In today’s society with so many disagreements between the state and federal government going on the thought crosses some Texans minds about secession. The movement, headed by the Texas Nationalist Movement and the Tea Party, is seeking to remove the state from the union and institute Texas as a new country. Many questions arise over the topic of secession covering topics such as economy, currency, population, and if Texas would be helped or hurt by leaving the United States federal government behind. It has been shown that Texas has a much larger population than many countries as well as gold to back a currency should it decide to create one. The Texas economy is extremely strong with a mass of exports and natural resources being gathered in the state. These natural resources tied with other products made in Texas give the state one of the strongest economies in the world. Even with all this knowledge the question over secession still persists. The Texas economy stands 12th in the world and stands as a reason that secession might be possible. From minerals to gemstones, oil to natural gas, and animal products to the creation of electrical equipment the Texas economy stands strong even when other parts of the world are struggling. “Among the natural resources are 16 ports whose economic impact on the United States totals in the billions. For the past decade, Texas has been the top state for foreign exports. Last year, they totaled $265 billion, according to data from the
Ever since the Manifest Destiny became the United States’ holy goal, Texas had always been in the sight of the United State, for the location and size of the territory were extremely attractive for the expansion. In addition, the state offered the Rio Grande River which promised great trade in the future. These factors made Texas a key component in fulfilling the sacred duty, so when news spread that Texas became independent, there was no time wasted from the United States in integrating them into the union. Even before Texas gained their independence, the United States had become intertwined with the culture of Texas by having hundreds of American citizens immigrating into the territory and spreading American values across the land. As many historians have said “Throughout the United States, especially in the South, support for Texas was warm and widespread. Men, money, and
After months bloodshed and disagreements, on December 29,1845 Texas entered the union as the 28th state. 6th months after the Congress of the Republic of Texas accepts the annexation, the state is then admitted as a member of the United States of America.
Till this day, Texas is known to look out for its benefits. If a person wants to get rich, they invest or move into Texas. Self-interest and money are major keys in Texas politics, making it a continuous traditionalist state. Texas is for the most part hostile towards taxes and refuses to meet the concurrent standard. Texas is known to uplift personal growth to those who step out of their comfort zone and take action into what they want to do. Drastic changes in population growth, lack of education, aging population, regressive taxes and public service demand sometimes make it hard for individuals to look out for their self-interest and rise above the predicted standard. Usually those who do look out for their benefit are those that are not even Texas made. Texas takes its luke warm advantage and inclines towards its individualistic side for this aspect of its political culture. Self-interest mainly and ultimately revolves around its business aspect towards society. In a sense, this can be looked upon as survival of the fittest. Those who “pull themselves by the boot straps” are the ones that will succeed in a state where everything is known to be bigger and better.
Texas, nicknamed “The Lone star State”, has always been very unique compared to any other state in the United States of America. Texas have a sense of great pride in where they come from. Texans hold their heads a just a little higher than anyone else. Texas is the second largest state in the U.S., Texans have their own pledge of allegiance to the state flag, and is the only state whose flag is permitted to fly as high as the American flag. So, why is it that Texans take so much pride in their own state? Texans take great pride in their state because at one point before Texas was a state belonging to the United States, it was its own country. This is how Texas got its name as the “Lone star” State. In nineteenth century, Texas fought many battles against Mexico and its leader Santa Anna, to gain Independence from the country. After many hostel wars and lives lost, Texas made a break through at the Battle of San Jacinto and conquered the Mexican government in the year 1836, becoming the new Republic of Texas. It then remained Independent for almost ten years. Our Independence and history of secession runs through our veins. The topic is a reoccurring one when it comes to politics. In recent years, there have been talks if Texas should secede from the United States again like they did in 1836. According to a poll in 2009, it showed that “50% Republicans, 40% Independents, and 15% Democrats believed that Texas should stand as an independent nation.” “338157 Texans have already
When all attempts to arrive at a formal annexation treaty failed, the United States Congress passed--after much debate and only a simple majority--a Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States. Under these terms, Texas would keep both its public lands and its public debt, it would have the power to divide into four additional states "of convenient size" in the future if it so
The recent study of these Northern counties, John R. Lundberg’s article, disputes the prominent narrative for why the North Texas counties voted against secession during the secession referendum. Most historians, for example, Buenger, cite the reasons for voting for or against secession stems from the growing Indian raids on the exposed frontier. Also, Houston’s failure to protect the settlers from those
The U.S. state of Texas declared its secession from the United States of America on February 1, 1861, and joined the Confederate states on March 2, 1861, after it replaced its governor, Sam Houston, when he refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy. As with those of other States, the Declaration was not recognized by the United States government at Washington. Some Texan military units fought in the Civil War east of the Mississippi River but Texas was most useful for supplying soldiers and horses for Confederate forces. Texas' supply role lasted until mid-1863, after which time Union gunboats controlled the Mississippi River, making large transfers of men, horses or cattle impossible. Some cotton was sold in Mexico, but most
Texas has had a history of suing the government. Since 2008 Texas has sued the government 40 times, winning 7 times, losing 10 and 16 still being decided.
In August 1859, the citizens of Texas elected Sam Houston as their governor. The result of this election placed the Unionists in control of the state, but in just eighteen months’ individual events or circumstances allowed the secessionists to regain power. Following the 1859 Gubernatorial election, the secessionists sought to restore political and social power in Texas over the Unionists. Texas’ one party system continued to support the other Southern states ideologically in dealing with slavery despite cultural and economic differences between the Upper and Lower South. Sam Houston’s continued popularity among Texas citizens temporarily outweighed his support for Unionist views, but the Southern Democratic propaganda machine eventually led to his defeat. Texas became the only state to bring a vote of secession to the people of the state and historians continue to debate the voting returns from the referendum on the Ordinance of Secession, 1861. The secession movement in Texas became a hotly debated topic as past, and present historians determined how the secessionists obtained enough power to overcome the Unionist-controlled government.
Texas is considered a very diverse and unique state in many different aspects. It is the second largest state with more than twenty-six million people residing. People all over the state live in a variety of environments, cities, suburbs, rural areas, you name it. Of course though, like in everything else, there are always both positive and negative things. However, despite the fact that Texas have very high poverty rates and it has the second highest income inequality, Texas is a very interesting state and it has a lot of things that are worth learning about. I learned some things about Texas politics that I thought were very interesting. These topics include the State Constitution and the legislature.
Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836 in a battle at the Alamo. This then lead to border confusion, being that the Americans and Mexicans thought that the Rio Grande was a proper border for Mexico and Texas, as to where Mexico thought the border should have been the Nueces River. At the time Texas wanted to join America and had applied for annexation twice. The Alamo was religious building that was turned into a fort during a battle for Texas’s independence from Mexico. The Rio Grande and the Nueces River where two rivers that boarded the disputed territory of Mexico and Texas. An annexation is to become a member, or a part of something; to merge.
There are many Texas myths that endured about carpetbaggers during the failed Reconstruction era. “Carpetbaggers was generally used to describe Northerners who moved to the south after the Civil War especially who joined state Republicans formed in 1867” pg. 212. They were rumored to be allegedly “corrupt and dishonest adventurous who’s property could fit in a carpet bag (a soft suitcase made of carpet) who seized political power”. In this essay, I will analyze how the myth/legend came about, why the myth/legend is important to Texas history and what implications is has for the history and memory of Texas.
Before the time of Texas declaring independence, the Texans had a very difficult time living within the brutal hands of the Mexicans. With the Mexican government making laws that go completely against Texas’ desires and practiaclly strpping away all of what the people of Texas know, a spark was created for independence. Without independence for Texas, there would be barely any way to make money since slavery was illegal, the Texans would continue to be miserable with the aggressive laws, and the craving to always want to officially be considered an American would only grow. Even when the Texans attempted to fix these complications, the Mexico government only grew worse and more crucial towards the once loyal individuals of Texas. Eventually,
“No state upon its own mere motion, can lawfully get out of the union”(Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address, Document C). “ The crisis upon us involves not only the right of self government, but the maintenance of great pricleple in the law of nations” (President of the Texas Secession Convention, Document C). Texas likes to be in control, so anyone can understand why state rights are important to them. As you can see in the first quote that Abraham Lincoln said that any state that did not agree with the Union can get out and leave. That’s exactly what Texas did, in 1861 Texas was the seventh state to succeed from the Union.
One of the largest issues at the moment is Manifest Destiny, and if it actually applies to Texas, should we annex Texas to follow our “God Given Right”, or deny them to reduce risk of war? If we do decide to allow them to enter, Mexico would be very displeased with us, and because of that, we would be displeased with them, resulting is a high chance of war with Mexico.