WHAT DO YOU KNOW about Texas becoming a State in the United States

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WHAT DO YOU KNOW about Texas becoming a state? On February 19, 1846, the Lone Star flag of the small nation of Texas was replaced with the stars and stripes of the United States. Anson Jones, the last president of the young indebted nation handed the reins to the first governor of the new state James Pinkney Henderson with these dramatic words, “The final act in this great drama is now performed; the Republic of Texas is no more.”______ The exchange of Texas’s sovereignty for statehood actually occurred two months prior to the above auspicious celebration in front of the dog run (*) capitol building in Austin. There still is confusion about which should be the official date for Texas statehood.______ The Texas Declaration of Independence was challenged by General Santa Anna and the professional Mexican army. Sam Houston’s volunteer army was greatly outnumbered but achieved a surprising victory at the Battle of San Jacinto (1836). Attacking during the afternoon siesta, while Mexican troops were asleep and their general was entertaining in his tent, created the chaos that was needed to succeed. Santa Anna’s guest, a captured mulatto servant girl named Emily West, has become known as the Yellow Rose of Texas. This may be legend but it continues to appear in Texas historical accounts. General Houston was wounded. Santa Anna ran and hid. He was found and captured but not executed because he was more important to Texas if he were alive. ______ Sam Houston became the first president of the Republic of Texas. He was eager for statehood. United States President Andrew Jackson recognized Texas Independence although Mexico did not. Because Texas included slaves and had a serious and growing public debt, the incoming U. S. President Martin Van Buran, chose not to act on statehood. Also he did not care to provoke a war with Mexico.______ Those opposed to statehood included the second president of Texas, Mirabeau Lamar. Not until the influential Houston was re-elected to his second term as the third president of the Republic, did statehood present itself again.______ The idea had continued to be a political football during U.S. President James Polk’s term. He was followed by President John Tyler who finally provided Texas with the opportunity to become a state. It is the only state that was annexed by treaty. Carole Sikes 3/21 ______ (*) Dog Run is a name given the very early architectural style of two room buildings with a fresh air opening between the rooms. The dog run and a porch across the front could serve as extra sleeping areas. Ref. Big Wonderful Thing by Stephen Harrigan and Lone Star by T. R. Fehrenbach

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