Transcript Unit 5 Notes ON LEVEL

Early Statehood
Unit 5: Chapter 15
Freedoms and Slavery in the
Republic of Texas
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The establishment of the
Republic of Texas was based
on freedoms most Texans had
when they lived in the United
States. This meant that they
would not live under a
dictatorship (political) and their
civil liberties (civil/religious) like
speech, religion, press, and
assembly would be protected
under a constitution.
Slavery was legalized, and
free slaves had to get an act of
Congress to remain legal in
Texas.
The Texas Question
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Throughout the years of the
Republic, most Texans still
wanted Texas to join the
U.S.A.
By Houston’s second term,
the “Texas Question”
became an important issue
in American politics.
Some Americans were
against annexing Texas
because it would benefit
slave owners and might
cause war with Mexico.
Annexation Treaty of 1844
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By April 1844, the U.S.A. and
Texas signed a treaty that
would make Texas a territory
of the U.S.A. Texas would also
give all its public lands in
exchange for the U.S.A. to pay
all its debts.
Most Texans were surprised
when the U.S. Senate rejected
the treaty by a vote of 35 to 16.
Most senators opposed it
because Texas would enter
the U.S. as a slave state and
give the South an advantage in
the Senate (i.e. South >
North).
Polk Wins the U.S. Election
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In the U.S. presidential
election of 1844, James K.
Polk of the Democratic
Party narrowly defeated
Henry Clay from the Whig
Party.
Polk heavily favored
annexation of Texas.
Polk and most Americans
believed the U.S.A. was
destined to expand from the
Atlantic coast to the Pacific
coast—manifest destiny.
How did Texas become a State?
(3 steps)
1.
First, the U.S. Congress proposed that Texas be
annexed by joint resolution, a resolution passed
by both houses of Congress that has the force of
law and a simple majority of each house (instead
of two-thirds majority vote required by the Senate
to approve a treaty).
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Congress passed this on February 28, 1845.
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The joint resolution provided for immediate
statehood, bypassing the time Texas would be
a territory.
Mexico Offers Recognition
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France and Great Britain
preferred Texas stay an
independent nation, rather
than joining the U.S.A.
They tried to convince Mexico
to recognize Texas so the
annexation wouldn’t happen.
In May 1845, Mexico offered to
recognize Texas on 1
condition – Texas must reject
annexation by the USA.
Texas rejected the proposal
and voted to approve
annexation by the U.S.A.
How did Texas become a State?
(3 steps)
Second, Anson Jones, president of Texas in
1844, called a special session of the Texas
Congress to consider and vote for annexation.
2.
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3.
The Texas congress approved annexation on
October 13, 1845.
They also wrote a new state constitution.
Third, on December 29, 1845, U.S. President
Polk signed the resolution that made Texas a
state.
“The Republic of Texas is No More!”
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On February 19, 1846,
Anson Jones, the last
president of the Republic,
turned the government over
to J. Pinckney Henderson,
the first governor of the
state of Texas.
The Lone Star flag was
lowered, and the Stars and
Stripes flag was raised.
Texas ceremonially became
the 28th state in the United
States of America.
Anson Jones
Texas Becomes a State
Democratic Political Party
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By 1850s, political parties had
become organized.
The Democratic Party,
strong in the South,
represented farmers and
laborers (small business
owners).
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Very popular
The party of Southern favorite,
former U.S. president Andrew
Jackson
Later split into 2 groups:
Northern and Southern
Democrats
Whig & Republican
Political Parties
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The Whig Party represented
banking and large business
(or commercial) interests,
and few Texans supported it
because it opposed
expanding slavery to new
territories and annexation of
Texas.
Nobody liked the Whigs. So
we have the….
Republican Party was antislavery and therefore had no
support in Texas nor the
South.
American “Know Nothing” Political
Party
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Some Texans joined the
American Party, or KnowNothings, whose members
tried to keep new immigrants
and Catholics from voting or
holding public office.
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Supported slavery
Secretive politically…”I Know
Nothing!”
Nativism—favoring interests
of native-born American
citizens
No Voice in Politics
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Women had no rights to
vote or participate in
politics
Slaves and Native
Americans had no rights
Free African Americans
were denied the right to
vote and join political
parties
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Filed petitions to remain
free
Went to court to protect
their freedoms
Federal Aid for Reservations
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To stop the conflicts b/w
settlers and Native Americans,
the U.S. government placed
many Natives on reservations—
unsuccessful, Natives…
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Not given enough land to
survive
Refused to move onto
reservations
Many settlers opposed
reservation system b/c many
raids were made by Natives
living on reservations
Mexican-American War
Ch. 14, Sect. 2
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Essential
Question: What
were the causes
and effects of the
MexicanAmerican War?