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Description
Since Texas' independence from Mexico in 1836, the fledgling republic had been beset by massive debts and Comanche raids, all while attempting to achieve some form of international recognition so as to avoid reconquest by Mexico. Despite limited recognition from Britain and France, Texas never managed to carve out a position for itself on the world stage, thus the largely American population of the nation sought unification with the United States. Initially rejecting several offers for annexation, the American election cycle of 1844 thrust the issue to the forefront of Texan and American politics. With James K. Polk running on a platform largely based on manifest destiny and the annexation of Texas and Oregon, Texans were forced to consider their own stance on the issue in their own election. Much of Texas came out in support of the idea, however a significant portion of Texans led by Mirabeau Lamar argued against annexation, decrying it as a betrayal of the revolution and their Texian identity. With the victory of the pro-annexation Polk in the American elections and Unionist Anson Jones in the Texan elections, the annexation of Texas seemed inevitable. As a reaction to this, Lamar called on his followers to organize into militias, declaring the Second Texas Revolution. Lamar's nationalists seized much of the countryside, even dipping into regions contested with Mexico to unify their forces, however the Nationalists failed to occupy the majority of the Republic. In America, the outbreak of Texas' civil war dramatically swung public opinion away from annexation as many saw the rebellious and riotous Texans as unfit for the Union; however, the American government quietly supported the Unionist Texans with arms and funding under the condition of post-war annexation. As the war dragged on, Nationalists continued their incursions into the disputed regions to the chagrin of Mexico, while the Americans advised the Unionists against such actions, fearing it would provoke a Mexican invasion. The turning point of the war came when the Unionists retook Houston. The reopening of Texas' best port to Unionist trade and American arms imports dramatically swung the war in the Unionists favor, and by early 1846 the Nationalists had disbanded. Ultimately the short war did little to prevent America's annexation of Texas, merely delaying it a year. With peace falling over Texas, the Unionist government fulfilled their agreements, joining the United States in late 1846.

Description
Since Texas' independence from Mexico in 1836, the fledgling republic had been beset by massive debts and Comanche raids, all while attempting to achieve some form of international recognition so as to avoid reconquest by Mexico. Despite limited recognition from Britain and France, Texas never managed to carve out a position for itself on the world stage, thus the largely American population of the nation sought unification with the United States. Initially rejecting several offers for annexation, the American election cycle of 1844 thrust the issue to the forefront of Texan and American politics. With James K. Polk running on a platform largely based on manifest destiny and the annexation of Texas and Oregon, Texans were forced to consider their own stance on the issue in their own election. Much of Texas came out in support of the idea, however a significant portion of Texans led by Mirabeau Lamar argued against annexation, decrying it as a betrayal of the revolution and their Texian identity. With the victory of the pro-annexation Polk in the American elections and Unionist Anson Jones in the Texan elections, the annexation of Texas seemed inevitable. As a reaction to this, Lamar called on his followers to organize into militias, declaring the Second Texas Revolution. Lamar's nationalists seized much of the countryside, even dipping into regions contested with Mexico to unify their forces, however the Nationalists failed to occupy the majority of the Republic. In America, the outbreak of Texas' civil war dramatically swung public opinion away from annexation as many saw the rebellious and riotous Texans as unfit for the Union; however, the American government quietly supported the Unionist Texans with arms and funding under the condition of post-war annexation. As the war dragged on, Nationalists continued their incursions into the disputed regions to the chagrin of Mexico, while the Americans advised the Unionists against such actions, fearing it would provoke a Mexican invasion. The turning point of the war came when the Unionists retook Houston. The reopening of Texas' best port to Unionist trade and American arms imports dramatically swung the war in the Unionists favor, and by early 1846 the Nationalists had disbanded. Ultimately the short war did little to prevent America's annexation of Texas, merely delaying it a year. With peace falling over Texas, the Unionist government fulfilled their agreements, joining the United States in late 1846.