Annexation of Texas

Definition

The annexation of Texas refers to the process by which the Republic of Texas was incorporated into the United States as the 28th state in 1845. This event was significant because it intensified the debate over slavery in the U.S. and set the stage for the Mexican-American War, leading to major territorial gains for the United States.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The annexation of Texas was officially approved by Congress in 1845, after a heated debate largely centered on the issue of slavery.
2. Texas declared independence from Mexico in 1836, and the subsequent struggle for recognition as a sovereign nation laid the groundwork for its eventual annexation.
3. The annexation was controversial, leading to significant political divisions in the United States between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions.
4. The incorporation of Texas into the U.S. prompted Mexico to break diplomatic relations with the United States and was one of the catalysts for the Mexican-American War.
5. Following the annexation, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 ended the Mexican-American War and resulted in significant territorial gains for the U.S., including California and New Mexico.

Review Questions

• How did the annexation of Texas contribute to rising tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States?
  • The annexation of Texas heightened tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions because it added a large territory that would likely permit slavery. Southern states viewed Texas as an opportunity to expand slaveholding areas, while many Northern states opposed this expansion. The debate over whether Texas would enter the Union as a slave state or a free state exacerbated sectional divides, fueling conflict that ultimately contributed to the Civil War.
• Discuss the impact of Texas's independence from Mexico on its subsequent annexation into the United States.
  • Texas's independence from Mexico in 1836 was crucial for its later annexation into the United States. After gaining independence, Texas functioned as an independent republic, but it struggled economically and politically, making union with a larger nation more appealing. The desire for U.S. protection against potential Mexican aggression further incentivized Texas leaders to seek annexation, positioning them to push for their incorporation into the United States.
• Evaluate how Manifest Destiny influenced public opinion regarding the annexation of Texas and its consequences for U.S.-Mexico relations.
  • Manifest Destiny played a significant role in shaping public opinion about the annexation of Texas by promoting a belief that American expansion across North America was not only justified but ordained by God. This ideology garnered popular support for both the annexation itself and subsequent military actions against Mexico, framing them as part of America's destiny. As a result, this belief fueled aggressive expansionism that strained U.S.-Mexico relations, ultimately leading to the outbreak of the Mexican-American War and substantial territorial acquisitions that reshaped national boundaries.

Related terms

Republic of Texas: An independent sovereign nation that existed from 1836 to 1845, after gaining independence from Mexico, before joining the United States.

Mexican-American War:

A conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, largely driven by the U.S. desire to expand its territory, including Texas.

Manifest Destiny:

A 19th-century belief that it was the destiny of the United States to expand its territory across North America, which fueled support for the annexation of Texas.