Eleanor Finch
Texas has a long and complex history of political upheaval, having been part of Mexico following the Mexican War of Independence, and later breaking away to establish the Republic of Texas. Texas was annexed by the United States, but has unique powers granted by the 1845 joint congressional resolution, which some interpret as a pre-approved right to break away from the Union. Texas has come close to division on several occasions, most notably during Reconstruction, and in 1921, when West Texans threatened to break up the state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Texas' claim to an exception | Comes from the 1845 joint congressional resolution admitting Texas into the Union |
| The resolution reads | "New States of convenient size not exceeding four in number, in addition to said State of Texas and having sufficient population, may, hereafter by the consent of said State, be formed out of the territory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission under the provisions of the Federal Constitution" |
| Supporters of Texas division say | This means that Congress pre-approved a breakup |
| Texas' history of being independent | Previously called the Republic of Texas, a sovereign state for nine years prior to the Texas annexation by the United States |
| Modern secession efforts | Have existed in the state at least since the 1990s, focusing first on the Republic of Texas organization as well as the Texas Nationalist Movement |
| Recent discussions | Between Texas Republican Party representatives renewed talks of secession after the 2020 presidential election |
| The U.S. Constitution | Does not address secession |
| Supreme Court precedent | States cannot secede from the union by an act of the state |
| Texas divisionism argument | As the second-largest state in the U.S. in both area and population, Texas is too large to be governed efficiently as one political unit |
| Opponents argue | The statute has been overridden and rendered moot by later legislation that was enacted by Congress, including the Texas Admission Act signed on 29 December 1845 |
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What You'll Learn
Texas' claim to an exception
Texas has had the power to secede from the Union for more than 150 years. This claim to an exception comes from the 1845 joint congressional resolution admitting Texas into the Union. The resolution reads:
> New States of convenient size not exceeding four in number, in addition to said State of Texas and having sufficient population, may, hereafter by the consent of said State, be formed out of the territory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission under the provisions of the Federal Constitution.
Supporters of Texas division interpret this to mean that Congress pre-approved a breakup. This clause is also referred to as the "new-states clause". However, critics argue that the new-states clause would violate the Supreme Court's equal-footing doctrine.
Texas came close to breaking up during Reconstruction when Radical Republicans tried to carve up the state at its constitutional convention of 1868-1869. Their stated aim was to create a Union-friendly West Texas that might rejoin the U.S. earlier than the rest of the state. However, critics argued that they were trying to create more state offices for themselves.
In 1921, West Texans threatened to break up the state when Governor Pat M. Neff vetoed a bill to build a college in West Texas. This threat inspired Garner's division talk with The New York Times.
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Texas division supporters
Texas, the second-largest state in the United States in terms of both area and population, has a long history of division and secessionist movements. Texas division supporters, also known as Texas divisionists, argue that the state is too large to be governed efficiently as one political unit. They believe that dividing Texas into multiple states would give Texans more power at the federal level, particularly in the U.S. Senate and the Electoral College.
The idea of Texas division has its roots in the state's unique history. Texas was an independent republic for nine years before it was annexed by the United States in 1845. The Joint Resolution of Annexation that admitted Texas into the Union included a provision that explicitly permitted Texas to be divided into up to five states without requiring a constitutional amendment. This provision has been interpreted by some as congressional "pre-approval" for the division of Texas.
Texas has come close to dividing on multiple occasions throughout its history. During the Reconstruction era following the Civil War, Radical Republicans attempted to carve up Texas at its constitutional convention of 1868-1869, with the stated aim of creating a Union-friendly West Texas. While pro-division delegates were a majority at the convention, they could not agree on a map, a common hurdle for Texas divisionists.
In more recent times, modern secession efforts and Texas Independence movements have emerged, such as the Republic of Texas organization and the Texas Nationalist Movement. These groups often cite grievances with the federal government and a desire to restore Texas's sovereignty. However, it's important to note that the U.S. Constitution does not specifically address the secession of states, and the Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot unilaterally secede except through revolution or the expressed consent of the other states.
Despite the legal and logistical challenges, the idea of Texas division continues to capture the imagination of some Texans and political enthusiasts, who view it as a way to assert the state's unique identity and influence in the country.
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Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution (2 October 1835 – 21 April 1836) was a rebellion of colonists from the United States and Tejanos (Hispanic Texans) against the centralist government of Mexico in the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas. The revolution was sparked by political and cultural clashes between the Mexican government and the increasing population of Anglo-American settlers in Texas. Mexico had become increasingly centralised, and the rights of its citizens, particularly regarding immigration from the United States, were curtailed. Mexico had officially abolished slavery in Texas in 1829, and the desire of Anglo-Texans to maintain the institution of slavery was a major cause of secession.
The revolution was part of a larger uprising, the Mexican Federalist War, which included other provinces opposed to the regime of President Antonio López de Santa Anna. However, the Mexican government believed that the United States had instigated the Texas insurrection with the goal of annexation. In response, the Mexican Congress passed the Tornel Decree, declaring that any foreigners fighting against Mexican troops would be deemed pirates. Despite this, the province of Texas succeeded in breaking away from Mexico, establishing the Republic of Texas.
The Texas Revolution was bookended by the Battles of Gonzales and San Jacinto, but armed conflict and political turmoil had occurred intermittently since at least 1826. The seeds of the conflict were planted during the last years of Spanish rule (1815–1821) when Anglo Americans drifted across the Neutral Ground and the eastern bank of the Red River into Spanish territory. As Mexican Texas became increasingly populated by settlers from the southern United States, many of whom brought their slaves, Mexican leaders became convinced that the expansionist United States government intended to acquire Texas by purchase or revolution. Suspicions were aroused by the Fredonian Rebellion in 1826, an early attempt at securing independence from Mexico by settlers in the area around Nacogdoches.
During the Texas Revolution, Native American groups populated and controlled portions of Texas, far outnumbering the Anglo settlers and Tejanos. Pressure from Anglo settlements during the 1820s and 1830s led to encroachments on tribal lands and frequent raids by the Comanche and other bands. Some Native American groups, such as the Cherokees, played both sides during the revolution, while others, such as the Tonkawas, allied themselves with the Texans.
The Texas Revolution resulted in Texas gaining independence from Mexico and the founding of the Republic of Texas (1836–1845). Interestingly, Texas has had the power to secede from the United States for over 150 years. Article IV, Section 3, of the U.S. Constitution states that Congress must approve any new states. However, Texas' claim to an exception comes from the 1845 joint congressional resolution admitting Texas into the Union, which mentions the possibility of new states being formed out of the territory of Texas.
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Mexican War of Independence
Texas has had the power to secede from the United States for over 150 years. This claim stems from the 1845 joint congressional resolution admitting Texas into the Union, which stated:
> New States of convenient size not exceeding four in number, in addition to said State of Texas and having sufficient population, may, hereafter by the consent of said State, be formed out of the territory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission under the provisions of the Federal Constitution.
Texas has come close to breaking away from the US on several occasions. During Reconstruction, Radical Republicans attempted to divide Texas at its constitutional convention of 1868-1869. In 1921, people in West Texas threatened to break up the state after Governor Pat M. Neff vetoed a bill to build a college in the region.
Now, onto the Mexican War of Independence. The Mexican War of Independence, which lasted from September 16, 1810, to September 27, 1821, was a series of revolts that grew out of increasing political turmoil in Spain and Mexico at the beginning of the nineteenth century. During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, Spain fought both as an ally and as an enemy of France, facing frequent interruptions in its commerce with its American colonies. Burdened with mounting war debts, Spanish rulers sought to increase colonial revenues to meet European obligations. A royal decree in 1804 ordered imperial officials to confiscate certain church assets and place them under the crown's control. This led to a financial crisis in Mexico, as credit dried up and the church called in loans and mortgages. The crisis was further aggravated by an economic downturn caused by disruptions in overseas trade and bad harvests.
On September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, launched the Mexican War of Independence with his "Grito de Dolores" or "Cry of Dolores." The revolutionary tract, named after the town of Dolores where it was publicly read by Hidalgo, called for an end to 300 years of Spanish rule in Mexico, redistribution of land, and racial equality. Thousands of Indians and mestizos joined Hidalgo's army, and they marched towards Mexico City. In January 1811, Hidalgo's army was defeated at Calderón, and he fled north but was captured and executed.
Following Hidalgo's death, Father José María Morelos took over as the leader of the insurgency. Morelos had a clearer vision of Mexico's future and superior organizational and political skills. He drafted a declaration of independence from Spain and a constitution. However, he was unable to obtain criollo backing and had to rely on mestizo support. Morelos was captured and executed in November 1815, and the struggle for independence broke down into a series of local revolts and guerrilla actions.
In 1820, liberals took power in Spain and promised reforms to appease Mexican revolutionaries. However, Mexican conservatives, including the leader of the Royalist forces, Agustín de Iturbide, called for independence to maintain their privileged position in Mexican society. Iturbide negotiated the Plan of Iguala with Vicente Guerrero, which proposed Mexico's independence as a constitutional monarchy, the preservation of the Catholic Church's status, and equality between Spaniards and criollos. On August 24, 1821, the Spanish Viceroy signed the Treaty of Córdoba, approving Mexico's independence. Iturbide was proclaimed emperor in 1822, but his reign was short-lived, and he was deposed by republican leaders in 1823, who established a republic with Guadalupe Victoria as its first president.
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Texians' political conventions
Texas has had the power to secede from the United States for over 150 years. This claim comes from the 1845 joint congressional resolution admitting Texas into the Union.
Texians can get involved in their party conventions to influence state politics beyond just casting votes. Each party has lower-level conventions that build up to their state conventions. The first of these is the precinct convention, followed by a county or senatorial convention, and finally, a state convention.
At each convention level, delegates are elected to move up the hierarchy and represent their party. Participants in party conventions set rules, elect leaders, and set the platform. Party leaders say that getting involved is easy. For example, to get involved in the Texas Democratic Party, all one has to do is vote, show up for the convention, and fill out some forms. Once at the county convention, attendees will debate resolutions on policies and issues. If any policies or rule changes are passed at the county level, they will be added to the agenda at the state convention.
The Texas Republican Party and Libertarian Party also have their own processes for getting involved in conventions. Members of all three parties can also volunteer for campaigns or join local party clubs.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution does not specifically address the secession of states, but the current Supreme Court precedent, in Texas v. White, holds that states cannot secede from the union by an act of the state.
Texas has a history of independence prior to joining the US. Texas seceded from Mexico in 1836 and was a sovereign state for nine years before being annexed by the US in 1845. Texas again came close to breaking up during Reconstruction in 1868-1869.
Texas secession movements, also known as the Texas Independence movement or Texit, refer to both the secession of Texas during the American Civil War and modern organizations that support efforts to secede from the US.
The Texas Admission Act of 1845 states that Texas would be admitted to the Union "on an equal footing with the original States in all respects whatever". This moots any supposed special right for Texas to divide itself without the future approval of Congress.
No state in the US has ever successfully broken away from the union. The Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot unilaterally secede except through revolution or the expressed consent of the other states.
