The Lone Star State's independent spirit was no match for the allure of American statehood! After a decade of flying solo as the Republic of Texas, the folks in Washington finally welcomed this feisty territory into the Union. Texas had been itching to join the club since 1836, but concerns about the balance of slave and free states in the Senate had kept it at arm's length. Now, with the Manifest Destiny spirit running high, Congress voted to bring Texas into the fold, setting the stage for a westward expansion that would change the face of America forever.