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. He remembers when Texas was part of Mexico. It is now 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. The U.S. wanted to settle the 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 wanted to take over the area between the rivers. He sent about 3,500 U.S. soldiers to do it. In April, Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande and attacked those soldiers.
