Texas has been its own country for as long as you can remember. But then again, you’re only ten years old.
Your big brother is 16, and he remembers when Texas was part of Mexico. Now, at the end of 1845, Texas has become the newest member of the United States. “Of course,” says your brother, who likes explaining things, “Mexico doesn’t approve of this at all.” He says the two countries don’t even agree about the Texas border. The United States says the border is a big river called the Rio Grande. But Mexico says the border is further north, at the Nueces River.
In January 1846, the U.S. wanted to meet with Mexico to settle their argument about the Texas border. The United States planned to offer up to $30 million for some of Mexico’s land. But Mexico refused to talk about it. President James K. Polk sent about 3,500 U.S. soldiers to take over the area between the rivers. In April, Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande and attacked those soldiers.
