Texas Surveyors Practice Exam

What was a reason for U.S. refusal to annex Texas?

1. The fear of increased debt from Texas

2. The balance of power between slave and free states

3. The geographic size of Texas

4. The potential for Native American uprisings

The correct answer is: The balance of power between slave and free states

The reason for the U.S. refusal to annex Texas primarily revolves around the delicate balance of power between slave and free states. During the period leading up to the annexation, there was significant concern among both pro-slavery and abolitionist factions regarding how the admission of Texas, which would likely be a slave state, would upset the already tense equilibrium in Congress. At that time, the U.S. was attempting to maintain an equal number of slave and free states to avoid political conflict. This concern about the balance of power was particularly acute because it could shift the political landscape, impacting legislation related to slavery and other significant issues. The fear was that if Texas was admitted, it would lead to an expansion of slave territory, which would favor Southern interests over those of the Northern states. Thus, this political dynamic played a crucial role in the U.S. government's hesitance to annex Texas despite other factors being at play.