Instructions
Now that we have explored the challenging nine years of the Republic of Texas (1836-1845), we will study the big decision Texas made: to join the United States. This historical event is called Annexation. We will learn why Texas chose to join and what major conflict resulted from this decision.
Section 1: Reviewing the Republic's Needs
Building on what we learned, recall the major problems the Republic of Texas faced that encouraged leaders to seek help from the United States.
- What major financial problem was hurting the Republic of Texas? (Hint: It means owing money.)
Answer: ____
- Which President of the Republic strongly supported Texas joining the United States (Annexation)?
A. Mirabeau B. Lamar B. Stephen F. Austin C. Sam Houston
- Before 1845, Texas was a sovereign country. What does 'sovereign' mean in this context?
Answer: It was its own ____
Section 2: Annexation - Why Texas Joined the USA (1845)
Joining the United States in 1845 solved many of Texas's problems. It also satisfied the American idea of Manifest Destiny, which was the belief that the U.S. was meant to expand across the entire North American continent, all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
Activity: Benefits Match-Up
Match the benefit (Why they wanted Annexation) to the group that received it.
| Benefit | Group that Received the Benefit (Write T or U) |
|---|---|
| T = Texas | U = United States |
| --- | --- |
| Example: Gained large amounts of western land and power. | U |
| Had their national debt paid off and gained financial stability. | |
| Gained military protection from outside threats (like Mexico). | |
| Fulfilled the goal of expanding from 'sea to shining sea' (Manifest Destiny). |
Section 3: The Immediate Consequence: Border Conflict
When Texas joined the U.S. in 1845, Mexico was angry. Mexico had never agreed that Texas was independent. More importantly, Texas and Mexico disagreed about where the southern border actually was.
The Border Dispute:
- Texas/U.S. Claim: The border was the large Rio Grande river.
- Mexico's Claim: The border was the smaller Nueces River (further north).
This disagreement quickly led to the U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1848).
Complete the sentences below using the two river names:
-
The war started because Mexico claimed the border was the ____ River, while the U.S. insisted the border was the ____ River.
-
The disputed territory (the land claimed by both sides) was located between the two rivers.
Map Challenge: Imagine you are drawing the boundary. If the U.S. won the war, which river do you think became the final, official border?
Final Border: ____
Section 4: Progressive Application - Comparing Status
Now that Texas has moved from a Republic to a U.S. State, compare its status regarding the three major problems we discussed in the previous worksheet.
| Challenge Area | Texas as the Republic (1836-1845) | Texas as a U.S. State (Post-1845) |
|---|---|---|
| Example: Money/Debt | Very high national debt. | Debt paid off by the U.S. government. |
| Military Protection | Small, often ineffective Texas Rangers. | Gained the protection of the full U.S. Army and Navy. |
| Governing Land Size | Difficult to govern such a large, remote territory. | U.S. government helps manage territories and enforce federal laws. |
| Native American Conflict | Constant, costly conflicts. | U.S. military takes over management and control. |
Section 5: Challenge Question (Combining Annexation & Geography)
Texas was annexed in 1845. The war that followed ended in 1848. What was the single biggest geographic change to the United States that occurred as a direct result of the U.S. winning the war against Mexico?
Answer (in one short sentence): ____
Answer Key
Section 1: Reviewing the Republic's Needs
- What major financial problem was hurting the Republic of Texas? (Hint: It means owing money.)
Answer: Debt
- Which President of the Republic strongly supported Texas joining the United States (Annexation)?
Answer: C. Sam Houston
- Before 1845, Texas was a sovereign country. What does 'sovereign' mean in this context?
Answer: It was its own country
Section 2: Annexation - Why Texas Joined the USA (1845)
| Benefit | Group that Received the Benefit (Write T or U) |
|---|---|
| Had their national debt paid off and gained financial stability. | T |
| Gained military protection from outside threats (like Mexico). | T |
| Fulfilled the goal of expanding from 'sea to shining sea' (Manifest Destiny). | U |
Section 3: The Immediate Consequence: Border Conflict
-
The war started because Mexico claimed the border was the Nueces River, while the U.S. insisted the border was the Rio Grande River.
-
Final Border: Rio Grande (Because the U.S. won the war).
Section 5: Challenge Question (Combining Annexation & Geography)
Answer (in one short sentence): The United States gained a massive amount of land in the West, including California and the Southwest. (Acceptable variations focus on vast land acquisition or reaching the Pacific Ocean.)