Texas is a state in south USA. Texas is the largest State in the Union and is popularly known as the 'Lone Star State'. It formed originally a part of the Spanish possessions in America. The United States surrendered her claim that Texas was included in the Louisiana purchase, by the treaty of 1819-1821 with Spain, whereby the United States obtained possession of Florida and settled the eastern boundary of Texas. Meanwhile Mexico had declared her independence of Spain, and Texas with Coahuila formed a State of Mexico, and in 1827 adopted a State Constitution which forbade the importation of slaves and provided for the gradual abolition of slavery. Moses Austin, an American, obtained a large grant of land in Texas in 1820, and formed a settlement of Americans which increased rapidly.
A new State Constitution was formed in 1833 by a convention of the 20,000 settlers, but Mexico refused to recognize it. When Santa Anna, the President of Mexico, attempted to reduce the Mexican States to the condition of departments in 1835, Texas immediately seceded, on March the 2nd, 1836, and proclaimed her independence, which she maintained by the defeat of Santa Anna at the head of 1500 troops by General Sam Houston with only 800 Americans, in the battle of San Jacinto, on April the 21st, 1836.
A constitution was adopted favouring slavery. Sam Houston was elected President. The United States, England, France and Belgium recognized the new government as independent in 1837. From this time until December the 29th, 1845, when Texas was finally annexed to the United States, the question of its annexation was the Gordian knot of American politics. Treaty negotiations failing, annexation was accomplished by joint resolution of both Houses of Congress. The dispute over the western boundary of Texas led to the Mexican War. On March the 25th, 1850, Texas ceded all claims to territory outside of her present limits to the United States for $10,000,000. On February the 1st, 1861, an ordinance of secession was passed. During the American Civil War there was a large influx of slaves from the other States. The State was restored to its place in the Union on March the 30th, 1870. The population of Texas in 1850 was 212,592 which had risen to 2,235,523 in 1890.
Abbreviations
Gazetteer
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