12/29/1845: U.S. Congress approves annexation of Texas

[Craig Tx]

On this day in 1845, the United States Congress voted to annex Texas.

Statehood was first proposed in 1837 but was rejected by President Martin Van Buren. Constitutional scruples and fear of war with Mexico were the reasons given for the rejection, but antislavery sentiment in the United States undoubtedly influenced Van Buren and continued to be the chief obstacle to annexation. Under President James Polk the United States Congress passed the Annexation Resolution in February 1845. Texas president Anson Jones called the Texas Congress into session on June 16, 1845, and a convention of elected delegates met on the Fourth of July. Both the Texas Congress and the convention voted for annexation, and a constitution was drawn up. The document was ratified by popular vote in October 1845 and accepted by the United States Congress on December 29, 1845. On February 19, 1846, President Jones of the Republic of Texas handed over control of the new state government to Governor James Pinckney Henderson.

[Nessmuk]

i wonder what would it would be like if Texas rejected annexation and stayed an independent country. Would they have annexed the Indian territory (Oklahoma) while the states fought the civil war? Food for thought.

[Craig Tx]

The reality is that if annexation would have been approved by the US after the revolution a majority of Anglos would have been in favor of it.  In all reality, as much as I hate to admit it, the Texas Republic was heavily in debt, and hard currency was very scarce.  Annexation just mad practical sense.  Under financial conditions in Texas today, IMO, we could make a go of Republic again.

[Nessmuk]

Hell, Craig, under these conditions Texas could BUY Oklahoma!!