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Article
Texas Public Broadcasting

Texas Pbs: Texas Our Texas: Early Statehood 1845 1861

For Students 9th - 10th
Examines the circumstances surrounding Texas's entry into the Union in 1845 as a slave state. It was an uneasy union, with ongoing controversy around the issue of slavery. This lasted through the Mexican-American War and helped to...
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Article
Charles I. Kelly and Lawrence E. Kelly

Many things.org: In 1845, Republic of Texas Faces a Choice

For Students 5th - 8th
An explanation of the difficulties the Republic of Texas encountered when deciding whether to join the Union. Also discusses President James Polk's efforts to expand the territories held by the United States, which brought him into...
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Activity
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: Texas Annexation Questions and Answers

For Students 9th - 10th
Did the U.S. start the Texas Revolution? How did slavery affect Texas? What were the boundaries of the Republic of Texas? Find detailed answers to these questions and others in this FAQ's page.
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Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Texas Navy: Epilogue

For Students 9th - 10th
What happened to the Texas Navy when the revolution was over and Texas was annexed by the U.S. in 1846? Check out primary texts from this time in Texas' history to research this topic: "First four pages of Edwin Moore's claims for...
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Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: International Matter: Texas Finds a Champion

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the failed attempts U.S. President John Tyler made in the annexation of Texas? Find the answer to this question and check out primary texts from this period in Texas' history.
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Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: The Annexation Treaty

For Students 9th - 10th
Isaac Van Zandt championed for U.S. annexation, despite the possibility of war and political uproar. Read about the annexation treaty in its infancy, the people involved, and the signing of the treaty in 1844.
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Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: A Treaty of Annexation Tyler's Failed Gamble

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the part the question of the annexation of Texas played in the election of 1844 and the machinations of several politicians in addressing this question.
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Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: The Final Showdown Starting Over Again

For Students 9th - 10th
What happened after the annexation treaty failed? Read primary documents to explore this period of Texas' history and learn about the people involved in this event.
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Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: The Final Showdown the Crisis

For Students 9th - 10th
The opposition against Texas' annexation was strong, and supporters faced challenges between Polk's election and inauguration. What lead up to the passing of the Texas annexation? Check out primary texts to explore this time in Texas'...
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Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: The Election of 1844

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the election of 1844 and the views of the two candidates, James Polk and Henry Clay.
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Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: The Final Showdown Texas Makes Its Choice

For Students 9th - 10th
In 1845, Texas finally became part of the United States after years of violence, opposition, and political struggles. At this site, you can check out the text of the Ordinance of Annexation and other primary texts that will help you...
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Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: John Tyler: A Life in Brief

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief overview of the life of John Tyler. Hyperlinks to additional information.
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Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

For Students 3rd - 8th
This 3-page article provides a general overview of the Mexican War which resulted in the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in Mexico City on February 2, 1848.
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Lesson Plan
Texas State Historical Association

Texas State Historical Association: Annexation Debate to State [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
An activity guide where students refer to the Texas Almanac, which is free to download, for information needed to complete assigned tasks. In this lesson, students examine the significant people involved in the annexation of Texas and...
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Lesson Plan
Texas State Historical Association

Texas State Historical Association: Counties and County Seats [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
An activity guide where learners refer to the Texas Almanac, which is free to download, for information needed to complete assigned tasks. In this instructional activity, they look at the history of a Texas county and its courthouse and...
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Study Guide
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Annexing Texas

For Students 9th - 10th
This Khan Academy resource provides historical information about the annexation of Texas.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: "American Blood on American Soil"

For Students 5th - 8th
President James Polk's desire was for the United States to stretch from sea to shining sea. See what happened when his overatures to Mexico to buy the land north of the Rio Grande River were spurned. Take a brief vote to see if Polk was...
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Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1844 1877: Annexing Texas

For Students 9th - 10th
Quickly following Texan independence, the United States admitted Texas into the republic as a slave state.
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Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Annexation of Texas (1845)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explore how the state of Texas was established. They will learn how Texas fought for independence from Mexico, the role of slavery in delaying Texas' admission, and how it was eventually incorporated into the Union.
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Primary
PBS

New Perspectives on the West: Annexation of Texas Joint Resolution

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, which is provided for by the Public Broadcasting Service, gives the text of the Texas Joint Resolution, which made Texas part of the United States.
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Website
A&E Television

History.com: This Day in History: Texas Enters the Union

For Students 6th - 8th
On December 29, 1845, Texas officially joined the Union as a slave state, after lengthy delays.
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Primary
Other

Texas Bob: The Resolution Annexing Texas to the United States March 1, 1845

For Students 9th - 10th
A reprinting of the Texas annexation joint resolution of 1845, which was written to incorporate the Republic of Texas into the United States of America as the 28th state.
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Unit Plan
US National Archives

Nara: Teaching With Documents: Lincoln's Spot Resolutions

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This "Teaching with Documents" lesson on Lincoln's spot resolutions explores the Mexican War, Lincoln's questioning of the propriety of the war, and the power of the U.S. President at that time. Content includes extensive historical...