"The Pragmatism Involved in the Annexation of Texas" by Dorothy L. Selner
 

Date of Award

5-1959

Degree Type

Master's Essay - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

Abstract

The southwestern boundary of the United States was settled only after considerable strife of both national and international scope. The annexation of Texas gave rise to conditions which prompted and made possible the eventual settlement of that boundary and thus it may be said that Texan annexation was a most important and crucial affair. It resulted in the acquisition of an area greater than England and France combined, and paved the way for the taking of San Francisco and the far Southwest. Because of it the United States engaged in its most brilliant foreign war to that time. The annexation of Texas crushed the opportunity for certain European powers to interfere in the affairs of this continent and to thwart the development of this country. And too, it afforded a battleground upon which the diplomats of the United States, England, Mexico, Texas and to a lesser degree, France, employed all their skills in an effort to succeed. It is not surprising then, that such a critical episode, with the interests of many countries at stake, would demonstrate the principle of pragmatism. The primary concern here, then, is not to follow the proceedings leading to the eventual accomplishment of the annexation of Texas, alone, but rather to consider the roles of those countries most intimately involved in the struggle to determine the status of Texas, which did in fact end in the adoption of Texas by the United States.

Comments

An essay submitted to the Faculty of the Department of History, Marquette University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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