1. Texas Becomes a State p. 286 - 289
The Lone Star Republic
Texas Becomes a State p

2. The Texas Question
During Houston’s first term, the United States was not ready to annex Texas because it would unbalance the ratio of slave and free states.
The United States also felt annexation would mean war with Mexico.
The push for annexation stopped when Mirabeau B. Lamar became president because he did not favor becoming part of the U.S.
In 1844 a treaty was signed making Texas a territory of the United States. Texas would give its public land to the U.S. and the U.S. would pay all debts of the Republic of Texas.

3. The Texas Question
Some Texans were upset that Texas was only a territory, not a state, but were confident the U.S. would vote for Texas annexation.
They were surprised when the U.S. Senate rejected it by a vote of 35 to 16.
The Texas question soon became the center of controversy throughout the United States.

4. Polk Wins Election
Annexation became an issue during the United States presidential election of 1844.
Democratic presidential candidate, James K. Polk, supported Texas annexation.
Polk’s victory in a very close election showed that most of the voters favored annexation.
Annexation gained momentum from growing support for expansion.

5. Polk Wins Election
Most Americans believed the United States was destined to expand coast to coast. This belief was called manifest destiny.
Manifest - apparent: clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment.
Destiny - an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future.

6. Congress and Texas Approve Annexation
Congressional leaders who wanted annexation proposed that Texas be annexed by a joint resolution
It stated Texas could join the United States as soon as its people approved annexation and adopted a state constitution.
Texas could keep its public lands, but could sell some to pay its debts.
Texas could be divided into as many as 5 states with the approval of Texas and U.S.
On December 29, 1845, President Polk signed the resolution that made Texas a state.

7. Mexico Offers Recognition
Great Britain and France both preferred that Texas remain an independent nation rather than become a part of the United States. Both tried to convince Mexico that it should recognize Texas independence.
In May 1845, Mexico agreed to acknowledge an independent Texas on one condition – Texas must reject annexation by the United States.
Texas was not interested. The Texas Congress quickly rejected the Mexican proposal and voted to accept annexation by the United States.

8. “The Republic of Texas is No More”
On February 19, 1846, Anson Jones, the last president of the republic, turned over the government to J. Pinkney Henderson, the first governor of the state.
President Jones closed his farewell address by declaring that “the final act in this great drama is now performed: the Republic of Texas is no more.”
The Lone Star flag was lowered, and the Stars and Stripes were raised.
Texas officially became the 28th state in the United States of America.