1. Texas annexation

2. A Restless People By 1840s, Americans restless to expand
“Divine Mission” idea-Manifest Destiny
Promoted by
Land hungry Americans-rich/sparse lands
Patriots fear of British taking lands
Merchants working with Asia
Democratic minded people-spread freedom
Nationalists for American Greatness

3. Invitation
1821: Americans invited by newly independent Mexico to settle in Texas
By 1835: 30,000 whites, 500 slaves settled in Texas (more than Tejans of Mexico)
Agreed to hold up Mexican Const. 1824

4. Unsettled Territory Mexico unhappy Friction-Mexico tries to
Halt further American expansion
Free the slaves (outlawed in 1829)
Take away Texan self government

5. Texas Revolution: The Alamo
1833: Pres. Santa Anna overthrows constitution of 1824
Texans call for revolution and independence (sound familiar?)
The Alamo: San Antonio; small Texan force annihilated by Mexican Army
“Remember the Alamo!”-Sam Houston
Texans rally and win at Battle of San Jacinto; proclaim Republic of Texas, The Lone Star Republic-ask for annexation

7. The Treaty to Annex Texas
The annexation debate was long-standing.
In 1836, Texans had voted overwhelmingly to join the United States.
However, US disagreed over annexation largely due to sectional issues

8. The Treaty to Annex Texas
The North: commerce and manufacturing.
The South: agriculture and slave labor.
Review: both generally disagreed on policies affecting business, slavery and trade
Industrial Northern state
Agricultural Southern state

9. The Treaty to Annex Texas
North does not want Texas
Extension of slavery
Increased Southern representation in the House and Senate
War with Mexico
Most Southerners wanted Texas to join the Union

10. The Treaty to Annex Texas
President John Tyler, a southerner, favored annexation
Feared Great Britain was gaining too much influence in Texas
1843: U.S. officials work toward annexation
1844: sends annexation treaty to the Senate for approval
President John Tyler

11. The Treaty to Annex Texas
Under the treaty, Texas would become a U.S. territory – the first step toward becoming a state.
The treaty called for the U.S. to pay the Republic’s large public debt.
In exchange, Texas would give all its public lands to the federal government.
U.S.

12. The Treaty to Annex Texas
Bitterly divided
North had fought off treaty for almost 9 years
After 3 weeks of debate, the Senate rejected the treaty.

13. The Treaty to Annex Texas
O’Sullivan and Manifest Destiny changes minds:
“The American claim is by the right of our manifest destiny is to overspread and to possess (own) the whole of the continent which Providence (divine guidance) has given us.”
Many Americans began to believe that it was America’s destiny to annex Texas.
John Gast’s
“American Progress”

14. The Annexation Resolution
Issues continue into presidential election of 1844
The Democratic Party nominated James K. Polk of Tennessee-wanted the U.S. to annex Texas and expand west, “reannexation of Texas”

15. The Annexation Resolution
Opponent= Henry Clay of Kentucky.
Originally Clay opposed annexation
Softened his opposition to try and reassure northern voters
 LOOKS WEAK
Costs him the election by offending both Northern and Southern voters.
Henry Clay

16. Joint Resolution Polk’s win=sign of approval
Tyler requests a joint resolution, or formal expression of intent, for annexation
Joint Resolution: only requires majority from both Houses instead of 2/3
Passed in February 1845

17. Texas Enters the United States
The joint resolution’s terms:
Texas would enter as a state rather than a territory
Write a new state constitution
Could keep its public lands, but some would have to be sold to pay the public debt.
December 29, 1845, Polk signed the Texas Admission Act, making Texas the 28th state

18. Reading Like A Historian
Read Documents A-D
Answer the inquiry questions
20 minutes