1. TEXAS INDEPENDENCE

2. Remember … 1519-1521 Cortes defeats Montezuma and the Aztecs- conquering their empire (present-day Mexico) for Spain Spain now has another presence in the New World

3. Remember … 1819 Under President James Monroe, the Adams-Onis Treaty with Spain is signed handing Florida over to America

4. Now … 1821 Mexico fights and gains their Independence from Spain Spain is no longer present in North America

5. 1822 Stephen F. Austin recruits 300 Families to colonize Texas with Mexico’s permission Mexico is looking for a buffer between themselves & Comanche Indians Land-cheap/available Americans must agree to live by Mexican laws and convert to Catholicism

6. 1833-Santa Anna comes to power and throws out Mexico’s Constitution 1829-Mexico outlaws slavery 1830- Mexico bans further Anglo immigration

7. 1836 Texas declares its Independence from Mexico

8. 1836 Texans and Mexicans take refuge from Santa Anna’s army in the mission named The Alamo After 13 days of fighting, the Mexican army overtakes and kills all the men in the Alamo

9. 1836 Next, Santa Anna goes after Sam Houston and the Texas army at the Battle of San Jacinto The Mexican army is defeated & the captured Santa Anna signs over Texas giving Texas its independence

10. Texas applies for US statehood 1837 – annexation is blocked in the Senate 1844 – worries that TX admission would increase the power of slave-holding states in government, the Senate once again blocks annexation 1845 – Outgoing Pres John Tyler signs a congressional joint resolution to annex Texas & make it part of the union [joint resolutions only require a simple majority vote instead of 2/3 majority].