The United States has been an expanding nation from its beginning, so much so that expansion can almost be considered as the chief characteristic of the American people. It is not strange, then, that the Texans, as soon as they had partially settled their difficulty with Mexico should take up the burden of extending their boundaries at the expense of their enemy. It is with this phase of Texas history that Dr. Binkley deals, and he has made a real contribution to the increasing literature of Southwestern history.
The first problem confronting the author is the problem of the boundary of the Republic of Texas. By a careful examination of sources he comes to the conclusion that there was little if any claim on the part of Texas to the Rio Grande as a boundary. Dismissing the claims of Texas to the Rio Grande, the whole question becomes one of expansion at the expense of an enemy nation. In this connection he cites letters showing plans to secure California for Texas, the efforts of Lamar as president to negotiate a treaty for a boundary extending to the Pacific, the expedition to Santa Fé—also under the administration of Lamar—and the race between Texas and the United States for an outlet on the Pacific.
The second problem is the period of transition from an independent republic to a state of the United States. Here the author takes up the relation of the United States to the boundary claims of the Republic of Texas. This aspect of the question serves more as a prelude or introduction to his third problem, which is the controversy between the United States and Texas as to boundary after annexation. The declaration of war by Mexico before the boundary of Texas had been definitely determined by Texas and the United States relieved Polk of the embarrassment of refusing to recognize the claims of Texas, when seemingly the war was fought in order to establish the Rio Grande as the western boundary of Texas. He could now claim that New Mexico and the parts of Mexico east of the Rio Grande were annexed as an indemnity against Mexico for her responsibility in starting the war. Texas, however, insisted on the validity of her claims until the final settlement in the Compromise of 1850.
While various aspects of the problems involved in this study have been treated elsewhere, it is a valuable contribution since it brings together all the elements in the expansion of Texas to fill in a certain definite boundary. It also presents in a connected way the consistency of Texas, in spite of frontier conditions and partisan politics, in planning to accomplish its ends.
The author has carefully examined the known sources and has thoroughly annotated his study, and the conclusions he has reached are entirely in accord with the authorities. A good classified bibliography, and an index, and several well executed maps are included. The reviewer noted no errors of fact nor any due to careless proofreading.
A. K. CHRISTIAN .
How to cite:
"The Expansionist Movement in Texas, 1836-1850.", Volume 029, Number 2, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 159 - 160. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v029/n2/review_15.html
[Accessed Thu Dec 4 12:29:34 CST 2008]
