From a Republic to a State

• In 1836, most Texans had wanted to become a state.

• 10 years later-28th state

• Resolution signed March 1, 1845

• Texas could be divided at any time into 5 states.

The Constitutional Convention of 1845

• 1st step – the state gov’t needed a constitution

• The TX Congress adopted a document similar to the U.S. as most citizens were from the U.S.

• Held in Austin

• Most of the delegates were from Southern States.

Convention DelegatesConvention DelegatesJose Antonio Navarro (1795-1871)Jose Antonio Navarro (1795-1871)

•Only TX-born delegate. Helped write the 1st Constitution

•Served in the Coahuila y Tejas legislature, Federal congress of Mexico, and then the Republic’s congress

•Helped write the state constitution

•Served 2 terms in TX Senate

•Had a county named for him in 1846

Thomas J. Rusk (1803-1857)Thomas J. Rusk (1803-1857)•President of the Convention (Unanimously approved)

•Served as Republic Commander-in-Chief, Secretary of War, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

•Greatly influenced the form of the new state government

•Would serve w/Houston as one of TX’s first senators*

•Rusk County and the town of Rusk are named in his honor

The State Constitution of 1845

• It was a collaboration of LA, the Republic, as well as the U.S. Constitutions.

• Protected homesteads from debts, clergy couldn’t serve in the legislature, slavery existed, and women could own land.

• 3 branches of government• Executive offices included governor and

lieutenant governor for 2 year terms• Also established the TX Supreme Court

The Election of 1845

• James Pinckney Henderson became the first governor of TX. (served 1 term)

• Rusk and Houston were the first two senators from TX.

• Kaufman and Pillsbury served in the House of Rep.

• Hemphill served as chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Make a Prediction

Why would Mexico have a problem with Texas being annexed to the United

States?

Mexican vs. U.S. Policy on TX

• Mexico refused to recognize the Treaties of Velasco as well as TX independence.

• SA signed because his life was in danger.• International law and custom didn’t

recognize agreements under those conditions.

• Mexican leaders thought the TX Revolution was planned by the U.S.

• If TX became a state, they threatened war.

Manifest Destiny - belief that the U.S. had the right to all the land between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans – “sea to shining sea”

Prelude to War

• 1845 Polk sends Zachary Taylor to Corpus Christi. Encamped on Nueces River

• Sends John Slidell to negotiate. He offers: millions for land to California.

• Mexico said NO• March 1846 Taylor crossed Nueces and

war begins.

The War with Mexico

• U.S. wins the Battle of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma.

• Declaration of War on May 13, 1846

• Fighting would be over land and sea

• U.S. wins Monterrey and Buena Vista

Texans and the Mexican War

• More than 5,000 served to “Remember the Alamo!” and for the men of the Mier Expedition still in prison.

• Governor Henderson took a leave of absence to volunteer.

• Many Texas Rangers served as scouts.

Gadsden PurchaseThe United States bought southern

NM and AZ for $10 million.

• Mexico recognized the Texas-Mexico border as the

Rio Grande.• Mexico ceded the Mexican Cession to the United States.

• Today, the Mexican Cession are the states of CA, NV, UT, and

parts of AZ, NM, CO, and WY.

• The United States paid Mexico $15

million.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo – 1848

TX-NM Border Dispute

• The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo did not address TX’s western border.

• TX believed border did not stop in El Paso but continued to the Rio Grande’s headwaters in Colorado.

• NM has ill feelings due to Lamar and close ties to Mexico.

Texas Efforts to Control NM

• Governor Henderson sends a rep. to discuss the matter but NM doesn’t want to hear it.

• 1847 – Governor Wood tries to establish counties to lay claim but only El Paso will result in land.

Slavery and TerritoriesSlavery and Territories

• Zachary Taylor is president in 1848.

• Wants CA to be added as a Free State

• NM and UT residents want to be added as well.

• Abolitionists want slavery gone(TX border)

• Senator Clay proposes main points of Compromise of 1850.

Free and Slave States-1848Michigan

Maine

Illinois

Indiana

Ohio

Iowa

Vermont

Rhode Island

New York

New Hampshire

Massachusetts

Connecticut

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

Arkansas

Missouri

Alabama

Mississippi

Louisiana

Tennessee

Kentucky

Virginia

North Carolina

South Carolina

Maryland

Georgia

Delaware

Texas

Free States

Slave States

Compromise of Compromise of 18501850

• California becomes a state.

• NM and UT become territories.

• The slave trade ended in Washington, D.C.

• South receives Fugitive Slave Law.

• TX gives up some of disputed territory in the north and the west for $10 million resulting in our current TX borders today.