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Americans could become Mexican citizens by declaring loyalty to Mexico and converting to Catholicism. 30,000 American immigrants arrived in this region, a place that the Mexican government had little control over. Even in Mexico iyself, only 600,000 Mexicans lives among 6 million natives. It was a relatively weak state, having only gained its independence in the 1820s.
The American Immigrants maintained their loyalty to the US and Protestantism. They were largely southerners who had brought slaves with them into slave-free Mexico.
The Mexacan government saw the developments in Texas and responded by putting tariffs on imported goods.
In 1834, Santa Anna was elected on the liberal ticket, then overturned the government. When he tried to apply this same dictatorship tp texas, he sparked an uprising.
In November 1835, the Texas Provisional Government came into being and took up arms against Mexico. Led by Sam Houston as commander of the Revolutionary Army, the texas revolution gave him a second chance at life.
Santa Anna responded by leading an expedition northward into Texas. At the Alamo, 200 Texans were slaughtered. At Goliad, 400 more Texans were killed. American's were outraged!
Houston's Army regrouped. On April 21, 1836, 800 Texans cought the Mexicans by suprise and won a sweeping victory, actually capturing Santa Anna in the process. They forced Santa Anna to sign two treaties:
However, once safely home in Mexico, Santa Anna repudiated these treaties. But he had withdrawn all troops, allowing Texas to become a defacto independent state.
The texan government was established in fact on March 6th, 1836
Nine years will pass before Texas is annexed by the US, even though Teas has requested annexation. Facing financial problems and possible invasion from the south, Texas spends these years seeking recognition and aid. It is recognized by the US, England, and France.
President Andrew Jackson, Heuston's friend, wanted Texas. He did not even recognize its independence until the day before he stepped out of office. There were two reasons for his inability to annex Texas:
President Tyler was a pro-slavery Virginian. He chose a pro-slavery Secretary of State named Abel Upshur, who died shortly afterwards and was succeeded by Secretary of State Calhoun. These wo negotiated a treaty of annexation that was overturned by the US Senate.
Results
Mexico, seeing this, began to organize.
Britain now wanted to make Texas a protectorate. This would give them rights to the oregon territory and interests in semi-autonomous Mexican California. It could be a coaling station and naval base and come close to giving them a territory that connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Texas would also be a cotton supply, which England needed badly and was now importing from the US. It would free Britain from dependence on American Cotton and allow Britain to establish a balance of power in the west.
The British made a diplomatic overture to France, working on the construction of a Quadruple treaty between Texas, Mexico, France and Britain to guarantee the boundaries of Texas. Once established, the US would no longer be able to annex Texas without facing a war against Britain, France, and Mexico.
Tyler beleived in the annexation of Texas. He made the first use of joint resolution. Tyler signed the resolution three days befor he left office, allowing Texas to join the Union as a slave state.
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