1 March 1845

United States President John Tyler signs a bill authorizing the United States to annex the Republic of Texas.

Texas became a state of the United States on December 29, 1845. Its path to statehood was a tumultuous one, marked by conflicts and controversies.

Texas was originally a territory of Mexico, but in 1836, the Texian army, led by General Sam Houston, defeated the Mexican army at the Battle of San Jacinto and declared independence. Texas remained an independent republic for several years, but it soon became clear that the country could not survive economically without the support of a larger nation.

In 1845, Texas was annexed by the United States through a joint resolution of Congress. This was a controversial move, as it was opposed by many in both the North and the South. The Northern states were opposed to the annexation of Texas because they feared it would expand the power of slavery in the United States, while the Southern states were in favor of annexation because they believed it would give them more power in the federal government.

After the annexation was approved, Texas was admitted to the Union as the 28th state. This was a significant event in American history, as it marked the beginning of the expansion of the United States to the West and the eventual annexation of other territories, such as California, Oregon, and New Mexico.