In December 1845, Texas became the 28th state of the United States. Many Texans had supported joining the U.S. since 1836, but there was strong opposition in the U.S. Some Americans were concerned about Texas joining as a slave state, as slavery was common in Texas. Others worried about angering Mexico, since there was still a dispute over the Texas-Mexico border.

Despite these concerns, President James Polk believed the benefits of adding Texas outweighed the risks. After joining the U.S., Texas formed a new government, but only white males over 21 could vote, leaving out many groups, including Native Americans, Mexicans, and African Americans.

The annexation of Texas led to the Mexican-American War in 1846, and after the war, the U.S. gained a large amount of land. Slavery in the new territories continued to be a controversial issue, and the Compromise of 1850 helped to resolve some of these tensions. However, many Texans believed they should have the right to keep slaves, and when Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860, Texas seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy, which helped lead to the Civil War.

Source: Early Statehood, 1845–1861
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