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Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, and Mexican Texas was part of the new nation. Mexican authorities encouraged settlement by allowing organizing immigration from the United States. By 1834, over 30,000 Anglos lived in Texas versus only 7,800 Mexicans. -
Texians repelled a Mexican attempt to retake a small cannon, launching the Texas Revolution. Over the next three months, the Texians successfully defeated all Mexican troops in the region. -
Mexican president Santa Anna led a 6000-man force toward Texas. Texans were defeated by the Mexican army in the Battle of the Alamo. But, in the Battle of San Jacinto Sam Houston defeated Santa Anna and Texas gained independence -
U.S. Congress passed a bill that would authorize the United States to annex Texas, on March 1st U.S President John Tyler signed the bill and the date for annexation was set for December 29th.
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In October, a majority of voters in the Republic of Texas approved a constitution that endorsed slavery and the slave trade, which was accepted by the U.S. Congress. This made Texas a U.S. state the same day annexation took effect.
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Because Texas joined the U.S, the Mexican government broke diplomatic relations with the U.S. Disputes over the claim to Texas land resulted in both nations declaring war. -
The American Civil War led Texas to secede from the United States on February 1st, 1861 and join the Confederate States of America on March 2nd, 1861.
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African American slaves in Texas are emancipated on June 19th, 1865, after the Confederate collapse. -
Hamilton granted amnesty to ex-Confederates if they promised to support the Union in the future, and the United States Congress restored Texas to the Union.
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Texas Constitution was adopted, that segregated schools and established a poll tax to support them.
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Galveston was destroyed by a hurricane on September 9th. It was the first city to implement a city commission government to aid in a speedy reconstruction, and this local government structure was adopted by other small cities across the U.S.