1. Essential Questions: How do governments change?
Texas Becomes a State
Essential Questions:
How do governments change?
Link for Interactive Map

2. Vocabulary
Manifest Destiny (Westward Expansion) – The belief popular in the United States in the 1800s that the country must expand its boundaries to the Pacific Ocean

3. Vocabulary
Joint Resolution (Congress approved) – A statement passed by both houses of a legislature that has the force of law
Ratify (Approve) – To approve formally

4. Texas Becomes a State
President van Buren
In 1836, the people of Texas favored joining the United States. President van Buren was reluctant to annex Texas because he feared conflict with Mexico and was worried about the issue of slavery.

5. Texas Becomes a State
President Tyler
In 1844, Texas state representatives negotiated and signed a treaty of annexation. The new U.S. President John Tyler supported it; however, the U.S. Senate rejected the treaty because many senators opposed the fact that Texas allowed slavery. (Texas would not join as a U.S. territory.)

6. Manifest Destiny
Many Americans believed in Manifest Destiny and expansion of United States territory. The U.S. Democratic Party supported Manifest Destiny, and many believed that Texas annexation would help achieve this goal.
From Atlantic to Pacific, the US will be terrific!
Oh there’s nothing like Manifest Destiny
Where America expands from sea to sea.
Where America became all that it can be!
View the Manifest Destiny Rap:

7. Manifest Destiny
This painting (circa 1872) by John Gast called American Progress, is an allegorical representation of the modernization of the new west. Here Columbia, a personification of the United States, leads civilization westward with American settlers, stringing telegraph wire as she sweeps west; she holds a school book. The different stages of economic activity of the pioneers are highlighted and, especially, the changing forms of transportation. Native Americans and animals flee in terror.

8. The image best shows why …
James Pinckney won the election of 1845.
The Texas capital was moved to Austin.
Leaders in the United States believed annexing Texas was important.
Santa Anna signed the Treaties of Velasco.
The answer is: C

9. Texas Becomes a State
Other countries had concerns about annexation. The British opposed the growing power of the United States. Mexico had concerns over disputed territories and the vast territory west of Texas to California.

10. This video explores the influence of President James K
This video explores the influence of President James K. Polk in the western expansion of the U.S.

11. 1844 Democratic Campaign Poster

12. Texas Becomes a State
Texas President Anson Jones
US President James K. Polk
In 1845, Congress passed a joint resolution to annex Texas. A few months later, U.S. President Polk signed the resolution that made Texas the 28th state of the United States, and a new Texas Constitution was written. (Texas kept its public lands. The Texas Constitution of 1845 protected family homesteads (exempt from paying off debts) and provided for the support and maintenance of public schools.)

13. Lowering the Lone Star Flag of the Republic
On February 19, 1846, in a solemn ceremony in Austin, Texas ceased to be the Lone Star Republic and became the Lone Star State. The flag of the republic was lowered for the last time, and the American flag was raised in its place.

14. Quiz
1. U.S. President Martin Van Buren was reluctant to annex Texas because of concern that such a move would anger _____ and start a war.
 A. the British
 B. Mexico
 C. the South
 D. Spain B
2. In April 1844, representatives from the United States and Texas negotiated a treaty in which Texas would join the Union as a(n) _____, but it never went into effect.
 A. colony
 B. independent nation
 C. state
 D. territory D

15. Quiz
3. The U.S. Senate rejected the 1844 annexation treaty because _____. D
 A. the government would have to pay off the republic's debt
 B. Native American raids in Texas were frequent
 C. many Texans did not want to join the Union
 D. Texas allowed slavery
4. In the mid-1800s, many Americans believed in _____, the idea that it was preordained that the United States would settle North America from coast to coast.
 A. the American Dream
 B. Manifest Destiny
 C. the Monroe Doctrine
 D. National Rights B

16. Quiz
5. _____ opposed annexation because they thought they could obtain better terms trading with the Republic of Texas than they could if Texas were part of the United States.
 A. The British
 B. Mexico
 C. The South
 D. Spain A
6. On February 28, 1845, the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution admitting Texas to the Union as a(n) _____.
A. colony
 B. independent nation
 C. state
 D. territory C

17. Quiz
7. In the 1844 U.S. presidential election, ____ was the candidate who openly favored annexation of Texas.
A. Henry Clay
 B. John O'Sullivan
 C. James K. Polk
 D. Martin Van Buren C
8. Texans favored the 1845 annexation treaty because it allowed Texas to keep _____.
A. the Disputed Territories
 B. Native Americans
 C. its navy
 D. its public lands D

18. Quiz
9. Under the Texas Constitution of 1845, _____ were exempt from forced sales to pay off debts.
A. family homesteads
 B. farm equipment
 C. Tejanos
 D. veterans of the Texas War for Independence A
10. The state constitution drawn up by Texans in 1845 directed the state legislature to provide for the support and maintenance of _____.
A. Native American reservations
 B. public schools
 C. the Texas navy
 D. the Texas Rangers B