<P> When Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, the United States did not contest the new republic's claims to Texas, and both presidents John Quincy Adams (1825--1829) and Andrew Jackson (1829--1837) persistently sought, through official and unofficial channels, to procure all or portions of provincial Texas from the Mexican government, without success . </P> <P> Spanish and Indigenous immigrants, primarily from North Eastern provinces of New Spain began to settle Texas in the late 17th century . The Spanish constructed chains of missions and presidios in what is today Louisiana, East Texas and South Texas . The first chain of missions was designed for the Tejas Indians, near Los Adaes . Soon thereafter, the San Antonio Missions were founded along the San Antonio River . The City of San Antonio, then known as San Fernando de Bexar, was founded in 1719 . In the early 1760s, Jose de Escandon created five settlements along the Rio Grande River, including Laredo . </P> <P> Anglo - American immigrants, primarily from the Southern United States, began emigrating to Mexican Texas in the early 1820s at the invitation of the Texas faction of the Coahuila y Texas state government, which sought to populate the sparsely inhabited lands of its northern frontier for cotton production . Colonizing empresario Stephen F. Austin managed the regional affairs of the mostly American - born population--20% of them slaves--under the terms of the generous government land grants . Mexican authorities were initially content to govern the remote province through salutary neglect, "permitting slavery under the legal fiction of' permanent indentured servitude', similar to Mexico's peonage system . </P> <P> A general lawlessness prevailed in the vast Texas frontier, and Mexico's civic laws went largely unenforced among the Anglo - American settlers . In particular, the prohibitions against slavery and forced labor were ignored . The requirement that all settlers be Catholic or convert to Catholicism was also subverted . Mexican authorities, perceiving that they were losing control over Texas and alarmed by the unsuccessful Fredonian Rebellion of 1826, abandoned the policy of benign rule . New restrictions were imposed in 1829--1830, outlawing slavery throughout the nation and terminating further American immigration to Texas . Military occupation followed, sparking local uprisings and a civil war . Texas conventions in 1832 and 1833 submitted petitions for redress of grievances to overturn the restrictions, with limited success . In 1835, an army under Mexican President Santa Anna entered its territory of Texas and abolished self - government . Texans responded by declaring their independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836 . On April 20--21, rebel forces under Texas General Sam Houston defeated the Mexican army at the Battle of San Jacinto . In June 1836, Santa Anna agreed to Texas independence, but the Mexican government refused to honor Santa Anna's pledge . Texans, now de facto independent, recognized that their security and prosperity could never be achieved while Mexico denied the legitimacy of their revolution . </P>

After texas what is the next likely candidate for american annexation