Annexation Process: 1836-1845
A Summary Timeline

Related Links
Narrative history of Annexation | Narrative history of Secession and Readmission
 

1836

MARCH 2
Texas declares independence from Mexico.

APRIL 21
Battle of San Jacinto. Victory over Mexican army and capture of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna on the following day achieves de facto Texas independence.

SEPTEMBER
Texans vote on new government officers, national constitution, and the question of annexation to the United States. Vote overwhelmingly in favor of annexation.

1837

JANUARY 11
Resolution to recognize Texas introduced in the U.S. Senate.

JANUARY 17
General Santa Anna arrives in Washington, DC.

MARCH 3
U.S. recognizes the Republic of Texas, the last act of the Jackson Presidency.

MARCH 11
Santa Anna, home in Mexico, renounces all guarantees made to the Republic of Texas as a condition to his restoration of freedom.

MARCH 27
U.S. Secretary of State reports that treaty agreements with Mexico prohibit the U.S.'s annexing Texas.

AUGUST 4
Texas minister to the United States presents U.S. government a formal offer from the Republic of Texas to annex itself to the United States.

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1838

JANUARY 4
Senator William C. Preston introduces a resolution for a tripartite treaty between the U.S./Mexico/Texas in the U.S. Senate.

JUNE 14
The above measure is tabled.

JUNE & JULY
John Quincy Adams speaks against the annexation of Texas all morning, every morning in the U.S. House of Representatives.

OCTOBER 12
Texas withdraws the offer of annexation because of the U.S. Congress' lack of action on the proposal.

1839

JANUARY 23
Texas Congress passes joint resolution approving of President Sam Houston's withdrawal of annexation proposal.

1843

MARCH 3
U.S. Senate passes a proposed commerce treaty with the Republic of Texas. However, the Senate's amendment of the original treaty terms causes the Texas Congress to reject the final version of the treaty.

JUNE 15
Sam Houston issues proclamation declaring armistice between Mexico and Texas.

1844

JANUARY
President Houston submits annexation question to Texas Congress, then instructs minister to the U.S. to resume annexation talks.

APRIL 11
An annexation treaty between the U.S. and Texas signed between the two diplomats.

JUNE 8
U.S. Senate rejects the treaty, 35 to 16.

JUNE 13
U.S. Senate votes to table the Benton Annexation Bill.

1845

JANUARY 25
Joint Resolution to annex Texas passes the U.S. House of Representatives.

FEBRUARY 27
Joint Resolution, with amendments to be voted on by the House, passes U.S. Senate 27 to 25.

FEBRUARY 28
House adopts Senate version of the joint resolution to annex the Republic of Texas 132 to 76.

MARCH 1
President Tyler signs annexation resolution.

MARCH 3
Annexation offer sent to Texas president Anson Jones.

MAY 19
Cuevas-Smith treaty between Mexico and Texas signed guaranteeing Texas independence so long as it remains a separate republic.

JUNE 16
Texas Congress meets in special session to consider both the proposed Mexican treaty and the annexation resolution from the U.S. Congress. U.S. offer accepted.

JULY 4
Convention meets to consider both the Mexican treaty and the U.S. annexation resolution. U.S. offer accepted by Convention.

OCTOBER 13
Annexation ordinance and state constitution submitted to the Texas voters for approval. (The vote tally on November 10, 1845, was 4,254 to 267 in favor of annexation; the total vote, compiled January 1, 1846, was 7,664 to 430 in favor of annexation.)

DECEMBER 16
U.S. House votes to annex Texas by Joint Resolution, 141 to 58, 21 abstaining.

DECEMBER 22
U.S. Senate approves joint resolution for the admission of Texas as a state 31 to 14, 7 abstaining.

DECEMBER 29
President Polk signs the Joint Resolution. Texas officially the 28th state on this date.

1846

FEBRUARY 19
Transfer of government completed when Governor J. Pinckney Henderson takes the oath of office.