American History

The capture of Texas by the United States was a complex process that evolved over several years. The process started with the colonization of Texas by American settlers in the early 1800s. Stephen F. Austin, one of the main protagonists in the story of Texas's acquisition, is often credited with introducing the first Americans to the region. Austin quickly developed strong relationships with the local Native American tribes and also worked with the government of Mexico, which had recently won its independence from Spain, to gain legal control of some of the land. The region of Texas eventually established itself as a separate nation under the Mexican government, however the independence of the Texan Republic was short-lived. By 1845 tensions between the independent Texans and the Mexican government had risen to the point of war. The Mexican-American War began in 1845, with the United States intervening on the side of the Texans. The war ended in 1848 with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe, when Mexico finally ceded the territory of Texas to the United States. Zachary Taylor played a key role in the victory over Mexico as commander of the U.S. forces in the region. Taylor ultimately defeated Mexican leader Antonio López de Santa Anna and forced him to sign the treaty which ceded the land to the United States. The idea of Manifest Destiny, which was popular among the American settlers that had moved to the region, also played a big role in the desire to expand