- Background: Texas was formerly a Mexican province, but in 1836, it declared its independence and became the Republic of Texas.
- Annexation: In 1845, the United States annexed Texas into the Union as the 28th state.
2. Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
- Cause: The annexation of Texas by the US led to tensions with Mexico, which claimed Texas as its territory.
- War: The Mexican-American War broke out in 1846.
- Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848): The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which established the Rio Grande as the boundary between the US and Mexico.
3. Compromise of 1850
- Background: The acquisition of new territories from Mexico after the war raised questions about the expansion of slavery into these areas.
- Compromise: The Compromise of 1850 was a series of agreements that aimed to resolve the issue of slavery in the newly acquired territories.
- Texas Statehood: As part of the compromise, Texas was officially recognized as a state, while the issue of slavery was left to the decision of each individual state.