On August 28, 1845, the historic Convention of 1845, called by President Anson Jones to consider the United States Congress’s joint resolution proposing Texas annexation, adjourned. Delegates from across the Republic of Texas gathered in Austin on July 4, 1845 to begin deliberations. Thomas Jefferson Rusk was elected president of this momentous assembly, with James H. Raymond serving as secretary. In a decisive vote of fifty-five to one, the delegates approved the offer of annexation, with only Richard Bache of Galveston dissenting. This overwhelming support marked the beginning of Texas’s transformation from an independent republic to the 28th state of the United States.
The convention was considered “the most able body of its kind ever to meet in Texas,” featuring distinguished political leaders with extensive experience. Among the notable delegates were Thomas J. Rusk, James Pinckney Henderson, Isaac Van Zandt, Hardin R. Runnels, Abner S. Lipscomb, Nicholas H. Darnell, R.E.B. Baylor, and José Antonio Navarro. The geographic diversity of the delegates reflected Texas’s multicultural heritage, with eighteen originally from Tennessee, eight from Virginia, seven from Georgia, six from Kentucky, and five from North Carolina.
Following their approval of annexation, the convention delegates turned their attention to crafting the Constitution of 1845 for the new state. Rusk appointed several specialized committees to examine different aspects of governance, including legislative, executive, judicial, and general provisions, as well as a committee to establish convention rules. The convention concluded its historic work on August 28, 1845, having successfully laid the foundation for Texas’s entry into the United States and its transition from republic to statehood.
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Learn More:
Texas State Historical Association – Convention of 1845
“Texas Annexation Lesson” (Video)
Texas State Library and Archives – Documents of Texas History