<P> The Republic of Texas declared independence from the Republic of Mexico on March 2 , 1836 . At the time the vast majority of the Texian population favored the annexation of the Republic by the United States . The leadership of both major U.S. political parties , the Democrats and the Whigs , opposed the introduction of Texas , a vast slave - holding region , into the volatile political climate of the pro - and anti-slavery sectional controversies in Congress . Moreover , they wished to avoid a war with Mexico , whose government refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of its rebellious northern province . With Texas 's economic fortunes declining by the early 1840s , the President of the Texas Republic , Sam Houston , arranged talks with Mexico to explore the possibility of securing official recognition of independence , with Great Britain mediating . </P>
<P> The Republic of Texas declared independence from the Republic of Mexico on March 2 , 1836 . At the time the vast majority of the Texian population favored the annexation of the Republic by the United States . The leadership of both major U.S. political parties , the Democrats and the Whigs , opposed the introduction of Texas , a vast slave - holding region , into the volatile political climate of the pro - and anti-slavery sectional controversies in Congress . Moreover , they wished to avoid a war with Mexico , whose government refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of its rebellious northern province . With Texas 's economic fortunes declining by the early 1840s , the President of the Texas Republic , Sam Houston , arranged talks with Mexico to explore the possibility of securing official recognition of independence , with Great Britain mediating . </P>
the major factor that delayed texas statehood until 1845 was
the major factor that delayed texas statehood until 1845 was
Democrats and the Whigs , opposed
Democrats and the Whigs , opposed