By: Dr. Richard Bruce Winders, Alamo Director of History and Curation
On March 2, 1836, delegates meeting at Washington-on-the-Brazos declared their independence from Mexico: The new nation they formed was the Republic of Texas. Over the next ten years citizens of the republic maintained their independence although faced with problems such as poor finances and the constant threat of war. By 1845, most Texans were ready to trade independence for statehood.
On July 4th one hundred and seventy-one years ago, delegates met in Austin to debate the fate of Texas. The result of their convention was that the question of Texas statehood would be put to a public vote. On October 13, 1845, Texans voted 4,254 to 267 in favor of giving up the republic for the chance to join the United States.
Voters approved the proposed state constitution and annexation ordinance at the same time. On December 29, 1845, U.S. President James K. Polk signed legislation making Texas the 28th state in the Union. In a ceremony held in Austin on February 19, 1846, Texas President Anson Jones declared “the Republic of Texas is no more” and ordered the Lone Star Flag of the Republic lowered for the last time. Even though short-lived, Texans remain proud of the historical legacy that comes from having once been an independent nation.
This article originally appeared in the July 2014 edition of “The Alamo Messenger”, a monthly history publication of the Alamo’s education department.
