Chapter 12 The State of Texas!!!

"... And that claim is by the right of our

manifest destiny to overspread and to
possess the whole of the continent which
Providence has given us for the
development of the great experiment of
liberty and federated self-government
entrusted to us."
- John L. O' Sullivan, "Manifest Destiny"
editorial, New York Morning News on
December 27, 1845

Manifest Destiny was

the idea of the U.S.
expanding west to the
Pacific Ocean.

MANIFEST DESTINY

Texas Annexation
occurred during this
movement.
During these years of westward expansion, the
United States grew considerably. The
Annexation of Texas was the first in a series of
moves by the U.S. that were designed to extend
the country from sea to shining sea.

Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way

Election of 1844
Democrat James K. Polk ran
for President in 1844: For
Texas Annexation and
Manifest Destiny.

"...It is confidently believed that our system

may be safely extended to the
utmost bounds of our territorial limits, and
that as it shall be extended the
bonds of our Union, so far from being
weakened, will become stronger..."
From the inaugural address of James K.
Polk, 11th President (1845-49)

James K. Polk

Texas Annexation 1844-1845

Anson Jones was the last
President of Texas. He, like
Houston, wanted Annexation.
He once again petitioned the U.S.
for Annexation
The Last President of Texas
Dr. Anson Jones
U.S. president John Tyler,
observing the will of the people in
the 1844 election to James K.
Polk, got Texas Annexation
passed through US Congress as
one of his last actions as
President.
Texas Congress had to approve it. John Tyler, 10 U.S. President
th

Anson Jones sent the annexation bill to the Texas

Congress where it passed.
New President James K. Polk signed the bill into law.
Texas became the 28th state on March 1, 1845

The U.S. grew slowly until the Annexation of

Texas in 1845 picked up the pace.

Louisiana
Purchase in
1803 from
France

Annexation
of Texas
-1845

Wheres the
Rest of it?

This became
Part of the
U.S. in 1783
With the
Treaty of
Paris

From the
Adams-Ons
Treaty in 1819

Texas Constitution of 1845

When Texas accepted the
offer to become a state of
the United States, the first
task was to form the state
government.
In 1845 delegates from
across Texas met to write a
state constitution.
Later that year, Texans
elected their state officers.

Texas Constitution of 1845

The constitution follows closely to the US
Constitution.
Kept some parts of the Texas Republic
Constitution

Examples:
Homestead protection from
debtors
No ministers or priests to serve in
legislature
Allowed slaves
Protected rights of women to own
land

Slavery was very important

to most Texans

Replica of a Texas Homestead

Election of 1845
Texas voters accepted the Constitution of
1845
4,174 voted for it while only 312 were
against it.
The new state was ready to vote for its
leaders. Who would they be?

James Pinckney
Henderson was voted
first governor of Texas

Thomas J. Rusk and

Sam Houston were
the first US Senators
from Texas

Reasons Americans
wanted TX
Annexation
Manifest Destiny
Cotton trade
Expansion of Slavery
(South)
Americans already
lived there

Reasons
Americans did
not want TX
Annexation
Expansion of
Slavery (North)
Possible War with
Mexico
Texas Debt
Hostile Indians