<P> In the years following independence, the migration of white settlers and importation of black slave labor into the vast republic was deterred by Texas's unresolved international status and the threat of renewed warfare with Mexico . American citizens who considered migrating to the new republic perceived that "life and property were safer within the United States" than in an independent Texas . The situation led to labor shortages, reduced tax revenue, large national debts and a diminished Texas militia . </P> <P> The Anglo - American immigrants residing in newly - independent Texas overwhelmingly desired immediate annexation by the United States . But, despite his strong support for Texas independence from Mexico, then - President Andrew Jackson delayed recognizing the new republic until the last day of his presidency to avoid raising the issue during the 1836 general election . Jackson's political caution was informed by northern concerns that Texas could potentially form several new slave states and undermine the North - South balance in Congress . </P> <P> Jackson's successor, President Martin Van Buren, viewed Texas annexation as an immense political liability that would empower the anti-slavery northern Whig opposition--especially if annexation provoked a war with Mexico . Presented with a formal annexation proposal from Texas minister Memucan Hunt, Jr. in August 1837, Van Buren summarily rejected it . Annexation resolutions presented separately in each house of Congress were either soundly defeated or tabled through filibuster . After the election of 1838, new Texas president Mirabeau B. Lamar withdrew his republic's offer of annexation due to these failures . Texans were at an annexation impasse when John Tyler entered the White House in 1841 . </P> <P> William Henry Harrison, Whig Party presidential nominee, defeated US President Martin Van Buren in the 1840 general election . Upon Harrison's death shortly after his inauguration, Vice-President John Tyler assumed the presidency . President Tyler was expelled from the Whig party in 1841 for repeatedly vetoing their domestic finance legislation . Tyler, isolated and outside the two - party mainstream, turned to foreign affairs to salvage his presidency, aligning himself with a southern states' rights faction that shared his fervent slavery expansionist views . </P>

How did texas eventually become the 28th state in the union