In 1837 the independence of the Republic of Texas was recognized by the United States, Great Britain, France and Belgium. Standing alone, the republic faced many difficulties. Mexico had by no means accepted the independence declaration and threatened continued hostilities. There were troubles with the various Indian tribes. The public debt mounted and the Texas paper dollar fell in value to about two cents. It was generally admitted that the United States desired to annex Texas, but the question was bound up with that of slavery over which the Union was divided. In March, 1845, Congress passed a joint resolution offering statehood to Texas and this the Texans gladly accepted. The United States was to settle all questions of boundaries with foreign countries while Texas was to retain all its vacant and unappropriated public lands. A formal admission occurred in December, 1845. Texas had claimed the Rio’Grandc to its source as its Western boundary although as a political division of Mexico its limits had never extended further west than the Mueces and the Medina.
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