Texas Joins the Party: Counting Cousins (But Not the Enslaved Ones, Apparently)
Ah, Texas. The land of Stetsons, rodeos, and enough barbecue to feed a small army (or at least a very enthusiastic family reunion). But back in 1845, when Texas sashayed into the United States as the 28th state, things were a tad more…complicated. You see, those were the good ol' days (well, not exactly good for everyone) when there were two kinds of states: free states where folks weren't property, and slave states where, well, you get the picture.
The Plot Thickens (Like Gumbo, But More Tense)
So, the question on everyone's mind (or at least those not blinded by the promise of cheap land and cotton) was: Which side would Texas join? The answer, my friends, is what almost caused a national political hernia. The South, clutching their pearls tighter than a rodeo clown holding onto a bull, desperately wanted Texas as a fellow slave state. The North, meanwhile, was sweating more than a steer in a July heatwave, fearing the balance of power would tilt towards the pro-slavery crowd.
Counting Cousins: A Not-So-Happy Family Reunion
So, how many slave states were there when Texas decided to mosey on over? Twelve. Twelve whole states where people were considered property, not partners in this grand experiment called America. That's a hefty chunk of cousins who might not have gotten the whole "liberty and justice for all" memo.
Texas: The Tie-Breaker
Texas's annexation tipped the scales to thirteen slave states. But hey, at least it wasn't thirteen and a half, right? Unfortunately, this wasn't cause for celebration. The issue of slavery was a festering wound, and Texas joining the party just threw a whole lot of salt on it. The fight for equality wouldn't be settled with a friendly game of poker or a shared platter of ribs. Nope, it would take a whole lot more than that (ahem, Civil War).
Moral of the Story?
Well, besides the fact that counting cousins can get messy, this whole situation is a stark reminder of a dark chapter in American history. But hey, at least we can learn from it, right? Maybe next time there's a national debate, we can avoid the whole "people as property" thing. Just a suggestion.
