Chapter 12 The State of Texas!!!
"... And that claim is by the right of our
manifest destiny to overspread and to
possess the whole of the continent which
Providence has given us for the
development of the great experiment of
liberty and federated self-government
entrusted to us."
- John L. O' Sullivan, "Manifest Destiny"
editorial, New York Morning News on
December 27, 1845
Manifest Destiny was
the idea of the U.S.
expanding west to the
Pacific Ocean.
MANIFEST DESTINY
Texas Annexation
occurred during this
movement.
During these years of westward expansion, the
United States grew considerably. The Annexation
of Texas was the first in a series of moves by the
U.S. that were designed to extend the country
from “sea to shining sea”.
Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way
Election of 1844
Democrat James K. Polk ran
for President in 1844 calling
for Texas Annexation and
Manifest Destiny.
"...It is confidently believed that our system
may be safely extended to the
utmost bounds of our territorial limits, and
that as it shall be extended the
bonds of our Union, so far from being
weakened, will become stronger..."
From the inaugural address of James K.
Polk, 11th President (1845-49)
James K. Polk
Texas Annexation 1844-1845
Anson Jones was the last
President of Texas. He, like
Houston, wanted Annexation.
He once again petitioned the U.S.
for Annexation
U.S. president John Tyler,
observing the will of the people in
the 1844 election to James K.
Polk, got Texas Annexation
passed through congress as one
of his last actions as President.
All that was need now was for the
Texas congress to approve it.
The Last President of Texas
Dr. Anson Jones
John Tyler, 10th U.S. President
Anson Jones sent the annexation bill to the Texas
congress where it passed.
New President James K. Polk signed the bill into law.
Texas became the 28th state on March 1, 1845
The U.S. grew slowly until the Annexation of
Texas in 1845 picked up the pace.
Louisiana
Purchase in
1803 from
France
Annexation
Where’s the
of Texas Rest of it?
1845
This became
Part of the
U.S. in 1783
With the
Treaty of
Paris
From the
Adams-Onís
Treaty in 1819
Texas Constitution of 1845
When Texas accepted the
offer to become a state of
the United States, the first
task was to form the state
government.
In 1845 delegates from
across Texas met to write
a state constitution.
Later that year, Texans
elected their state officers.
Texas Constitution of 1845
The constitution follows closely to the US
Constitution.
Kept some parts of the Texas Republic
Constitution
Examples:
Homestead protection from
debtors
No ministers or priests to serve in
legislature
Allowed slaves
Protected rights of women to own
land
Slavery was very important
to most Texans
Replica of a Texas Homestead
Election of 1845
Anson Jones, called for an election to
accept the Constitution of 1845
4,174 voted for it while only 312 were
against it.
The new state was ready to vote for its
leaders. Who would they be?
James Pinckney
Henderson was voted
first governor of
Texas
Thomas J. Rusk and
Sam Houston were
the first US Senators
from Texas
Reasons Americans
wanted TX
Annexation
Manifest Destiny
Cotton trade
Expansion of Slavery
(South)
Americans already
lived there
Reasons Americans
did not want TX
Annexation
Expansion of
Slavery (North)
War with Mexico
Texas Debt
Hostile Indians