The Lone Star Republic
Texas Becomes a State
p. 286 - 289
The Texas Question
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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.
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.
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Polk Wins Election
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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.
Polk Wins Election
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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.
Congress and Texas Approve Annexation
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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.
Mexico Offers Recognition
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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.
“The Republic of Texas is No More”
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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.