Why did the Republic of Texas have trouble joining the United States?
There were several reasons why the Republic of Texas had trouble joining the United States:
1. Texas had gained independence from Mexico in 1836 and initially wanted to remain an independent nation. Some Texans believed that joining the United States would result in the loss of their newly acquired freedom and sovereignty.
2. The issue of slavery was a major point of contention. Texas allowed slavery, and the debate over whether it should be admitted as a slave state or a free state caused political tensions in the United States. Many anti-slavery politicians opposed the annexation of Texas for fear of upsetting the delicate balance of power between free and slave states in Congress.
3. Mexico still considered Texas to be a part of its territory, and the annexation of Texas by the United States would likely have led to conflict with Mexico. Some Americans were wary of antagonizing Mexico and potentially starting a war over Texas.
4. Some Americans were concerned about the potential cost of annexing Texas and feared that it would lead to further expansionist ambitions and entangle the United States in conflicts with other countries.
Ultimately, Texas was annexed by the United States in 1845, but the process was not smooth and faced opposition from various quarters.