Research Station A: Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was destined to have its western border reach the Pacific Ocean and the southern border be the Rio Grande River. Many Americans believed that Texas and other western states rightly belonged to the United States.

When James K. Polk ran for United States president in 1844, he supported the popular idea of Manifest Destiny. He pledged to make Texas part of the United States. Because of his position on Manifest Destiny, Polk was elected as the 11th president of the United States. Before Polk took the office, President John Tyler asked the United States Congress to pass an agreement to make Texas a state. The U.S. Congress approved the agreement. Texas President Anson Jones presented this agreement to the Texas Congress. The congress met in July 1845. Only one of 57 delegates voted against joining the United States.

1. America’s belief in Manifest Destiny benefitted or threatened ____________because ________________________________________________________________________.

2. Manifest Destiny influenced ______________ feelings about annexation because _________________________________________________________________________.

Research Station B: Slavery

Another issue that kept the United States from annexing Texas was the issue of slavery. At the time, the United States was equally divided between thirteen slave states and thirteen free states, the twenty-seventh state was Florida admitted in March 1845. At that time, 30% of the Texas population were slaves therefore Texas was thought of by the United States Congress as a slave state.

During the 1840s, the United States experienced great debates over the issues of slavery. These issues tore the United State apart into the North and South. The free states were located in the North and the slave states were in South. The northern states did not want Texas to join the United States because it would give southern states a majority which would give them greater power in Congress. In 1845 Texas joined the United States as a slave state.

3. Annexation of Texas impacted the growth of Slavery by _________________________________________________________________________.

4. Slavery influenced _______________ feelings about annexation by _________________________________________________________________________.

Research Station C: Allies to Texas

During Sam Houston's first term as president of the Republic of Texas he sent word to the United States government requesting that Texas be allowed to join as a state. However, the United States only agreed to recognize Texas as an independent nation and not a member of America. Many Americans did not believe the United States Constitution allowed adding another country as a state. People also feared that making Texas a state would cause a war with Mexico because Mexico thought Texas still belonged to them and therefore did not recognize Texas as an independent country. Other countries, like Britain and France, feared that if Texas became a part of the United States then the United States would grow larger and more powerful.

Texas president Sam Houston stated that if the United States did not annex Texas, then Texas would become an ally of Great Britain and France. France, who recognized Texas as a country, had already built a French government office in Austin. The idea of Europeans as allies of the Republic of Texas on the United States western borders worried the United States Congress. This helped ensure the need for an immediate annexation of Texas.

On March 1, 1845 the United States Congress passed a joint resolution that said that Texas could become a state. In October 1845, more than 4,000 Texans voted to become a state. Only 267 voted against joining the United States. On December 29, 1845, Texas joined the United States of America, becoming the 28th state.

5. Texas annexation created political alliances that benefited or threatened ______________ by _________________________________________________________________________.

Closing Questions (Texas, Mexico, Native Americans, America – North, America – South)

1. Does this group support or oppose U.S. annexation of Texas? Support your choice with three reasons.

2. How might history have been different for this group if Texas had NOT been annexed?