Ch. 12 Part 4 Notes Title: Texas Becomes A State Main Idea: Efforts for Texas annexation were given a boost by the changing political atmosphere in the United States. Key Terms: manifest destiny, joint resolution

The Texas Question Throughout the years of the Republic, most Texans still wanted Texas to join the USA. By Houston’s second term, the “Texas Question” became an important issue in American politics. Some Americans were against annexing Texas because it would benefit slave owners and might cause war with Mexico.

The Texas Question By April 1844, the USA and Texas signed a treaty that would make Texas a territory of the USA. Texas would also give all its public lands in exchange for the USA to pay all its debts. Most Texans were surprised when the US Senate rejected the treaty by a vote of 35 to 16. Most senators opposed it because Texas would enter the US as a slave state and give the South an advantage in the Senate (i.e. South > North).

Polk Wins Election In the US presidential election of 1844, James K. Polk of the Democratic Party narrowly defeated Henry Clay from the Whig Party. Polk heavily favored annexation of Texas. Polk and most Americans believed the USA was destined to expand from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. - This is called manifest destiny.

Polk Wins Election Settlers wanted to live in fertile lands in Oregon, California, and Texas. Merchants wanted ports on the Pacific coast where American ships could stop on their way to trade with Asia.

Congress and Texas Approve Annexation First, the US Congress proposed that Texas be annexed by joint resolution, a resolution passed by both houses of Congress that has the force of law and a simple majority of each house (instead of two-thirds majority vote required by the Senate to approve a treaty). Congress passed this on February 28, 1845. The joint resolution provided for immediate statehood, bypassing the time Texas would be a territory.

Congress and Texas Approve Annexation Second, Anson Jones, president of Texas in 1844, called a special session of the Texas Congress to consider and vote for annexation. The Texas congress approved annexation on October 13, 1845. They also wrote a new state constitution. Third, on December 29, 1845, President Polk signed the resolution that made Texas a state.

Mexico Offers Recognition France and Great Britain preferred Texas stay an independent nation, rather than joining the USA. They tried to convince Mexico to recognize Texas so the annexation wouldn’t happen. In May 1845, Mexico offered to recognize Texas on 1 condition – Texas must reject annexation by the USA. Texas rejected the proposal and voted to approve annexation by the USA.

“The Republic of Texas is No More!” On February 19, 1846, Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic, turned the government over to J. Pinkney Henderson, the first governor of the state of Texas. The Lone Star flag was lowered, and the stars and stripes flag was raised. Texas officially became the 28th state in the United States of America.

Assignments for Today 12-4 Guided Reading/Section Quiz Due Wednesday!