Several problems plagued the young Republic of Texas that caused it to fail and seek annexation by any foreign power that would take it. First off, Texas claimed the Rio Grande as it's southern and western border. In Mexico, this was laughable. Mexico viewed the Texas border at the Nueces River, but most of the time just dismissed Texas as a State in rebellion that they had yet to reconquer. Mexican armies marched in and out of Texas as they pleased, sometimes as far inland as San Antonio. The border was never truly recognized until the United States won Mexican-American War in the OTL. Another border that was not respected by either party was the border of between Texas and Comancheria. As settlers pushed farther inland from the coast, Comanche war parties continually raided the Texas frontier settlements, murdering, kidnapping and stealing from settlers. In 1840, the largest raid in US history took place after a failed peace treaty negotiation, called the Council House Fight, resulted in the murder of 30 Comanche Chiefs. Soon after, in an act of vengeance for this atrocity, a war party of nearly 1000 Comanche penetrated from the hill county west of Austin all the way to the Gulf Coast near Victoria. Local militiamen called "Texas Rangers" were organized in to frontier companies of 30 to 300 men commanded by an elected Captain or Colonel to protect against any threat to the people of Texas. The Rangers manned makeshift forts scattered across the 400-mile wide frontier, when called for. While very effective in eliminating threats, even when outnumbered, the militia was a drain on the local economy. Rangers often bartered protection for food and shelter and ran up massive debts for the Republic. If the supplies ran out, the Rangers left and the Indians returned. This brings us to the second problem, lack of common currency and massive debt. The first currency of the republic was called, "Star Money" this was not a face value currency, but rather interest-bearing notes (similar to a treasury note) that circulated by being endorsed over to the next payee. Very few made it into the hands of the public. Star Money lasted until Houston left office in 1838. In 1839, President Lamar, in an attempt to legitimize his presidency, replaced Houston's nearly worthless Star Money, with the equally worthless Texas Dollar or "Redbacks". More than 2 million were printed causing massive inflation dropping their value from 37 cents on the dollar to pocket lent. In fact, by the time Lamar left office in 1842 the government would not accept taxes paid with Redbacks. In 1842, Redbacks were replaced by a treasury note called an Exchequer Bills, which again failed to circulate among Texas citizens. By the time Texas joined the US it was approximately 10 million in Debt. By 1846 Texas had defaulted on all of its loans from private banks in the United States, and its only asset, massive quantities of land it can't legitimately claim is worth two cents an acre. So in other words, Texas had it's chance with loans. It failed. It has no money. It has no credit. It has no advantages or resources for foreign investors. Read my lips no new Loans from anyone.
TL;DR Texas has Indian troubles, was never Recognized by Mexico, and by the time it was annexed, it was 10 million in the hole with no credit.
1840
^Those are some serious problems, but fear not there is a solution to the south, a filibuster scheme called the Republic of the Rio Grande! As the name suggest the Republic of the Rio Grande encompassed the Rio Grande watershed, claiming land in both Texas and Mexico. In early April of 1840, after being horribly defeated during the battle of Morelos, Coahuila against Mexican general Mariano Arista, General Antonio Canales, of the RRG, went Austin to ask President Lamar for help and to gather more supports for his army while the government retreated to Victoria, TX. He wanted Lamar to recognize the RRG and send troops to help in their fight for independence. Lamar sees his chance to secure the claim to Texas southern border and makes a counter offer.[3] If Canales will fortify the Rio Grande and hold off Mexican invasion, he will send an expedition to secure the Rio Grande all the way to Santa Fe. Canales agrees and tours through Texas to round up more troops. In September, Canales returns to San Patricio with 400 new Tejanos recruits. Waiting for him is a bearer of bad news Col. Samuel Jordan and 200 other Texas Rangers. Jordan informs Canales that there was a massive Comanche raid on Victoria in August. The RRG’s government officials were massacred and he is now the head of state of the RRG. Canales is shocked and saddened but undeterred and he vows to finish what he had promised Lamar even though the RRG was no more. Canales crosses the Rio Grande with a force of over 1000 men. They win several battles against local garrisons on the Rio Grande and capture four cannons from the Mexican General Pavón in a rout. Canales also repairs, stocks, and fortifies four abandoned Spanish haciendas on the Texas side of the Rio Grande. By October, The last Mexican strong hold left on the lower Rio Grande is the City of Matamoros. Canales and Jordan are at a loss at how to capture the city but on October 6, they get their chance. A massive hurricane strikes the Rio Grande valley devastating many coastal towns including Matamoros. In a move of strategic genius, Jordan and Canales surround and besiege the suffering city. General Canales asks the city to surrender and let them help in repair of the city but General Canlizo rejects the offer. However, this defiance would not last for long. In less than two weeks, the moral of the city deteriorated and discipline broke down inside the Matamoros garrison. Facing starvation and a coup General Canalizo had no choice but to surrender Matamoros to the Texans. Texas now controls everything north of the Rio Grande and has a formidable system of forts on the major roads leading in to Texas opposite of the border cities of Meir, Camargo, Reynosa and Matamoros.
1841
- Feb 24 - a Force of ~3,000 (General Canales of the Republic of the Rio Grande and his ~1000 Angry Tejanos and Rancheros, 650 Veteran Texas rangers, 1000 Civilians (The Families of the Rangers as well as Cartographers, Merchants and Preachers, 100 Texan Marines, veterans From the Tabasco Campaign and armed with Colt Revolving Pistols and Rifles, 250 Texas Regulars Infantry under Hugh McCleod a West Point Grad, 5 Mountain Howitzers manned by 50 Texan Regular Infantry) Texans leave San Patricio to begin the Rio Grande Expedition
- May 12 Manual Armijo the governor of Nuevo Mexico attempts to Flee and is captured by Texian Scouts and is brought back to Santa Fe
- May 28 - Manual Armijo signs a treaty recognizing that the portion of the former State of Nuevo Mexico East of the Rio Grande River is under Direct and Sovereign control of the Republic of Texas. approx. 1,800 Expedition Members left.
- June 23 – Friendly Indian guides lead the Expedition (Mentioned above) North from Santa Fe to the source of the Rio Grande and Arkansas River where Texans begin to encounter and collect a large amount of placer Gold, Silver and Lead approx. 1,500 Expedition Members left (POD)
- July 22 - Texians construct a fort at their gold mining camp on Cripple Creek in the shadow of Pikes Peak.
- Oct 29 - The Expedition reaches Austin with X amount of Gold and Silver where they are hailed as heroes. approx. 1,000 Expedition Members left
1842
- The Pike’s Peak Gold Rush starts (17 years earlier than OTL)
- After word of impending Mexican invasion, the Somerville expedition (900 strong) is launched to reinforce the forts along the Rio Grande
- Every attempt to invade Texas is repelled by Texans stationed at the border, collectively 5,500 Mexicans are repulsed by little over 1,500 Texans (not all at once though! I can elaborate if need be)
- Texas adopts a Gold and Silver Purchase Act, By the end of 1842, the currency system of the Republic of Texas makes its first increase in value since the Republics founding (POD)
How does these POD's sound? Plausible I hope! Give my Your Thoughts and Criticisms. Also, "Texas can never be independent" Isn't a helpful comment.