We The People: This Day in History, December 29

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - On December 29, 1845, Texas became the 28th state to join the United States, nine years after it won its independence from Mexico.

However, the U.S. didn’t want to incorporate Texas because of its support for slavery.

Mexico warned the U.S. that any attempt at annexation would lead to war.

But after the election of President James K. Polk, Texas entered the union as a slave state.

Four months later, Mexican cavalry killed a dozen U.S. soldiers between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River, which began the Mexican-American War.

Copyright 2025 KWTX. All rights reserved.