Texas Statehood

The Republic of Texas existed between March 2, 1836, to February 19, 1846. Her boundaries stretched from the Rio Grande in South which followed all the way up into New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. Though most of these were disputed including the lands between the Nueces and Rio Grande and in New Mexico.

In December of 1845, Texas became the 28th state of the United States of America. It was a change welcomed by many. As early as 1836, Texan voters had chosen overwhelmingly to support annexation. But opposition in the U.S. was strong, and the annexation of Texas came only after years of heavy debate.

1845 March 1 – U.S. Congress passes a "Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States."

From annexation in 1845 to secession from the Union in 1861, early Texas statehood was marked by some of the mightiest issues of any age.

Today in History–June 23–the Library of Congress features the vote for annexation of Texas by the United States on this date in 1845. Texas had tried for statehood back in 1836 after gaining independence from Mexico but the U.S. Congress was unwilling to admit another state that permitted slavery. But by December 29, 1845, Texas became the twenty-eighth state in the Union. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the links below to access more primary resources about the Texas path to statehood.

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