Map of the Republic of Texas. Since the Republic was not recognized by Mexico, its entire territory was disputed. The area that was controlled by the Republic is in dark green, while the territory claimed by the Republic but not effectively controlled is in light green.
TheRepublic of Texas (Spanish:República de Tejas), or simplyTexas, was a sovereign country inNorth America[4] from March 2, 1836, to February 19, 1846. Texas was bordered byMexico to the west and southwest, theGulf of Mexico to the southeast, the two U.S. states ofLouisiana andArkansas to the east and northeast, andU.S. unorganized territory encompassing parts of the current U.S. states ofOklahoma,Kansas,Colorado, andWyoming to the north. TheTexas Revolution began when hostilities broke out on October 2, 1835, shortly before the regime of Mexican President and GeneralAntonio López de Santa Anna adopted a new Mexican constitution known as theSiete Leyes that abolished the authority of the states under thefederal republic and established a centralized government. The revolution lasted for over six months. On March 2, 1836, delegates in convention proclaimed theTexas Declaration of Independence. Major fighting ended on April 21, 1836, with theTreaties of Velasco that ended the fighting and secured Texas' independence.
The Mexican Congress refused to recognize the independence of the Republic of Texas, as the Treaties of Velasco were signed by Santa Anna underduress as prisoner. The majority of the Mexican Congress did not approve the agreement. Much of its territory was controlled and disputed by Mexico or theComancheria; Mexico considered it arebellious province during its entire existence. TheAnglo-American residents of the area and of the republic were referred to asTexians, while Texans of Mexican descent were referred to asTejanos.[5]
Having gained independence following the revolution, Texas engaged in complex relations with various countries. European powers (France andBritain), along with theUnited States, hesitated to recognize the new republic, in deference to established relations with Mexico. Over time, they eventually recognized Texas and adopted trade relations. Intermittent conflicts between Mexico and Texas continued into the 1840s.[6][7]
Texas was annexed by the United States on December 29, 1845,[8] and was admitted to the Union as the28th state on that day, with the transfer of power from the Republic to the new state ofTexas formally taking place on February 19, 1846.[9] However, the United States inherited the southern and western border disputes with Mexico, which had refused to recognize Texas' sovereignty or to accept U.S. offers to purchase the territory. Consequently, the annexation led to theMexican–American War.
The region was long occupied and claimed by the existing indigenous groups of Native Americans. During the period from the 1690s–1710s, sporadic missionary expeditions took place before the Spanish establishedSan Antonio as a permanent civilian settlement.[11]
Spanish colonization in Texas was a slow process. Nevertheless, Spain tried to establish missions and presidios to spread Catholicism. They encountered challenges, however, because these lands were heavily populated with indigenous people/populations. Despite this, the Spanish influence has left a long-lasting mark on Texas, shaping its cultural landscape and laying the foundation for future settlements.
Following defeats by the British in North America and Europe, in 1762 Bourbon France ceded to Bourbon Spain most of its claims to the interior of North America, including its claim to Texas, as well as the vast interior west of the Mississippi River, which becameSpanish Louisiana.[12] During the years 1799 to 1803, the height of theNapoleonic Empire in France, Spain returned Louisiana to France.
Following the loss of numerous troops and failure to suppress the revolution by slaves and free people of color in Saint-Domingue, Napoleon decided to abandon North America; he sold what became known as theLouisiana Purchase to the United States. The status of Texas during these transfers was unclear and was not resolved until 1819, when theAdams–Onís Treaty between Spain and the United States cededSpanish Florida to the United States, and established a clear boundary between Texas and Louisiana.[13]
Starting in 1810 with the outbreak of theMexican War of Independence, New Spain sought a different relationship with the Spanish crown. Some Anglo Americans fought on the side of Mexico against Spain infilibustering expeditions. One of these, theGutiérrez–Magee Expedition (also known as the Republican Army of the North), consisted of a group of about 130 Anglo Americans under the leadership ofBernardo Gutiérrez de Lara. Gutiérrez de Lara initiated Mexico's secession from Spain with efforts contributed byAugustus Magee. Bolstered by new recruits, and led bySamuel Kemper (who succeeded Magee after his death in battle in 1813), the expedition gained a series of victories against soldiers led by the Spanish governor,Manuel María de Salcedo.
Spanish missions in Texas
Their victory at theBattle of Rosillo Creek convinced Salcedo to surrender on April 1, 1813; he was executed two days later. On April 6, 1813, the victorious Republican Army of the North drafted a constitution and declared the independent Republic of Texas, with Gutiérrez as its president.[14] Soon disillusioned with the Mexican leadership, the Anglo Americans under Kemper returned to the United States.
The ephemeral Republic of Texas came to an end on August 18, 1813, with theBattle of Medina, where the Spanish Army crushed the Republican Army of the North. The harsh reprisals against the Texas rebels created a deep distrust of the Royal Spanish authorities. Veterans of the Battle of Medina became leaders of theTexas Revolution and signatories of theTexas Declaration of Independence from Mexico 20 years later.[citation needed]
After the failure of the expedition, there was no serious push for a "Republic of Texas" for another six years, until 1819. That year Virginian filibusterJames Long invaded Spanish Texas in an attempt to liberate the region. The Americans were eager to gain territory where they could extend slavery for agricultural and other development.
Eli Harris led 120 men across the Sabine River to Nacogdoches. Long followed two weeks later with an additional 75 men. On June 22, the combined force declared a new government, with Long as president and a 21-member Supreme Council. The following day, they issued a declaration of independence, modeled on theUnited States Declaration of Independence. The document cited several grievances, including "Spanish rapacity" and "odious tyranny" and promised religious freedom, freedom of the press, and free trade. The council allocated 10 square miles of land to each member of the expedition, and authorized the sale of additional land to raise cash for the fledgling government. Within a month, the expedition had grown to 300 members.
The new government established trading outposts near Anahuac along theTrinity River and theBrazos River. Long's Republic of Texas also established the first English-language newspaper ever published in Texas, named theTexas Republican. It operated only for the month of August 1819.
Long contactedJean Lafitte, a French pirate who ran a large smuggling operation onGalveston Island. His letter suggested that the new government establish an admiralty court at Galveston, and offered to appoint Lafitte governor of Galveston. Unbeknownst to Long, Lafitte was serving as a Spanish spy. While making numerous promises – and excuses – to Long, Lafitte gathered information about the expedition and passed it on to Spanish authorities. By July 16, the Spanish Consul in New Orleans had warned the viceroy in Mexico City that "I am fully persuaded that the present is the most serious expedition that has threatened the Kingdom".
Lafitte failed to assist the expedition, which soon ran low on provisions. Long dispersed his men to forage for food. Discipline began to break down, and many men, includingJames Bowie, returned home. In early October, Lafitte reached an agreement with Long to make Galveston an official port for the new country and name Lafitte as governor. Within weeks, 500 Spanish troops arrived in Texas and marched on Nacogdoches. Long and his men withdrew. Over 40 of his men were captured. Long escaped toNatchitoches, Louisiana. Others fled to Galveston and settled along Bolivar Peninsula.
Undeterred in defeat, Long returned again in 1820. He joined the refugees at Bolivar Peninsula on April 6, 1820, leading more reinforcements. He continued to raise money to equip a second expedition. Fifty men attempted to join him from the United States, but they were arrested by American authorities as they tried to cross into Texas. The men who had joined Long were disappointed they were paid in scrip, and they gradually began to desert. By December 1820, Long commanded only 50 men.
With the aid of Ben Milam and others, Long revitalized the Supreme Council. He later broke with Milam. The expedition led an uncertain existence until September 19, 1821, when Long and 52 men marched inland to capture Presidio La Bahía. The town fell easily on October 4, but four days later Long was forced to surrender by Spanish troops. He was taken prisoner and sent to Mexico City; about six months later he was shot and killed by a guard, who reportedly was bribed to do so byJosé Félix Trespalacios. The Long Expeditions were ended.
These colonies were limited in quotas and to specific locations.[15] Since Mexican independence had been ratified by Spain shortly thereafter, Austin later traveled to Mexico City to secure the support of the new country for his right to colonize.[16] The establishment ofMexican Texas coincided with the Austin-led colonization, leading to animosity between Mexican authorities and the acceleration of American immigration to Texas. TheFirst Mexican Empire was short-lived, being replaced by a republican form of government in 1823. In 1824, the sparsely populated territories of Texas andCoahuila were joined to form the state ofCoahuila y Tejas. The capital was controversially located in southern Coahuila, the part farthest from Texas.
Mexico's independence from Spain in 1821, had Texas become part of the newly formed Mexican state. During this period, Stephen F. Austin led a group of American settlers, known as the Old Three Hundred, who were granted permission to establish colonies in Texas. However, tensions between the Mexican government and these American settlers grew, fueled by cultural differences, economic disparities, and the issue of slavery. The Mexican government's attempts to restrict American immigration and enforce its laws led to increased resentment among the settlers, culminating in the Texas Revolution.[17]
Following Austin's lead, additional groups of immigrants, known asEmpresarios, continued to colonize Mexican Texas from the United States. A spike in the price of cotton, and the success of plantations in Mississippi, encouraged large numbers of white Americans to migrate to Texas and obtain slaves to try to replicate the plantation business model.[18] In theLaw of April 6, 1830, Mexican PresidentAnastasio Bustamante outlawed American immigration to Texas, following several conflicts with the Empresarios over the status of slavery, which had been abolished in Mexico in 1829, but which the Texians refused to end.[19] Texians replaced slavery with long-termindentured servitude contracts signed by "liberated" slaves in the United States to work around the abolition of slavery. Angered at the interference of the Mexican government, the Empresarios held theConvention of 1832, which was the first formal step in what became the Texas Revolution.[20]
By 1834, American immigrants in the area greatly outnumbered Mexicans.[21] Following aseries of minor skirmishes between Mexican authorities and the immigrants, the Mexican government increased its military presence in Texas throughout 1834 and early 1835. Mexico created a new constitution formalized under President Antonio Santa Anna, calledSiete Leyes, and began to strengthen the central government. American immigrants described it as restoring pre-enlightened forms of governance, depriving them of their rights and liberties. They objected to mandatory Catholicism and, when Santa Anna began enforcing anti-slavery laws, many feared religious coercion could be next.[22]
In 1835, the central government splitCoahuila y Tejas into two separate departments. The Texian leadership under Austin began to organize its own military, and hostilities broke out on October 2, 1835, at theBattle of Gonzales, the first engagement of theTexas Revolution.[23] In November 1835, a provisional government known as theConsultation was established to oppose the Santa Anna regime (but stopped short of declaring independence from Mexico). On March 1, 1836, theConvention of 1836 came to order, and the next day declared independence from Mexico, establishing the Republic of Texas.[24] The influences of English, Mexican, and American revolutionary traditions were embedded into the Texas Declaration of Independence.[25]
In March 1836,David G. Burnet became theinterim president of Texas, and appointed Lorenzo de Zavala as vice president at the same time, following a vote where Burnet won among convention delegates.[26] Burnet declined to run for reelection, thereafter Sam Houston waselected as the new President of the Republic of Texas on September 5, 1836, with Burnet resigning.[27] The secondCongress of the Republic of Texas convened a month later, in October 1836, atColumbia (now West Columbia).Stephen F. Austin, known as theFather of Texas, died December 27, 1836, after serving two months asSecretary of State for the new Republic.
The first flag of the republic was the "Burnet Flag" (a single gold star on an azure field), followed in 1839 by official adoption of the Lone Star Flag.
Internal politics of the Republic were focused on two factions. The nationalist faction, led by Lamar, advocated the continued independence of Texas, the expulsion of theNative Americans, and the expansion of Texas to thePacific Ocean . Their opponents, led by Houston, advocated the annexation of Texas to the United States and peaceful coexistence with the Native Americans where possible. TheCongress of the Republic of Texas even passed a resolution over Houston'sveto, claimingThe Californias for Texas.[28] The1844 Republic of Texas presidential election split the electorate dramatically, with the newer western regions of the Republic preferring the nationalist candidateEdward Burleson, while the cotton country, particularly east of theTrinity River, went forAnson Jones.[29]
Map of the Republic of Texas and the Adjacent Territories byC.F. Cheffins, 1841
TheComanche Indians, whose territory included northwest Texas,[30] furnished the main tribal opposition to the Republic, manifested in multiple raids on Mexican, indigenous, and European settlements.[31] In the late 1830s, Sam Houston negotiated peace between Texas and the Comanches. When Lamar ascended to presidency in 1838 he reversed the Houston administration's policy towards the Native Americans. War soon resumed with the Comanches and Lamar ordered an invasion ofComancheria itself. In retaliation, the Comanches attacked Texas in a series of raids. Afterpeace talks in 1840 ended with the massacre of 34 Comanche leaders inSan Antonio, the Comanches launched a major attack deep into Texas, known as theGreat Raid of 1840. Under command of Potsanaquahip (Buffalo Hump), 500 to 700 Comanche cavalry warriors swept down theGuadalupe River valley, killing and plundering all the way to the shore of the Gulf of Mexico, where they sacked the towns ofVictoria andLinnville. The Comanches retreated after being pursued by 186 rangers and were caught at theBattle of Plum Creek, in which they lost the plunder they had taken.[32] Houston became president again in 1841 and, with both Texians and Comanches exhausted by war, a new peace was established.[33]
The newly-founded Republic of Texas had ambitions to increase its territory, including the annexation of eastern New Mexico, and to control and plunder the trade along theSanta Fe Trail from the United States to New Mexico. In 1841, to those ends, President Lamar unofficially supported theSanta Fe Expedition. Texas merchants accompanied by 320 soldiers invaded New Mexico. The expedition failed; the participants were captured and imprisoned, although eventually released to return to Texas.[34] In 1843, Texans, with the support of their government, conductedtwo large raids on New Mexico and commercial traffic on the Santa Fe Trail. Both raids failed. The raiders killed several Mexican citizens and soldiers, but were defeated by New Mexicanciboleros to end the first raid and forced to surrender to the U.S. army on the second.[35]
On its part, Mexico refused to recognize Texas's independence.[36] On March 5, 1842, a Mexican force of over 500 men, led byRáfael Vásquez, invaded Texas for the first time since the revolution. They soon headed back to the Rio Grande after briefly occupyingSan Antonio. About 1,400 Mexican troops, led by the French mercenary generalAdrián Woll, launched a second attack and captured San Antonio on September 11, 1842. A Texas militia retaliated at theBattle of Salado Creek while simultaneously, a mile and a half away, Mexican soldiersmassacred a militia of fifty-three Texas volunteers who had surrendered after a skirmish.[37][38] That night, upon their defeat, the Mexican Army retreated from San Antonio, back to Mexico, while being pursued by Texas soldiers. The Texas Army took the city of Laredo, at which point they were given official orders fromSam Houston to return to San Antonio. Several soldiers ignored this order, and launched a failed battle to retakeCiudad Mier.[39]
TheNaval Battle of Campeche took place in two engagements on April 30, 1843, and May 16, 1843. The battle featured the most advanced warships of its day, including theMexicansteamerGuadalupe and the equally formidableMontezuma which engaged a squadron of vessels from theRepublic of Yucatan and the Republic of Texas. The latter force consisted of the Texas Navy flagship sloop-of-warAustin, commanded byCommodoreEdwin Ward Moore, thebrigWharton, and severalschooners and fivegunboats from the Republic of Yucatán, commanded by formerTexas NavyCaptain James D. Boylan. The battles were inconclusive.[40]A scene from this battle is engraved on the cylinder of everyColt 1851 Navy, 1860 Army, and1861 Navy revolver.
The Republic of Texas's relationship with Native American tribes was marked by persistent conflict. Tribes such as the Comanche and the Cherokee occupied much of the territory claimed by the Republic, leading to significant controversy. Although some treaties were signed to establish peace, the terms were frequently violated, resulting in ongoing violence. The Republic struggled to maintain a strong military presence to defend its borders against these tribes due to limited resources. To resolve these tensions, Tehuacana Creek Councils, with the absence of the Comanches, led to a treaty. The negotiated treaty is known as theTreaty of Tehuacana Creek, which was signed in 1844. The agreement led to the effective dismantilation of the Tehuacana Creek Council, which included tribes such as, the Cherokees, Wacos, Caddos, Anadarkos, Hainas, Delawares, Shawnees, Tawakonis,Lipan Apaches, and southern Comanches.[41]
The Treaty of Tehuacana Creek, while significant in its attempt to establish lasting peace, faced considerable challenges in implementation. The diverse tribal groups involved held varying levels of commitment to the agreement, and the Republic of Texas lacked the resources and manpower to consistently enforce its terms. Furthermore, ongoing disputes over land and resources, coupled with the continued encroachment of settlers, fueled tensions and undermined the treaty's effectiveness. The fragile peace established by the treaty ultimately proved short-lived, as conflicts between the Republic and variousNative American tribes persisted throughout the remainder of the Republic's existence.[42]
Conflicts between Texas and Mexico intensified conflicts between political factions, including an incident known as theTexas Archive War. To "protect" the Texas national archives, President Sam Houston ordered them removed from Austin. The archives were eventually returned to Austin, albeit at gunpoint. The Texas Congress admonished Houston for the incident, and this episode in Texas history solidified Austin as Texas's seat of government for the Republic and the future state.[43]
There were also domestic disturbances. TheRegulator–Moderator War involved a land feud in Harrison and Shelby Counties inEast Texas from 1839 to 1844. The feud eventually involvedNacogdoches, San Augustine, and other East Texas counties. Harrison County SheriffJohn J. Kennedy and county judge Joseph U. Fields helped end the conflict, siding with the law-and-order party. Sam Houston ordered 500 militia to help end the feud.
Under that treaty, the United States had renounced its claim to Spanish land to the east of theRocky Mountains and to the north of theRio Grande, which it claimed to have acquired as part of theLouisiana Purchase of 1803.
The Texian leaders at first intended to extend their national boundaries to thePacific Ocean, but ultimately decided to claim theRio Grande as boundary, including much ofNew Mexico, which the Republic never controlled. They also hoped, after peace was made with Mexico, to run a railroad to theGulf of California to give "access to the East Indian, Peruvian and Chilean trade".[44] When negotiating for the possibility of annexation to the U.S. in late 1836, the Texian government instructed its minister Wharton in Washington that if the boundary were an issue, Texas was willing to settle for a boundary at thewatershed between theNueces River and Rio Grande, and leave out New Mexico.[45]
The southern and western boundary of the Republic of Texas with Mexico was disputed throughout the republic's existence, since Mexico refused to acknowledge the independence of Texas. Texas claimed theRio Grande as its southern boundary, while Mexico insisted that theNueces River was the boundary. In practice, much of the disputed territory wasoccupied by the Comanche people and outside the control of either state. Texian claims included the eastern portions ofNew Mexico, which was administered by Mexico throughout this period. Some contested regions (such as modern Texas southwest of thePecos River) remained essentially self-governing while sending representatives to both the Mexican and Texian Congresses.
Citizenship was not automatically granted to all previous inhabitants of Texas, and some residents were not allowed to continue living legally within the Republic without the consent of Congress. The Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836) established different rights according to the race and ethnicity of each individual. Section 10 of the General Provisions of the Constitution stated that all persons who resided in Texas on the day of the Declaration of Independence were considered citizens of the Republic, excepting "Africans, the descendants of Africans, and Indians."[46] For white immigrants, Section 6 established to become citizens, they needed to reside in Texas for at least six months and take an oath of loyalty to the Republic; in contrast, under Section 9, African slaves brought to Texas were to remain slaves and could not be emancipated without the consent of Congress. Furthermore, the Congress was not allowed to make laws banning or restricting either slavery or the slave trade. Section 9 also established that: "No free person of African descent, either in whole or in part, shall be permitted to reside permanently in the Republic, without the consent of Congress."[47]
The Republic of Texas experienced significant immigration from both the United States and Europe. Settlers from the southern states brought their cultural and social norms, which included slavery. Slavery became a "cornerstone" of the Texian economy particularly in the agricultural sector. The institution of slavery had fueled the economy but also was able to reinforce social inequality. While slavery was officially abolished in Mexico in 1829, many Texians continued to practice it. This led to tensions with the Mexican government.[48]
Women in the Republic of Texas, while often marginalized, still played crucial roles in society. They contributed to the economy through domestic labor, agriculture, and business. However, their legal rights were very limited and they faced significant social and economic obstacles. While some women were able to challenge traditional gender roles, the majority of them were still very confined.[48]
The gain of these settlers had a huge impact on Texas' society and it started to shape its economy, politics, and social structure over the years.
Sam Houston andStephen F. Austin depicted on a 1936 US postage stamp commemorating 100th anniversary of the Texas Republic
In September 1836 Texas elected aCongress of 14 senators and 29 representatives. TheConstitution allowed the firstpresident to serve for two years and subsequent presidents for three years. To hold an office or vote, a man had to be a citizen of the Republic.[49]
The first Congress of the Republic of Texas convened in October 1836 atColumbia (now West Columbia).Stephen F. Austin, often referred to as the "Father of Texas", died on December 27, 1836, after serving just two months as the republic's secretary of state. Due mainly to the ongoing war for independence, five sites served as temporary capitals of Texas in 1836: (Washington-on-the-Brazos,Harrisburg,Galveston,Velasco and Columbia). The capital was moved to the new city ofHouston in 1837.
In 1839, a small pioneer settlement situated on theColorado River in central Texas was chosen as the republic's seventh and final capital. Incorporated under the name Waterloo, the town was renamedAustin shortly thereafter in honor of Stephen F. Austin.
The Republic of Texas established a robust legal system, including a Supreme Court to interpret and uphold the Constitution. The Constitution itself could be amended through a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress, followed by ratification by the people. Major constitutional changes during this period often related to issues of land grants, taxation, and the powers of the executive and legislative branches.[50] The court system inaugurated by Congress included aSupreme Court consisting of a chief justice appointed by the president and four associate justices, elected by a joint ballot of both houses of Congress for four-year terms and eligible for re-election. The associates also presided over four judicial districts. Houston nominatedJames Collinsworth to be the first chief justice. The county-court system consisted of a chief justice and two associates, chosen by a majority of the justices of the peace in the county. Each county was also to have a sheriff, a coroner, justices of the peace, and constables to serve two-year terms. Congress formed 23 counties, whose boundaries generally coincided with the existing municipalities. In 1839, Texas became the first nation in the world to enact ahomestead exemption, under which creditors cannot seize a person's primary residence.
The Republic's political landscape was marked by factionalism with two primary groups emerging, the War Party and the Peace Party. The War Party, led by figures like Mirabeau B. Lamar, advocated for a more aggressive stance against Native American tribes and Mexico which favoring expansion and military action. The Peace Party, associated with Sam Houston prioritized diplomacy, compromise, and a more cautious approach to foreign policy. These factions often clashed over key issues shaping the Republic's domestic and foreign policies/affairs.[51] "Prior to this time, factions were the order of the day. Before the Revolution, there was the "Peace Party" and the "War Party". Once the path to Revolution was clear, the "Peace" faction was subsumed by the "War" faction, and for a brief time, Texians seemed to agree with each other, at least in terms of politics" (65).[52]
PresidentAnson Jones signed the charter forBaylor University in the fall of 1845.[53]Henry Lee Graves was elected Baylor's first president. It is believed to be the oldest university in Texas; however,Rutersville College was chartered in 1840 with land and the town ofRutersville.[54] Chauncey Richardson[55] was elected Rutersville first president. The college later becameSouthwestern University in Georgetown,Williamson county.[55]University of Mary Hardin-Baylor was also chartered by the Republic of Texas in 1845, and received lands inBelton, Texas.[56] Wesleyan College, chartered in 1844 and signed by presidentSam Houston, another predecessor to Southwestern did not survive long due to competition from other colleges.[57]Mirabeau Lamar signed a charter in 1844 for the Herman University for medicine but classes never started due to lack of funds.[58] The University of San Augustine was chartered June 5, 1837, but did not open until 1842 when Marcus A. Montrose became president. There were as many as 150 students enrolled. However, attendance declined to 50 in 1845, and further situations including animosity and embittered factions in the community closed the university in 1847.[59] Later it became the University of East Texas, and soon after that became the Masonic Institute of San Augustine in 1851.Guadalupe College atGonzales was approved January 30, 1841; however, no construction efforts ensued for the next eleven years.[60]
The Hôtel Bataille de Francès (nowHôtel de Vendôme),Place Vendôme in Paris, housed the Embassy of the Republic of Texas.
During its existence, the Republic of Texas received diplomatic recognition from only six nations:Belgium,France, theNetherlands, theRepublic of Yucatán, theUnited Kingdom, and theUnited States of America. Texas' status as a slaveholding country and Mexico's claim on the territory caused significant problems in the foreign relations of Texas with other nations.[18]
Despite this, these nations adopted trade relations with Texas, and in turn, provided for friendly relations with them. Its main exports were predominantly crops, such as cotton and corn. Raw materials like iron, as well as machinery and other consumer goods like tea, beer, and chocolate were traded as well. Outside of these countries, Texas did export some goods toDenmark, and in some instances, toRussia andSpain, though amounts were minimal.[61][62]
Although it was supported by the vast majority of Texians at the time of independence,[63] annexation by the United States was prevented by the leadership of both major U.S. political parties, theDemocrats and theWhigs, who opposed the introduction of a vast slave-holding region into a country already divided into pro- and anti-slavery sections and wished to avoid a war with Mexico.
On March 3, 1837, U.S. PresidentAndrew Jackson appointedAlcée La Branche aschargé d'affaires to the Republic of Texas, thus officially recognizing Texas as an independent republic.[64] France granted official recognition of Texas on September 25, 1839, appointing Alphonse Dubois de Saligny to serve aschargé d'affaires. TheFrench Legation was built in 1841, and still stands in Austin as the oldest frame structure in the city.[65] Conversely, the Republic of Texas embassy in Paris was located in what is now theHôtel de Vendôme, adjacent to thePlace Vendôme in the1st arrondissement of Paris.[66] The Kingdom of Denmark gave recognition to Texas in turn for free trade. Although no embassy was established, Texas had created a legation in Austin.
The United Kingdom hesitated to grant official recognition to the Republic of Texas due to its own friendly relations with Mexico, but nevertheless admitted Texian goods into British ports. InLondon, opposite the gates toSt. James's Palace, the original Embassy of the Republic of Texas is now a hat shop but is clearly marked with a large plaque and there was a nearby restaurant inTrafalgar Square called the Texas Embassy Cantina, which closed in June 2012.[67] A plaque on the exterior of 3 St. James's Street in London notes that the upper floors of the building housed the Texas Legation.
The United Kingdom eventually recognized Texas in the 1840s after a cotton price crash, in a failed attempt to coerce Texas to give up slavery (replacing slave-produced cotton from southern U.S. states) and to stop expansion of the United States to the southwest.[18] The cotton price crash of the 1840s bankrupted the Republic, increasing the urgency of finding foreign allies who could help prevent a reconquest by Mexico.[18]
The Republic of Texas faced significant economic challenges, including the establishment of a stable financial system.While some banks were established, the lack of a centralized banking system and the volatility of the Texas dollar made financial transactions difficult. Private banking played a crucial role, but it was often unregulated and subject to fluctuations in the market.[68]
On February 28, 1845, theU.S. Congress passed a bill that authorized the United States to annex the Republic of Texas. On March 1,U.S. PresidentJohn Tyler signed the bill. The legislation set the date for annexation for December 29 of the same year. Faced with imminent American annexation of Texas,Charles Elliot and Alphonse de Saligny, the British and French ministers to Texas, were dispatched to Mexico City by their governments. Meeting with Mexico's foreign secretary, they signed a "Diplomatic Act" in which Mexico offered to recognize an independent Texas with boundaries determined with French and British mediation. Texas PresidentAnson Jones forwarded both offers to a specially elected convention meeting at Austin, and the American proposal was accepted with only one dissenting vote. The Mexican proposal was never put to a vote. Following the previous decree of President Jones, the proposal was then put to a vote throughout the republic.
Postage stamp issued on the 100th anniversary of Texas statehood, 1945Proposals for Texas's north and west boundaries in 1850 debate
On October 13, 1845, a large majority of voters in the republic approved both the American offer and the proposed constitution that specifically endorsedslavery and emigrants bringing slaves to Texas.[69] This constitution was later accepted by the U.S. Congress, making Texas a U.S. state on the same day annexation took effect, December 29, 1845 (therefore bypassing aterritorial phase).[70] One of the motivations for annexation was the huge debts which the Republic of Texas government had incurred. As part of theCompromise of 1850, in return for $10,000,000 in Federal bonds, Texas dropped claims to territory that included parts of present-dayColorado,Kansas,Oklahoma,New Mexico, andWyoming.
The resolution included two unique provisions: First, it said up tofour additional states could be created from Texas' territory with the consent of the State of Texas and pursuant to the admissions process of the federal constitution. New states north of theMissouri Compromise Line would befree states, while those south of the line could opt to becomeslave states. Though the resolution did not make exceptions to the constitution,[71] the U.S. Constitution does not require Congressional consent to the creation of new states to beex post to applications, nor does the U.S. Constitution require applications to expire.[citation needed] Second, Texas did not have to surrender its public lands to the federal government. While Texas did cede all territory outside of its current area to the federal government in 1850, it did not cede any public lands within its current boundaries. Consequently, the lands in Texas that the federal government owns are those it subsequently purchased. This also means the state government controlsoil reserves, which it later used to fund the state's public university system through thePermanent University Fund.[72] In addition, the state's control over offshore oil reserves in Texas runs out to 3nautical leagues (9 nautical miles, 10.357 statute miles, 16.668 km) rather than three nautical miles (3.45 statute miles, 5.56 km) as with other states.[73][74]
^Crapol, Edward P. (2012) [2006]. "Texas".John Tyler, the Accidental President. Legal classics library (revised ed.). University of North Carolina Press. p. 177.ISBN978-0807872239. RetrievedMay 18, 2022.After Van Buren was safely elected, Jackson granted formal diplomatic recognition to the Lone Star Republic. A few months later, in August 1837, the Texians officially requested annexation, but Van Buren, fearing an anti-slavery backlash and domestic turmoil, rebuffed them.
^"Austin's Colony Records".The Texas General Land Office, Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. Archived fromthe original on December 2, 2024. RetrievedNovember 20, 2022.
^Edmondson, J.R. (2000).The Alamo Story-From History to Current Conflicts.Plano, TX: Republic of Texas Press. p. 63.ISBN1-55622-678-0.
^abcdTorget, Andrew J. (2015).Seeds of Empire: Cotton, Slavery, and the Transformation of the Texas Borderlands, 1800–1850. The University of North Carolina Press.ISBN978-1469624242.
^Robert A. Calvert, Arnoldo De Leon, and Gregg Cantrell,The history of Texas (2014) pp. 64–74.
^Eugene C. Barker,The Life of Stephen F. Austin, Founder of Texas (2010) pp. 348–350.
^Lack, Paul D. (1992).The Texas Revolutionary Experience: A Political and Social History 1835–1836. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press. pp. 86–87.ISBN0-89096-497-1.
^Davis, William C. (2006).Lone Star Rising. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press. p. 295.ISBN978-1-58544-532-5. originally published 2004 by New York: Free Press
Hogan, William Ransom (2007).The Texas Republic: A Social and Economic History. Texas State Historical Association.ISBN978-0-87611-220-5.OCLC76167055.
Howell, Kenneth W. and Charles Swanlund, eds.Single Star of the West: The Republic of Texas, 1836–1845 (U of North Texas Press; 2017) 550 pages; essays by scholars on its founders, defense, diplomacy, economy, and society, with particular attention to Tejanos, African-Americans, American Indians, and women.
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