The State of Texas 1845 December 15 1845

The State of Texas - 1845

December 15, 1845 • James Pinckney Henderson – first governor of Texas • Thomas J. Rusk and Sam Houston – first two U. S. Senators of Texas

Treaty of Velasco • Mexico refused to honor the treaty that Santa Anna had signed. • His life was in danger so they claimed it was not valid • They still considered Texas Mexican territory • They saw U. S. intervention as an attempt to take Mexican territory • They warned that the annexation of Texas could mean war

Border disputes • • U. S. – Rio Grande River Mexico – Nueces River U. S. wanted Manifest Destiny This was the belief that they could maintain and own all of the land between Texas and the Pacific Ocean.

John Slidell • Slidell was sent by the president to make a deal with Mexico • U. S. citizens had claims against Mexico for damage to their property. • Slidell offered to waive those claims for Texas and all of the land west of Texas. • Mexico was offended that the U. S. would expect them to give all of their land for $$$.

Mexican War – 1846 -1848 • President Polk sends Zachary Taylor and troops to the Nueces River and then later further south to the Rio Grande. • Fighting broke out just north of the Rio Grande in 1846. • After the battle of Palo Alto, the U. S. declared war on May 13, 1846. • General Taylor marched his army into Mexico and won at the battles of Buena Vista and Monterrey.

Winfield Scott • The Commander, Winfield Scott took his men across the Gulf of Mexico into Veracruz from the east and then into Mexico City (a much easier route). • Scott’s men faced heavy opposition in trying to take Mexico City at a fort known as Chapultepec. • Many Texas Rangers fought with the Americans in the Mexican War.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo - 1848 • 1. War was over • 2. Texas belonged to the U. S. • 3. They gave all land west of Texas – Mexican Cession • 4. U. S. paid Mexico $15, 000 • 5. U. S. waived all land claims and agreed to respect the rights of Spanish speaking people