How Texas become part of United States of America

 The story of how Texas became part of America is a multifaceted tale of exploration, conflict, and political maneuvering. It spans centuries, involving various empires, republics, and ultimately the United States. Here is an overview of this journey.

Early History and Spanish Rule

The land that is now Texas was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Apache, Comanche, and Caddo. Spanish explorers, such as Alonso Álvarez de Pineda, mapped the Texas coast as early as 1519. By the late 1600s, Spain began establishing missions and settlements in the region to solidify their claim.

In 1685, French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, established Fort Saint Louis in Texas, creating a brief French presence. This alarmed the Spanish, who increased their efforts to colonize Texas to fend off other European powers.

Mexican Independence and Anglo-American Immigration

Spain ruled Texas until 1821, when Mexico gained independence. Texas then became part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas. To populate and defend the sparsely inhabited region, Mexico encouraged Anglo-American immigration through land grants. Stephen F. Austin, known as the "Father of Texas," led one of the first and most successful colonies in 1825.

Rising Tensions

The influx of Anglo settlers, who brought different cultural and political ideals, led to friction with the Mexican government. Issues such as slavery (which Mexico opposed), the settlers' autonomy desires, and their Protestant faith contrasted with Catholic Mexican authorities. By the 1830s, tensions escalated due to the centralist policies of Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna, who abolished the federalist constitution of 1824, limiting the autonomy that many settlers valued.

Texas Revolution

These tensions culminated in the Texas Revolution (1835-1836). Key battles included the Siege of the Alamo, where Texan defenders were famously defeated, and the Battle of San Jacinto, where General Sam Houston's forces captured Santa Anna, securing Texas independence. On March 2, 1836, the Republic of Texas declared its independence from Mexico.

The Republic of Texas

The Republic of Texas existed as an independent nation from 1836 to 1845. Sam Houston served as its first president. Despite its independence, Texas faced significant challenges, including economic instability, conflicts with Native American tribes, and threats from Mexico, which refused to recognize Texan independence.

Annexation to the United States

The idea of Texas joining the United States was contentious. Many Texans were of American origin and favored annexation, but there were significant obstacles. In the United States, the issue of slavery was a major political and moral question. Texas was a slave-holding territory, and its annexation threatened to upset the balance between free and slave states in the Union.

Initially, President Andrew Jackson and President Martin Van Buren avoided the issue, fearing the sectional conflict it might ignite. However, the political landscape began to shift. By the early 1840s, the concept of Manifest Destiny, the belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, gained popularity.

President John Tyler, who supported expansion, made annexation a priority. In 1844, an annexation treaty was signed but failed in the Senate due to concerns over the extension of slavery and potential war with Mexico.

Annexation and Statehood

In the 1844 presidential election, expansionist James K. Polk won, signaling a mandate for annexation. In December 1845, under Polk’s administration, Congress passed a joint resolution to annex Texas, which required only a simple majority in both houses. On December 29, 1845, Texas was officially admitted to the Union as the 28th state.

Mexican-American War

The annexation of Texas exacerbated tensions with Mexico, leading to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). The war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which forced Mexico to recognize the Rio Grande as the southern border of Texas and ceded a vast amount of territory (including present-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado, Nevada, and Utah) to the United States.

Conclusion

Texas’s path to becoming part of the United States involved a complex interplay of exploration, settlement, cultural clashes, and political machinations. From its early days under Spanish and then Mexican rule, through a period as an independent republic, to its final annexation and the subsequent war, Texas’s history reflects the broader themes of American expansionism and the contentious issues surrounding statehood and slavery. Today, Texas’s rich history continues to be a defining element of its identity within the United States.