TheAnnexationofTexas
StructuredAcademicControversy(SAC)
StudentPacket:A
StudentDirections–StructuredAcademicControversy
Introduction:
TodayyouwillbeparticipatinginaStructuredAcademicControversy.It’slikea
debate,butyouwillhavethechancetoarguebothsidesoftheannexationissue.
Youwillworkinpairstoprepareyourarguments.Afterbothpairshaveresearched
andpresentedforbothsides(pro‐annexationandanti‐annexation),yourgroup
mustcometoaconsensusoragreement.Seetheprocedurestepsbelowforspecific
directions.AllofyourinformationwillbeprovidedinyourSACpacket.Youwill
takenotesonhandoutsinthispacket.
Procedure:
1. Receiveyourpairandgroupassignmentfromyourteacher.
2. Recordyouroriginalassignedposition(pro‐annexationoranti‐annexation)
onthefirstpageofyourSACpacket.
3. Readtheprimaryandsecondarysourcesprovidedinyourpacket.
4. Takenotesonstudentnotehandout#1inyourSACpacket.
5. Shareyournotesandthoughtsaboutthematerialwithyourpartner.Plan
yourpresentation.(Hint:focusonthethreemostimportantargumentsfor
yourposition.)
6. Onesidepresentsitsposition(threearguments)totheotherside.Theother
sidewilllistencarefullyandtakenotesonstudentnotehandout#2.Afterthe
firstsidehaspresented,thelisteningpairshouldrepeattheargumentsand
askanynecessaryquestionstomakesuretheyunderstandtheotherside’s
argument.
7. Repeatstep#6fortheoppositeside.Thepairthatlistenedfirstwillnow
presenttotheotherpair.
8. Nextyouandyourpartnerwillbeassignedtoworkwithadifferentpair.You
willalsoswitchsidesandbeginresearchingfortheotherposition.(For
example,ifyoustartedaspro‐annexation,youwillnowpresenttheanti‐
annexationargument.)Takenotesonstudentnotehandout#3.Workwith
yourpartnerasyoudidinstep#5.
9. Onesidepresentsitsposition(threearguments)totheotherside.Theother
sidewilllistencarefullyandtakenotesonstudentnotehandout#3.Afterthe
firstsidehaspresented,thelisteningpairshouldrepeattheargumentsand
askanynecessaryquestionstomakesuretheyunderstandtheotherside’s
argument.
10. Continueaskingquestionsandprovidingfeedbackuntileveryoneissatisfied
thattheirargumenthasbeenheardandunderstood,andthatthey
understandtheopposingargument.
11. Nowthefourofyouwillcometoaconsensusoranagreementabout
annexation.ShouldtheUSannexTexas?Youmayneedtocompromise.Use
yournotesonhandouts#1‐4andthebackgroundinformationinyourpacket.
Feelfreetochangeyourmindandcomeupwithyourownopinionofthe
issue.Recordyourgroup’sconsensusonstudentnotehandout#5.
12. Onceyouhavecometoaconsensusandcompletedhandout#5,youmay
beginworkingonyourrecommendationtoPresidentTyler.Wewillshare
ourconsensusesasaclass.Besuretochooseapresenterfromyourgroup
thatwillshareyourconsensus.
GeneralRulesandProtocol:
 Respecteachother.
 Youmaydisagreewithagroupmember’spositionandargumentbut
don’tcriticizetheperson.
 Don’ttakecriticismordisagreementpersonally.
 Besuretolistencarefullytoothers’presentations,takenotesandask
questions.
 Learnaboutbothpositions;feelfreetochangeyourmindafter
readingthebackgroundinformationandlisteningtopresentations.
 Don’ttalkovereachotherorinterrupt.
 Trytocomeupwithaconsensus,don’ttryto“win”theargument.
TheAnnexationofTexas
StudentNoteHandout#1
Name:______________________________________________________________________________
Firstassignedposition:___________________________________________________________
GeneralNotes
ThreeMainArguments
1.
2.
3.
TheAnnexationofTexas
Studentnotehandout#2
GeneralNotes
Questions/Counter‐arguments
TheAnnexationofTexas
StudentNoteHandout#3
Name:______________________________________________________________________________
Secondassignedposition:___________________________________________________________
GeneralNotes
ThreeMainArguments
1.
2.
3.
TheAnnexationofTexas
Studentnotehandout#4
GeneralNotes
Questions/Counter‐arguments
TheAnnexationofTexas
Studentnotehandout#5
Possiblesolutions
Consensus/Commongroundreached
TheAnnexationofTexas
DocumentA(A)
TotheHonorableSenateandHouseofRepresentativesoftheUnitedStates,in
Congressmet:
TheSubscribers,CitizensofPhilaCityandcountyofPa.
Respectfullyrepresent:
ThattheybelieveinrightandjusticethatTexasisours,havingpurchaseditfrom
France,itbeingpartandparceloftheLouisianapurchasemadebyMr.Jeffersonin
1803,andbeingactuallyandabsolutelyinourpossessionfor16yearsuntil1819,
whenwecededitwithouttheconsentofhercitizenstoSpain,henceithasvirtually
beenourssince.Mr.Jefferson,Mr.Madison,Mr.Monroe,andMr.Adamsall
contendedthatTexaswasaclearlyincludedintheLouisianapurchaseasNew
Orleans,andtheFrenchCommissioner,Mr.LausattwhendeliveringLouisianatous
announcedtheRioDelNorteasthetrueboundaryonthewest.TheSpanish
authoritiesorderedthedeliveryofallthepostswestoftheMississippi,andeastof
theRioDelNortetotheUnitedStates.
Inthe3rdArticleoftheTreatywemadeasolemnpledgetoFranceandthepeopleof
Texastoprotectthem,(thepeopleofTexas)inthefreeenjoymentoftheirliberty,
property,andreligion.
AndnowafterTexashavingmadeapatrioticstrugglesuccessfullyfor
Independence,andbeingacknowledgedassuchbythegreatpowersoftheworld,
andherpeoplebeingcitizensofthisgreatRepublic,fleshofourflesh,andboneof
ourbone,andthegreatunanimityofherpeopleinwishingtobecomeamemberof
thisUnion,weareboundaspatriots,asloversofourfreeinstitution,tothrowthe
mantle1ofourConstitutionoverandaroundandembraceherasamemberofour
greatandgloriousConfederacy2.
ThereforewerespectfullyaskthatyourHonorablebodymayratifythetreatyforre‐
annexationofTexaslaidbeforetheSenatebythePresidentoftheUnitedStates,and
ifincaseofitnotbeingratifiedbytheSenate,thenwerespectfullyaskthatTexasbe
receivedbybothhousesofCongressintotheUnion,asaTerritoryoftheUnited
States.
Andwewilleverpray.
1Afigurativecapeorcloaksymbolizingauthority.
2Inthiscase,confederacyisanotherwordforunionorcountry.
TheAnnexationofTexas
DocumentB(A)
DepartmentofState
WashingtonAugt6th1844
ToC.H.RaymondEsq.
ActingCharged.AffairesofTexas
Sir,
Informationhasjustbeenreceived…thatMexicoisactuallyabouttomakeahostile
movementuponthiscountry[RepublicofTexas].Informationreceivedfromthe
cityofMexicothroughtheagentoftheUnitedStatesGovernment…that,General
SantaAnnaisengagedinraisingfunds,andrecruitinganarmyfortheavowed
purposeofattemptingto[reconquer]…Texas.Hehasalreadydispatchedanumber
oftroopsfromthecityofMexicoandisconcentratingthemandotherforcesupon
theRioGrande.
[Thesemovementsoftroops]seem…toindicatethatthesemovementsoftheenemy
havebeencausedbypendingnegotiationsbetweentheUnitedStatesandTexason
thesubject[ofannexation].Ihave…called…uponcharged’affairesoftheUnited
StatesGeneralHoward,requestinghimtotakeearlyactionupontheassurances
giventothisgovernment…thatthepromisedaidmightberenderedtoTexasby[the
U.S.].
Itwashisimpression[theU.S.president]thatheshouldincaseofthreatened
dangertoTexasatanytimecommandtheaidofthemilitaryandnavalforcesofthe
UnitedStatesintheGulfanduponourfrontier.
Thisgovernment[RepublicofTexas]truststhattheactionoftheUnitedStaetsin
referencetothissubjectwillbepromptandefficient,acoursewhichyouwillurge
uponhimbyeveryconsiderationinyourpowertooffer.
ShouldnottherequiredaidberenderedbytheUnitedStatesitisprobablyyouwill
beinstructedtobreakoffallnegotiations…[concerning]theannexationofTexasto
theUnitedStates,norwillwewaitbeyondareasonabletimefortheirdetermination
tobemadeknown.
Yourobt.svt.[obedientservant]
(signed)AnsonJones
TheAnnexationofTexas
DocumentC(A)
AshbelSmithtoIsaacVanZandt
Confidential
January25,1843
YouareofcourseawareoftheTreatywherebyEnglandagreed…[in]mediatinga
peacebetweenTexasandMexico,andoftheutterfailureofthatmediation.
YouarealsodoubtlessawarethatIwasinstructedtoinvitetheGovtofFrancetoact
inconcertwithEnglandandtheUnitedStatesinmakingajointrepresentationto
TexasandMexico–thatFranceaccededtothatinvitationwithalacrityandevery
manifestationoffriendlyspirit,andinstructeditsAmbassadoratLondontopresent
thissubjecttotheBritishGovt;andthattheBritishGovtpositivelyrefusedtoactin
concertwithFranceandtheUnitedStatesinthismatter.
TherearemanypointsandfactsinourrecentrelationswithEnglandtowhichI
wouldgladlycallyourattention….ThatGovt[English]wereafraidthatTexasmight
beannexedtotheAmericanUnion.Theydesiredourseparateexistencefor
commercialreasons,asaconsumeroftheirmanufacturesandaproducerofcotton
notsubjecttothetariff3….Theydesiredourseparateexistenceas[creating]a
barriertotheencroachmentoftheUnitedStatesuponMexico.
ItisthepurposeofsomepersonsinEnglandtoprocuretheabolitionofSlaveryin
Texas.Theyproposetoaccomplishthisendbyfriendlynegotiation.Theyestimate
thenumberofslavesinTexasat12,000andwouldconsiderthepaymentforthem
infull,asasmallsumfortheadvantages…fromtheestablishmentofafreeStateon
theSouthernbordersoftheSlaveholdingStatesoftheAmericanUnion.
UntilwithinafewmonthstheBritishGovtundoubtedlydesiredtheestablishmentof
peacebetweenTexasandMexico–Texasremainingaslaveholdingcountry…from
anapprehension,thatifthecontestcontinuedTexasmightbethrownintothe
Americanunion.ThatGovtarenowconvincedthatTexascannotbeadmittedinto
thisUnion,andthatadecisiveattemptonthepartofthesouthernStatestoreceive
TexaswouldendangerthestabilityoftheUnion.
Doesitnotbehoove4theAmericanpeopleparticularlyoftheSlaveholdingStatesto
looktothissubject;andtheAmericanGovernmentsinglehandedor[with]France
todeclaretotheworldtheirdeterminationtomaintaintheIndependenceofTexas?
SignedAshbelSmith
To:Hon.IsaacVanZandt
3Ataxonimportedgoods.
4Tobenecessaryfor
TheAnnexationofTexas
DocumentD(A)
London,42St.JamesPlace
June24,1844
Hon.AnsonJones
SecretaryofState
Sir,
HisMajesty’sGovernment[Britain]perceive[s]thatTexasinagreeingtotreatfor
annexationhasbeeninfluencedonlybythewishtoobtaininthiswayhonorable
peaceafterthetotalandavowedfailureoftheMediationoffriendlyPowers.
TherejectionoftheannexationtreatybytheAmericanSenatewasregardedas
nearlyorquitecertain,nothingwouldbedonebythisGovernment[Britain]until
theAmericanCongressshallhavefinallydisposedofthesubjectforthepresent
session.TheBritishandFrenchGovernmentswouldbewilling,ifTexasdesiredto
remainindependent,tosettlethewholematterbya“DiplomaticAct”:this
diplomaticactinwhichTexaswouldofcourseparticipatewouldensurepeaceand
settleboundariesbetweenTexasandMexico.
TheAmericanGovernmentwouldbeinvitedtoparticipateinthe“Act”asoneofthe
partiesguaranteeing…equallywiththeEuropeanGovernments;thatMexico…would
beinvitedtobecomeapartytotheDiplomaticAct,andincaseofherrefusal
[Mexico’s],wouldbeforcedtosubmittoitsdecisions.
LordAberdeendidnotasIrememberusethewordTreaty,but[used]thephrase
DiplomaticAct.Itwould,however,havealltheobligationsofatreaty…andit
would…beperpetual.
Such[an]actwould…givetotheEuropeanGovernments…aperfectrighttoforbid
foralltimetocometheannexationofTexastotheUnitedStates,asalsoeventhe
peacefulincorporationofanyportionofMexico…whichmighthereafterwishto
uniteitselfwithTexas.
Yourobedientservant
AshbelSmith
TheAnnexationofTexas
DocumentE(A)
JohnTyler
PresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica
Greeting
Know…thatIhavegiven&grantedanddoherebygiveandgranttoJohnC.Calhoun,
SecretaryofStateoftheUnitedStates,fullpower&authority…tomeetandconfer
withIsaacVanZandt&J.PickneyHenderson,Ministersaccreditedtothe
GovernmentoftheUnitedStatesfromtheRepublicofTexas,being[given]withthe
likefullpowersof&concerningtheannexationofTexastothesaidUnitedStates,
andtoconcludeatreatyuponthatsubjectandallothersconnectedwithitforthe
finalratificationofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates,by&withtheadvice&consent
oftheSenate….GivenundermyhandattheCityofWashington,thefifthdayof
Aprileighteenhundred&fortyfour&oftheIndependenceoftheUnitedStates….
BythePresident,
JohnTyler
TheAnnexationofTexas
DocumentF(A)
PetitionfromtheCitizensofVermontAgainstAnnexationofTexas
TotheSenateoftheUnitedStates
Theundersignedcitizensof…Vermont…protestagainsttheannexationofTexasby
treatyorinanyothermodewithouttheconsentofallthestates,asunconstitutional
–injurioustotheirrightsandinterestsanddangeroustothepeaceandprosperity
oftheUnion.
TheA
Annexation
nofTexas
Docu
umentG(A)
TheAnnexationofTexas
DocumentH(A)
GeorgeW.TerrelltoAnsonJones
November22,1844
MyDearDoctor,‐***IhavehadalonginterviewwithMr.Saligny…onthesubject
ofannexation.She[France]isreadytogivetheguaranteespokenof…provided
Texaswillpledgeherselftoholdnofurthernegotiationsonthesubjectof
annexation.
Mr.Salignysaidtome,inprivateconversation,whathewouldnotsaytothe
SecretaryofState…thathisGovernmentlookeduponitselfashavingbeenvery
uncandidly5dealtwithbyours,andwillbeverycautiousininterferingfurtherinour
behalf.
Itismycandidopinion,asIbelieveIhaveoftenexpressedittoyou,thatannexation
neverwilltakeplace.Butifitevercould,itisclearthatitcannotbedoneatthe
approachingsessionoftheCongressoftheUnitedStates…andannexation,asit
should,willslumberforeverinthe“tomboftheCapulets.”6Thisis,atleast,my
opinionofthematter.
Yourfriend,sincerely,
G.W.Terrell
5Uncandid–nottruthfulorstraightforward.
6Tomb,ormassfamilygraveoftheCapuletfamilyfromShakespeare’sRomeoand
Juliet.
TheAnnexationofTexas
Who’sWho:ListofImportantPeople
TexanPoliticiansandDiplomats
SamHouston:LedtheTexanArmyduringtheWarforTexanIndependence;elected
firstpresidentoftheRepublicofTexas.
AnsonJones:ServedasSecretaryofStateunderHouston;electedsecondpresident
oftheRepublicofTexas.
IsaacVanZandt:Charged’affairesofTexas.
C.H.Raymond,Esq:Charged’affairesofTexas.
JamesPickneyHenderson:MinisterofTexastoBritainandFrance;Texas’first
governor.
AshbelSmith:MinisterofTexastoBritainandFrance.
GeorgeW.Terrell:AttorneyGeneralfortheRepublicofTexas;charged’affairesto
France,GreatBritainandSpain.
BritishPoliticiansandDiplomats
CharlesPakenham:TheBritishministerinWashington.
LordAberdeen:Britishforeignminister
FrenchDiplomats
DuboisdeSaligny:FrenchforeignministertoTexas
USPoliticiansandDiplomats
ThomasHartBenton:Democrat,Missouri