. The Treaty of Guadalupe is signed between both American and Mexican officials to officially end the war with Mexico.

~All land north of the Rio Grande is American soil (no more border disputes for Southwest Texas.~

~All land between Texas and the Pacific Ocean is now American territory.~

~Americans promised to repect and fairly treat all remaining Spanish speakers.~

3. This treaty made America grow in size and reach their goal of Manifest Destiny. America now reached from Sea to Sea! (Atlantic to Pacific).

1. Now that Texas was undeniably part of the United States, there was another looming issue that faced Americans.

2. Texas was a very large state, and it allowed slavery; however, America was split in half on the issue of slavery.

~Some Americans were abolitionists, or people who wanted to remove slavery.~ ~Some Amiericans were pro-slavery, or wanted to keep slavery.~

3. Texas, with its large size, brough many concerns for notherners who were abolitionists.

4. To setle the concerns with the nation, the Compromise of 1850 came about. It said:

~California would also be annexed by the U.S. As a free state.~ ~All U.S. Territories could vote whether they wanted slavery or not (popular sovereignty)

~The slave trade would be ended in Washington D.C.~ ~The Fugitive Slave Law would be put into place (all runaway slaves would have to be returned to their owners if they escaped to the North).~

This compromis was made to please both the anti- slavery North, and the pro-slavery South.

6. Another concern was that Texas was too large to fairly represent all of the people equally.

The Texas New Mexico Act was established to trim Texas’ borders to its present day size. ~Texas was also given $10 million dollars for the land it lost.