In high school history class, we learned about The Alamo and the subsequent Texan Independence. However, there's a gap between the time Texas became a Republic, and its eventual inclusion into the United States. Can someone fill me in on the gap? How did the Republic of Texas do militarily, economically, and politically? I phrased my title the way I did because a wikipedia search told me that Texas was not doing well during the years when it was trying to gain American statehood.
Let's start from the beginning.
Sam Houston defeats Santa Anna at the battle of San Jacinto. In condition to Santa Anna's surrender, he and Mexico must recognize Texas independence.
With independence declared, Sam Houston was elected president of the republic. Houston had a two step plan, 1) recognition of the Republic of Texas, 2) Annexation into the United States. Simple enough since France shortly recognized Texas as an independent nation shortly after. However, Andrew Jackson was not interested in taking Texas as a state due to the debt Texas has accrued and the problem with the divide between slave and free states (admitting Texas would make the United States have more slave states than free). In addition, there was a major flaw in the Texas Constitution, which was that a president could only serve one 4-year term at a time (though Presidents could serve multiple terms just not consecutively). After Houston's presidency ended, his main political opponent Mirabeau Lamar ran for president and was elected. Lamar was the political opposite of Houston. Lamar wanted Texas Independence, including the eradication of all Native Americans in Texas lands (Houston was very close with the local tribes). Lamar fought the Comanches on several occasions often taking heavy losses and spiraling the Texas economy with his war efforts. Not to mention that Mexico had yet to recognize Texas independence, partially due to the sudden surrender of Santa Anna and a border dispute between the Rio Grande and the Neuces Rivers. Mexico attacked and occupied San Antonio for a short time before retreating.
Sam Houston eventually was re-elected after Lamar's presidency. He was able to convince James K Polk to accept Texas into the United States.
I would go into more detail but I don't have my book on me, I can add more detail/sources later if you want more details.