texas annexation texas annexation incorporation united_states_of_america admitted union 28th state december declared independence march time vast majority population favored annexation republic united_states leadership major american political parties democrats opposed introduction texas vast slave holding region volatile political climate anti slavery controversies congress wished avoid war mexico government refused acknowledge sovereignty rebellious northern province texas economic fortunes declining early 1840s president arranged talks mexico explore possibility securing official recognition independence great_britain president political party decided independently pursue annexation texas bid gain base popular support years office official motivation suspected diplomatic efforts british government emancipation slaves texas undermine slavery united_states secret negotiations houston administration tyler secured treaty annexation april documents submitted senate ratification details terms annexation public question acquiring texas took center stage presidential election annexation southern democratic delegates denied anti annexation leader nomination party convention alliance pro expansion northern democratic colleagues secured nomination ran destiny platform june senate whig majority rejected tyler texas treaty pro annexation democrat narrowly defeated anti annexation whig november presidential election december lame duck president tyler called congress pass treaty simple house democratic dominated house_of_representatives complied request passing amended bill expanding pro slavery provisions tyler treaty senate narrowly passed compromise version house bill vote minority democrats southern designed provide incoming president elect options immediate annexation texas new talks revise annexation terms house amended bill march president tyler signed annexation bill march day office house version texas offering immediate annexation took office day encouraged texas accept tyler offer texas ratified agreement popular approval bill signed december accepting texas 28th state union texas formally relinquished sovereignty united_states february background expansion texas mapped spain texas spanish empire years louisiana territory acquired united_states france believed new territory included parts present day texas spain border northern frontier texas took shape negotiations secretary state spanish ambassador united_states boundaries texas determined larger struggle limits extensive western lands spain vast possessions north_america february emerged compromise excluded spain lower watershed established southern boundaries red rivers legally ing american claims texas nonetheless texas remained object interest american anticipated eventual acquisition fertile lands missouri crisis commitments country interests called thomas established parallel imposing free soil slave soil louisiana purchase lands majority southern exclusion slavery bulk significant minority objected editor predicted restrictions south ultimately require texas north elbow room west representative virginia accused secretary conceding texas spain interests northern anti slavery advocates south additional slave states representative virginia invoked territorial commercial growth national goal counter rise differences slavery theory declared missouri open slavery new state encourage transfer slaves westward eastern states making emancipation feasible old south doctrine revived texas annexation controversy mexico won independence spain united_states contest new republic claims texas presidents sought official unofficial channels portions provincial texas mexican government success texas settlement independence anglo american immigrants primarily began mexican texas early 1820s invitation mexican government sought sparsely inhabited lands northern frontier managed regional affairs american born population slaves terms generous government land grants mexican authorities initially content govern remote province neglect permitting slavery legal fiction permanent similar mexico system general prevailed vast texas frontier mexico civic laws went largely mexican authorities losing control texas alarmed unsuccessful abandoned policy rule new restrictions imposed slavery nation terminating american immigration texas military occupation followed sparking local uprisings civil war texas conventions submitted petitions grievances restrictions limited success army mexican president entered territory texas abolished self government responded declaring independence mexico march april rebel forces texas general defeated mexican army battle san june agreed texas independence mexican government refused honor pledge facto independent recognized security prosperity achieved mexico denied legitimacy revolution years following independence migration white settlers black slave labor vast republic texas unresolved international status threat renewed warfare mexico american citizens considered migrating new republic perceived life property safer united_states independent texas situation led labor shortages reduced tax revenue large national debts diminished texas militia jackson anglo american immigrants residing newly independent texas overwhelmingly desired immediate annexation united_states despite strong support texas independence mexico president delayed recognizing new republic day presidency avoid raising issue general election jackson political caution informed northern concerns texas potentially form new slave states undermine balance congress jackson successor president viewed texas annexation immense political liability anti slavery northern whig opposition especially annexation provoked war mexico presented formal annexation proposal texas minister august rejected annexation resolutions presented separately house congress defeated election new texas president withdrew republic offer annexation failures annexation entered white_house administration whig party presidential nominee defeated president general election harrison death shortly inauguration vice president assumed presidency president tyler expelled whig party repeatedly domestic finance legislation tyler isolated outside party mainstream turned foreign affairs salvage presidency southern states rights faction shared slavery views address congress special session june tyler set stage texas annexation announcing intention pursue agenda preserve balance state national authority protect american institutions including slavery avoid conflict tyler closest advisors obtaining texas assure second term white house deeply personal obsession president viewed acquisition texas primary objective administration tyler delayed direct action texas work closely secretary state pressing diplomatic initiatives treaty ratified tyler ready annexation texas priority representative virginia authorized administration case annexation american electorate widely circulated open letter understood announcement executive branch designs texas described texas conflict economic commercial interests slavery issue divisive left states decide constitution domestic national security tyler argued result annexed texas texas left outside american jurisdiction union tyler arranged resignation anti annexation secretary state june appointed virginia states rights champion ardent proponent texas annexation cabinet shift signaled tyler intent pursue texas annexation aggressively tyler campaign texas late september effort public support texas secretary dispatched letter minister great_britain conveying displeasure britain global anti slavery posture warning government texas affairs regarded direct interference established institutions breach diplomatic norms leaked press popular sentiments american citizens spring tyler administration sent executive agent europe gather intelligence arrange territorial treaty talks great_britain oregon worked american minister france efforts major european powers suppress maritime slave trade green reported secretary july discovered loan plot american league lord british foreign secretary provide funds texas exchange emancipation slaves minister charged determining substance confidential reports alleging texas plot investigations including personal interviews lord concluded british interest abolitionist weak secretary conviction great_britain manipulating texas green unofficial intelligence alarmed tyler requested minister mexico thompson south_carolina pro slavery secretary british designs american slavery real required immediate action takeover texas great_britain tyler confirmed september british foreign secretary encouraged mexico texas allegedly pressing mexico maneuver texas emancipation slaves tyler acted september consultation secretary ordered secret talks opened texas minister united_states negotiate annexation texas face face negotiations commenced october texas mexico great_britain negotiations summer texas administration returned negotiations mexican government consider permit texas self governance possibly state mexico great_britain acting texas officials felt compelled fact tyler administration appeared mount effective campaign texas annexation general election united_states approaching leadership democratic whig parties remained texas mexico treaty options consideration included autonomous texas mexico borders independent republic provision texas slaves recognition personally favored annexation united_states authorized entertain government subject texas officials moment deeply engaged exploring settlements mexican diplomats facilitated great_britain texas predominant concern british interference institution slavery english diplomats alluded issue avoidance resumption hostilities mexico secretary state vigorously courted texas diplomats begin annexation talks finally appeal president january assured houston contrast previous attempts political climate united_states including sections north texas thirds majority senate obtained texas treaty hesitant pursue texas treaty written commitment military defense america scale military attack mexico likely negotiations public ratification annexation measure stalled senate texas face war mexico congress declare war tyler administration lacked constitutional authority commit support texas secretary provided verbal assurance military defense president houston responding urgent calls annexation december authorized reopening annexation negotiations texas treaty negotiations secretary accelerated secret treaty discussions mexican diplomats learned texas talks taking place mexican minister juan confronted reports warning congress sanctioned treaty annexation mexico break diplomatic ties immediately declare war secretary evaded dismissed charges pressed forward negotiations tandem moving forward texas diplomats secretly lobbying senators support annexation providing arguments linking texas acquisition national security domestic peace early able assure texas officials members senate pledged tyler texas treaty thirds majority required passage tyler annual address congress december maintained silence secret treaty damage relations wary texas diplomats tyler negotiations secret making public reference administration single minded quest texas tyler texas treaty final stages chief architects secretary secretary navy died accident aboard february day achieving preliminary treaty draft agreement princeton disaster proved major setback texas annexation tyler expected secretary critical support whig democratic senators upcoming treaty ratification process tyler selected replace secretary state treaty texas choice highly regarded controversial american statesman introducing politically element texas debates tyler prized strong advocate annexation safety valve secret annexation negotiations texas near senator mississippi key tyler ally issued widely distributed highly influential letter reproduced pamphlet making case immediate annexation walker argued texas acquired congress number ways constitutional moral authority based territorial expansion established jefferson madison doctrine monroe senator walker offered analysis significance texas respect slavery race envisioned texas corridor free enslaved african americans southward gradual exodus ultimately supply labor central american tropics time united_states slave population safety valve theory appealed racial fears northern whites prospect absorbing slaves communities event institution slavery collapsed south scheme racial consistent pragmatic level proposals overseas colonization blacks pursued number american presidents jefferson lincoln walker bolstered position raising national security concerns warning event annexation failed great_britain maneuver slaves dangerous influence southwestern states pamphlet characterized british overthrow united_states variation tyler theory played economic fears period slave based staple crop markets recovered texas escape route conceived walker promised increase demand slaves fertile cotton growing regions texas monetary value slaves cash poor plantation owners older eastern south promised market surplus slaves profit texas annexation wrote walker eliminate dangers union walker pamphlet brought forth demands texas pro slavery south north allowed anti slavery embrace texas appearing aligned pro slavery assumptions analysis shaped framed debates annexation premises went largely press public tyler texas treaty election tyler texas treaty signed april framed texas union territory following constitutional wit texas public lands united_states federal government assume debt million boundaries texas territory left unspecified new states ultimately carved republic likely slave states allusion slavery omitted document anti slavery sentiments senate debates provided preservation texas property secured domestic institutions signing treaty tyler complied demand military naval protection deploying troops louisiana fleet warships gulf_of_mexico event senate failed pass treaty tyler promised texas diplomats officially houses congress establish texas state union provisions authorized constitution tyler cabinet split administration handling texas agreement secretary praised terms annexation publicly economic benefits relation great_britain secretary treasury alarmed constitutional implications tyler application military force congressional approval violation separation powers refusing transfer funds naval resigned tyler submitted treaty annexation senate delivered april thirds majority required ratification secretary state assuming post march sent letter british minister denouncing british anti slavery interference texas included letter tyler bill intending create sense crisis southern democrats characterized slavery social blessing acquisition texas emergency measure necessary safeguard peculiar institution united_states tyler sought unite south crusade present north ultimatum support texas annexation lose south tyler presidential nomination president tyler expected treaty debated secretly senate executive session week debates opened treaty associated internal correspondence letter leaked public nature tyler texas negotiations caused national outcry documents appeared verify sole objective texas annexation preservation slavery anti annexation forces north strengthened major parties hostility tyler agenda leading presidential parties democrat whig publicly denounced treaty texas annexation oregon territory emerged central issues general election response tyler ejected whig party quickly began organize party hopes inducing democrats embrace pro platform running party candidate tyler threatened pro annexation democratic voters democratic party mean election pro annexation delegates southern democrats assistance number northern delegates blocked anti expansion candidate convention instead nominated pro expansion champion tennessee unified party banner texas oregon acquisition august midst campaign tyler withdrew race democratic_party committed texas annexation tyler assured envoys president effect texas annexation urged supporters vote democratic narrowly defeated whig henry clay november election victorious democrats acquire texas president elect doctrine pro slavery agenda tyler congressional debate annexation defeat senate treaty document foreign nation tyler texas annexation treaty required support thirds majority senate passage fact senate voted measure june fully thirds voted treaty vote went largely party lines opposed unanimously democrats split voted overwhelmingly favor election campaign hardened partisan positions texas democrats tyler anticipated measure fail largely divisive effects secretary letter formally asked house_of_representatives consider constitutional means authorize passage treaty congress debating matter joint resolution senate rejected tyler treaty margin june december short lame duck session pro annexation democrats gains fall elections legislators 29th congress assume office march lame duck president tyler trying annex texas final months administration wished avoid overwhelming senate rejection treaty annual address congress december declared victory mandate texas annexation proposed congress adopt joint resolution procedure simple house secure ratification tyler treaty method avoid constitutional requirement thirds majority senate bringing house_of_representatives equation texas annexation pro annexation democratic_party possessed nearly majority chamber treaty house sponsored bill tyler administration hostilities texas admission northern democratic southern whig local political home states presidential campaigns northern democrats found vulnerable charges southern wing tyler slavery expansion provisions hand enthusiasm north placed politicians pressure admit texas immediately union constitutional objections raised house debates houses congress authorize admission territories states nation right admitted state territorial boundaries property relations including slave property debts public lands require senate ratified treaty democrats particularly uneasy united_states million texas debt bought texas bonds cheap lobbied congress bill house democrats relinquished legislative initiative southern brown foster house amendment legislators lost white_house general election southern states tennessee georgia whig strongholds general election voter support dropped pro annexation excitement clay lost state northern hostility slavery expansion increasingly characterized party southern members association suffered charges soft texas soft slavery southern democrats facing congressional gubernatorial races home states number sought impression respect tyler texas bill congress including representative senator tennessee representative georgia collaborated introduce house amendment january designed enhance gains texas offered democratic sponsored treaty bill legislation proposed recognize texas slave state retain vast public lands debt furthermore brown amendment delegate government responsibility negotiating disputed texas mexico boundary issue critical size texas immensely increased international border set rio river rocky_mountains traditionally recognized boundary miles north tyler treaty provided organization total states texas lands likely qualify slave states brown plan permit texas state total states western region south line pre authorized permit slavery texas designated politically brown amendment designed portray ardent champions slavery south southern democrats bill served distinguish northern whig colleagues cast controversy strictly versus anti slavery terms brown amendment democrats quickly opted legislation providing votes necessary attach tyler joint resolution vote southern democrats supported bill unanimously northern democrats split strongly favor eighteen cast votes favor unanimously rejected house proceeded approve amended texas treaty january vote house party affiliation prevailed allegiance bill day senate debate compromise early february senate began debate brown amended tyler treaty passage unlikely support partisan senate near slightly favor senate democrats require undivided support colleagues willing cross party lines pass house amended treaty fact senator foster drafted house amendment consideration improved prospects senate passage anti annexation senator missouri southern democrat vote tyler texas measure june original proposal annexed texas embodied national compromise texas divided half slave soil half free soil pro annexation sentiment grew home state retreated compromise offer february early debates brown amended house bill advanced alternative resolution unlike brown scenario reference whatsoever ultimate free slave annexed texas simply called commissioners resolve border disputes texas mexico set conditions acquisition united_states proposal intended calm northern anti slavery democrats wished eliminate tyler treaty altogether negotiated behalf slavery allow decision soon inaugurated democratic president elect president elect expressed ardent wish texas annexation accomplished entered washington advance inauguration march day congress end session arrival capital discovered brown factions senate paralyzed texas annexation legislation advice soon secretary treasury urged senate democrats unite dual resolution include brown versions annexation leaving enactment legislation discretion took office private separate talks supporters brown plans left impression administer respective policy meant said meant appear friendly van faction handling matter effect uniting senate northern democrats favor dual alternative treaty bill february week inauguration senate voted admit texas based tyler simple majority passage democrats voted measure joined southern allies assured act establish eastern portion texas slave state western section remain territory committed slavery understanding northern democrats conceded votes bill day strict party line vote measure passed democrat controlled house_of_representatives president tyler signed bill following day march joint resolution texas united_states enacted march annexation senate house legislators favored version texas annexation bill assured president tyler sign joint house measure leave implementation incoming administration day office president tyler urging secretary state decided act decisively improve odds immediate annexation texas march cabinet dispatched offer annexation exclusively terms option joint house measure secretary president elect action comment tyler justified grounds likely come pressure abandon immediate annexation reopen negotiations alternative president took office march position recall tyler dispatch texas reverse decision march cabinet upheld tyler action allowed proceed offer immediate annexation texas modification accept annexation terms decision based concern protracted negotiation commissioners expose annexation efforts foreign intrigue interference kept annexation endeavors confidential senators passed resolution requesting formal disclosure administration texas policy stalled senate special session march names commissioners texas submitted denied charges senator intention support new negotiations option declaring total said meant texas president jones called convention july consider annexation constitution june accepted congress joint resolution march texas united_states convention july texas convention debated annexation offer unanimously passed ordinance convention remained session august adopted august citizens texas approved annexation ordinance new constitution october president signed legislation making state union december joint resolution admission state texas union enacted december texas formally relinquished sovereignty united_states february joint resolution precedent legacy hawaii formal controversy legality annexation texas stems fact congress approved annexation texas state territory simple house instead land senate treaty native american lands tyler joint resolution maneuver exceeded strict passed congress compromise bill success joint house texas annexation set precedent applied hawaii annexation republican president attempted annex hawaii senate treaty failed asked consider tyler joint house precedent declined democratic president pursue annexation hawaii president took office quickly revived expectations territorial legislation acquire hawaii thirds senate support forthcoming committees house senate explicitly invoked tyler precedent joint house resolution successfully applied approve annexation hawaii july
Texas annexation