DBWI: Texas a US state

texas gained independence in 1836

OOC: I was aware, but to change the fabric of Texas from a nation in enormous debt incapable of independence to an independent nation that wasn't filled with Americans eager to be annexed would probably require a POD earlier then 1836, possibly involving a large French or Spanish colonial presence, to match the American settlers and create a unique Texian identity separate from Pioneer America.
 
You must be new here, OP. This is a stupid (and OVER-DONE) as a successful Lion de Mer or a Schultz-led Federation. Texas is a distinct cultural, economic, linguistic, symbiotic unit, and absorption (involuntary absorption - the idea that Texians wanted to join the United States is a latter-day fable; accounts from the time will show that was a lunatic pipedream by illegitimate American bureaucrats who had forced their way into Texas's early government, any referendum would have FAILED) into the United States would have DESTROYED the United States. Texas is a fundamentally independent symbiote and its inclusion would have only led to a successful southron revolution (Texas has nearly fought the US to a standstill, if it had attacked allied with other American states the Union would have been DESTROYED) and renewed independence.

This belongs in ASB. Mods?

Well in the Second Texas-American War, Jonesboro and Fort Smith were in American hands by 1895 but the Native American nations sided with the Texans (who left them alone). Their light cavalry is simply incredible, but when they herd buffalo en masse and guarded the cattle on runs from Austin to Branson and Dodge City then there is a reason. American forces were still gaining but also worried about international intervention, no one wants to see Washington get any more powerful after their land grabs in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in the latter 19th century. Granted their annexation of British Columbia as Greater Oregon was a feat in and of itself but still. Heck the only reason they avoided war via a $200 million payment was that the UK was on the verge of war with France over Fashoda! One week either way would have seen the US mauled by international interests.

The First World War was good for Texas as they were a major supplier for the UK and France, and when the US made rattlings about another invasion the Zimmerman Paper published a week later showed a "Greater Texas" border that they would support in case of conflict. Restraint may be the only reason Utah, Colorado, southern Kansas, and southern California/Nevada still answer to the US. Ever since they lost the Civil War in 1864 the neo-Confederates seem more intent to join Texas than break away again.
 
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