Adding the Lone Star - (Landmark Presidential Decisions) by Jordan T Cash

About the Book

"The annexation of Texas was one of the most momentous actions of the United States government in the antebellum period. Apart from adding what, at that time, was the largest state in the Union by area, it opened up further avenues for Americans' westward expansion, exacerbated tensions with Mexico resulting in the Mexican-American War, and accelerated the regional conflict over slavery. While the familiar concept of "Manifest Destiny" gives the impression that Texas joining the United States was inevitable, the history is much more complicated. This book will explore how the decisions and actions of a variety of political actors in the United States, Texas, Mexico, and Great Britain contributed to Texas' addition to the Union. Of these political actors, the primary focus will be on the presidents of the United States and Texas, John Tyler and Sam Houston, respectively. Examining the annexation of Texas as a two-president decision offers a fresh perspective on this crucial moment in US history. Tyler's ability to push forward his agenda on Texas despite the lack of institutional support shows the strength of premodern executive authority. Houston's actions give us an alternative view of executive authority, since the Texian Republic, including the powers bestowed on the presidency, was structured on the model of its American counterpart. Tyler viewed the decision as beneficial for the United States as a whole, while Houston viewed it as beneficial for Texas-and proponents of slavery, including Tyler's Secretary of State John C. Calhoun, viewed it as a victory for the South and the expansion of slavery."--

Book Synopsis

The annexation of Texas was one of the most momentous actions the United States government took in the antebellum period. Apart from adding what was the largest state in the Union at that time, it expedited further avenues for westward expansion, exacerbated tensions with Mexico resulting in the Mexican-American War, and accelerated the sectional conflict over slavery.

While the familiar concept of Manifest Destiny gives the impression that Texas joining the United States was inevitable, the history is much more complicated. In Adding the Lone Star, Jordan Cash explores how the decisions and actions of a cast of political actors in the United States, Texas, Mexico, and Great Britain contributed to the addition of Texas to the Union.

Cash focuses on the annexation of Texas as a two-president decision while examining the administrations of American President John Tyler and Texian President Sam Houston, providing a comparative case study of the American and Texian presidencies to better comprehend how executive authority may be used in a system of separation of powers.

Tyler's ability to push his agenda on Texas despite the lack of institutional support shows the strength of premodern presidential power. Houston's actions give an alternative view of executive authority, since the Texian Republic, including the powers bestowed on the presidency, was structured on the model of its American counterpart. Tyler viewed the decision to annex Texas as beneficial for the United States as a whole while Houston considered it to be beneficial for Texas and proponents of slavery; Tyler's secretary of state, John C. Calhoun, saw the decision as a victory for the South and the expansion of slavery.

The examination of how these two presidents worked on the same issue at the same time but in largely different constitutional, institutional, political, and geographical contexts provides not only a better understanding of the history and politics of annexation but also an investigation of the nuances of presidential power in a constitutional system of checks and balances and separation of powers.

Review Quotes

"Adding the Lone Star is an impeccably researched and marvelously readable account of the US annexation of Texas, told from the perspectives of Texas president Sam Houston and US president John Tyler. Focusing in a systematic fashion on these two presidents and the decisions they made, Jordan Cash not only contributes to a better understanding of Texas annexation but also generates insights regarding executive power."--John J. Dinan, author of The American State Constitutional Tradition

"In Adding the Lone Star, Jordan Cash presents a compelling and original way to assess the annexation of Texas. Through an examination of the two presidents at the heart of the story--John Tyler of the United States and Sam Houston of the Republic of Texas--Cash's comparative approach allows him to offer fresh insights about executive authority, presidential behavior, and geopolitics, all while demonstrating the importance of annexation to the sectional crisis in the United States that ultimately led to the Civil War."--Christopher J. Leahy, author of President without a Party: The Life of John Tyler