Lesson Plan
Texas State Historical Association

Texas State Historical Association: Counties and County Seats [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
An activity guide where students refer to the Texas Almanac, which is free to download, for information needed to complete assigned tasks. In this instructional activity, they look at the history of a Texas county and its courthouse and...
Website
A&E Television

History.com: This Day in History: Texas Enters the Union

For Students 6th - 8th
On December 29, 1845, Texas officially joined the Union as a slave state, after lengthy delays.
Article
US Department of State

U.s. Department of State: Office of the Historian: Milestones: 1830 1860

For Students 9th - 10th
Concisely written accounts of three important events in the history and shaping of Texas: the Annexation of Texas, the Mexican-American War, and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo.
Primary
Other

Texas State Historical Association: The Law of April 6, 1830 [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A reprinting of The Law of April 6, 1830 which was to counter concerns that Mexican Texas, part of the border state of Coahuila y Texas, was in danger of being annexed by the United States.
Article
Texas State Historical Association

Texas State Historical Association: The Law of April 6, 1830

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this short overview of The Law of April 6, 1830 which was to counter concerns that Mexican Texas, part of the border state of Coahuila y Texas, was in danger of being annexed by the United States.
Primary
Other

Texas Bob: The Resolution Annexing Texas to the United States March 1, 1845

For Students 9th - 10th
A reprinting of the Texas annexation joint resolution of 1845, which was written to incorporate the Republic of Texas into the United States of America as the 28th state.
Article
Other

Global Security: 54 40 or Fight

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the significant territorial changes that took place in the United States under the presidency of James K. Polk. These included the annexation of Texas, the settling of the dispute with Great Britain over claims to Oregon...
Handout
Lone Star Junction

Lone Star Junction: Archives of the West: Compromise of 1850

For Students 9th - 10th
This interesting website shows four plans of establishing the boundaries of Texas for its annexation into the U.S. This break-up of Texas lands became part of the Compromise of 1850.
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: International Matter: Britain Makes Its Move

For Students 9th - 10th
Why didn't Mexico recognize Texas independence? What was Mexico's proposal for Texas president Sam Houston in 1843? Read about this period in Texas history and check out primary texts that will help you explore this stage in Texas'...
Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: Texas Breaks Away Alone in the Wilderness

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the effects of the Texas Revolution. How did Americans react? How did the annexation process begin, and what roadblocks were there? Find the answers to these questions, and check out a map of Texas from 1836 and other primary...
Website
Other

Bound for Texas!

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains a series of articles on the history of Texas such as "The First People", "The Republic" and more.
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: Texas Breaks Away Texas and Mexico

For Students 9th - 10th
After being taken over by Mexico in 1821, Texas became very attractive to people wanting to settle. New policies, however, upset the Texans, which lead to rebellions and the Texas Revolution of 1836. Read about it all, and check out...
Handout
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Texas Treasures: The Republic of Texas

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is an overview of the problems facing the young Republic of Texas. Hyperlinks to additional information.
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: Houston Keeps His Options Open

For Students 9th - 10th
What obstacles did Texas face in the 1830s during its request to become part of the U.S.? This article explores the setbacks Sam Houston and Texas faced due to the political climate of the times. Also, there are primary texts that...
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: Lamar and the Rise of Texas Nationalism

For Students 9th - 10th
The pride Texans feel about their state "can be traced to roots in the Republic of Texas era." Read about this era and the president who wanted Texas to stand alone and not become part of the U.S., and check out a map and other primary...
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: Santa Anna Strikes Back

For Students 9th - 10th
Texas was "teetering on the edge of total disintegration" when Sam Houston returned to the presidency. The population was down, money was down, and Texas was defenseless against "a resurgent Mexico." Read more about this period in Texas'...
Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: The Election of 1844

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the election of 1844 and the views of the two candidates, James Polk and Henry Clay.
Article
Other

Texas Bob: The Tri Weekly Telegraph: Death of Gen. Houston

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the article from Texas' Tri-Weekly Telegraph from July 29, 1863, recounting the death of General Sam Houston. He was known for bringing Texas into the United States as a constituent state.
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Texas Treasures: Thomas Rusk

For Students 9th - 10th
Thomas Rusk's Oath of Citizenship, Report from San Jacinto, and Letter on the 1850 Boundary Compromise are found here. You will see a picture of the original document, and a typed translation.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Lone Star Republic

For Students 5th - 8th
Why did Mexico encourage settlement of Americans in Texas? Why did the Americans chafe under Mexican rule? Find out how this led to the Texas Revolution and the declaration of Texas as an independent country.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: America's Manifest Destiny [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
After a brief discussion of Manifest Destiny in other parts of country, read about the Texas rebellion against Mexico, the battles against Santa Anna, and the treaties that made Texas an independent country. [pdf]
Interactive
University of Oregon

Mapping History Project: Mexican Cession: Political Boundaries

For Students 9th - 10th
Click on this map to see the boundaries of Mexico, Texas, and the United States before the Mexican Cession, and then click again to see the land ceded to the U.S. after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Be sure to click to see the key...
Article
Henry J. Sage

Sage American History: Expansion and War: The United States 1840 1860

For Students 9th - 10th
Article on the era of westward expansion and the resulting Mexican American War. The author demonstrates how Manifest Destiny and frontier settlement led to the annexation of Texas and ultimately war with Mexico over the territory.
Website
Other

Dmwv: The u.s. Mexican War: 1846 1848

For Students 9th - 10th
Dedicated to the memory of U.S. veterans who fought in the U.S.-Mexican War, this website provides documents, images, maps, and FAQs.

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