On December 29, 1845, a significant decision was made by the United States Congress when they voted to annex Texas, a step that marked a pivotal moment in the history of both Texas and the broader United States. The idea of Texas becoming a state had first come up back in 1837. However, President Martin Van Buren at the time rejected the proposal, citing concerns rooted in constitutional principles and apprehensions about potential conflict with Mexico.
This scenario began to change under the leadership of President James Polk, who was a strong proponent of westward expansion. In February 1845, Congress passed the Annexation Resolution, paving the way for Texas to officially join the Union. On June 16, 1845, Texas President Anson Jones took the initiative to call the Texas Congress into session. This was a crucial period for Texas, as a convention of elected delegates convened on the Fourth of July that same year. Both the Texas Congress and the convention were supportive of joining the United States, leading to the drafting of a constitution that outlined the governing framework for the new state.
The proposed constitution went before the people of Texas, who ratified it through a popular vote in October of 1845. With this overwhelming support, the document was then accepted by Congress on that historic day in December. Shortly afterward, on February 19, 1846, President Jones of the Republic of Texas officially handed control of the new state government over to Governor James Pinckney Henderson. This transition marked the beginning of Texas's new chapter as a state within the United States, with all its unique cultural and historical nuances that continue to resonate today.
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