Objectives
• Understand the territorial status of Texas in 1830, 1840, and 1846.
• Interpret a historical timeline.
• Develop a general statement of Mexican and American views of Texas.

Materials
• Copies of Map 2A, Map 2B, and Map 2C
• Copies of the Timeline
• Paper
• Pens or pencils

Subjects
• U.S. history, geography, language arts

1. Tell your students about the tensions over Texas that led to war in 1846. Reinforce that Mexico ceded what is now California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and portions of Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Kansas to the United States at the end of the war in 1848. Stress that during the 1840s American and Mexican leaders viewed the territorial status of Texas very differently and that both sides referred to events in the (then) recent past to justify their views.

2. Divide your class into two groups of equal size. In this lesson they'll be interpreting materials that will help them understand why the governments of Mexico and the United States disagreed over Texas. Give each group copies of Map 2A, Map 2B, and Map 2C. Assign one group to evaluate the materials from the perspective of Mexico and the other group to evaluate the materials from the perspective of the United States. Emphasize that students should think of themselves as leaders of their respective nations who were intent on keeping or acquiring territory they believed was rightfully theirs.

3. Ask students to carefully observe Map 2A, Map 2B, and Map 2C. Which nations held Texas in 1830, 1840, and 1846? In 1830 Mexico held nearly all of Texas, in 1840 an independent Republic of Texas occupied a large portion of Texas with disputed territory around its frontiers, and in 1846 Texas was a state within the United States with the same disputed territory around its frontiers.

4. Review the Timeline with your students. Be sure to clarify that Texas became independent after American settlers in the region rebelled against Mexican rule and that the boundaries of Texas were still disputed at the start of the war in 1846.

After you have reviewed the timeline, ask the group representing the Mexican view to explain what Mexican leaders thought about the events. You may need to provide extra coaching questions, such as "Did Mexico recognize Texas as an independent nation?" or "Did all American settlers in Texas obey Mexican laws?" Answers may vary, but students should conclude that Mexican leaders never recognized Texas independence and thus believed Texas was still part of Mexico. Some students might also note that in 1846 American troops were stationed in territory that Mexicans would have regarded as part of their country.

Ask the group representing the American view to explain what American leaders thought about the events. You may need to provide extra coaching questions, such as "Did the United States recognize Texas as an independent nation?" or "Did Texas agree to become a part of the United States?" Answers may vary, but students should conclude that American leaders believed that Texas was an independent nation that had agreed to join the United States, and therefore Mexico had no claim to the area. Some students might also note that in 1846 American troops were stationed in territory that Americans would have regarded as part of the United States.