Page 327 - American Stories, A History of the United States

13.1 Watch the Video The Annexation of Texas

13.2

AnnexAtion of texAS texans voted in favor of annexation to the United states in the first election following
independence in 1836. However, throughout the Republic period (1836–1845), no treaty of annexation negotiated
between the Republic and the United states was ratified by both nations

After Polk’s victory, Congress reconsidered the annexation of Texas. The mood
had changed, and leading senators from both parties who had opposed Tyler’s scheme
for annexation by joint resolution changed their position. Congress approved annexa-
tion a few days before Polk took office. By contrast, the expansionist claim to all of the
Oregon Country, jointly occupied by the United States and Britain, was abandoned.
Polk settled the Oregon question in 1846 with a treaty that garnered the United States
its first deepwater port on the Pacific in Puget Sound, but ceded to Britain all of the
Quick Check Oregon territory above the 49th parallel. To Northerners, who had hoped for more free
Why and how did Texas cost Van states to balance the admission of Texas as a slave state, this concession demonstrated
Buren his party’s nomination?
that Polk would be a southern president.

tAbLe 13.1 tHe LibeRtY PARtY sWiNGs AN eLectiON

Actual vote National if Liberty voters Projected
candidate Party in New York electoral vote Had voted Whig electoral vote
Polk Democratic 237,588 170 237,588 134
clay Whig 232,482 105 248,294 141
birney Liberty 15,812 0 — —
294