For some years the settlers managed their own affairs in their own way.  But about 1830 Mexico began to rule them harshly, and when they were unable to stand it any longer they rebelled against her in 1833, and in 1836 set up the republic of Texas.  At first the Texans were defeated, and on two memorable occasions bands of them were massacred by the Mexican soldiers after they had surrendered.  Money and troops and aid of every sort, however, were sent from the United States, and at length Santa Anna, the President of Mexico, who commanded the Mexicans, was defeated and captured and his army destroyed by the Texans under Samuel Houston at the battle of San Jacinto (1836).  The victory was hailed with delight all over our country, and the independence of Texas was acknowledged by the United States (1837), England, France, and Belgium.

%357.  Texas applies for Admission to the Union.%—­As soon as independence was acknowledged, the people of Texas became very anxious to have their republic become a state in our Union; but slavery existed in Texas, and the men of the free states opposed her admission.

At last in 1844 Tyler secretly negotiated a treaty of annexation with the Texan authorities, and surprised the Senate by submitting it in April.[1]

[Footnote 1:  The Senate rejected the treaty]

The politicians were very indignant, for the national nominating conventions were to meet in May, and the President by his act had made the annexation of Texas a political issue.  The Democrats, however, took it up and in their platform declared for “the reannexation of Texas,” and nominated James K. Polk of Tennessee for President and George Mifflin Dallas of Pennsylvania for Vice President.

%358.  The Joint Occupation of Oregon is continued.%—­But there was another plank in the Democratic platform of 1844 which promised the acquisition of a great piece of free soil.  We left the question of the ownership of Oregon at the time when the United States and Great Britain (in 1818) agreed to hold the country in joint occupation for ten years; and when Russia, the United States, and Great Britain had (in 1824 and 1825) made 54 deg. 40’ the boundary line between the Oregon country and Alaska.  Before the ten-year period of joint occupation expired, Great Britain and the United States, in 1827, agreed to continue it indefinitely.  Either party could end the agreement after a year’s notice to the other.

%359.  Attempts to end Joint Occupation.%—­Before this time the men who came to the Oregon country were explorers, trappers, hunters, servants of the great fur companies, who built forts and trading stations, but did little for the settlement of the region.  After this time missionaries were sent to the Indians, and serious efforts were made to persuade men to emigrate to Oregon.  Some parties did go, and as a result of their work, and of the labors of the missionaries, Oregon, in the course of ten years, became better known to the people of the United States.