Land of the Large - Part III

Another reason to remember the Alamo

The Lone Star State is unique among the 50 states for its massive amounts of private property. That present-day situation had its origins more than 160 years ago when Texans won their independence from Mexico in 1836.

The newly minted sovereign country, the Texas Republic, was much larger than the current state’s boundaries, including parts of New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas and even Wyoming. When Texas agreed to join the United States it retained its claim to all that land, 352,030 square miles, under the 1845 Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States.

In 1850, the Lone Star state sold off 104,000 square miles to the federal government in return for about $12 million to pay off Texas’ debt. Under the terms of the deal, part of the Compromise of 1850, Texas retained ownership of all the remaining acreage not part of the transaction. (Interestingly, the state of Texas also kept its right to divide into up to four additional states—of convenient size—that are entitled to admission under the provisions of the Federal Constitution.)

Even with all the ample land available in Texas, an interesting dynamic has emerged during the state’s growth. Nearly all urban and commercial activity has coalesced around five key hubs: Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Woth and Dallas. These five cities and their surrounding areas now contain the vast majority of Texas population and economic productivity. More on that Wednesday. .:.

Imperial Texas?

Ever wonder what if? Historians call alternative scenarios "counterfactuals." At the StrangeMaps blog, there's a perfect example of a counterfactual for the Lone Star Republic in a map of the Texas Republic and land claims it had made far beyond its borders..:.

Elephant in the Room

Texans use the "S-word" and all "H" breaks loose

When Texan governor Rick Perry announced his strong support for HCR 50 (being discussed today by the Texas legislature), it looked like the first step toward secession. Certainly it was a savvy political move for Perry, who is seeking re-election in 2010. But there's more going on here than mere Machiavellian positioning.

A Yankee by upbringing, no I'm not from Dallas, I was first shocked when I heard this increasingly discussed by Texans over the last six to nine months. I've been taught to view "secession" as inextricably linked with racism and other ugly concepts, which likewise are wrapped up into a generally negative worldview of the South.

I can only imagine the shock experienced by scores of millions of Northerners when they heard Governor Perry say openly what his constituents have been discussing privately. But I've come to understand secession is a far more complex issue than it appears on the surface. Below is a list of links related to the secession hullabaloo that bring up important points of discussion:

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Texas secession blog posts

U.S. News & World Reports
Commentary by John Aloysius Farrell - You might not agree with his conclusions, but Farrell does bring up real challenges for an independent Texas at this moment in history.

Houston Chronicle
Democrats: Perry should disavow secession talk

The Dallas Morning News
Rick Perry strikes a chord with comments about Texas secession

Texas Secede!
Doesn't the Texas Constitution reserve the right of Texas to secede?

Russian Predicts New Texas Republic

Lone Star State, Single Again?

Former KGB strategy analyst getting his Warhollian face time by declaring U.S. will fall apart by 2010. His redrawn map of the U.S. was published by the Wall Street Journal, which although making for good copy, seems fanciful.

However, if for nothing but idle speculation, take a look at the map and see if you agree with the professor's analysis.

As if Things Weren't Bad Enough, Russian Professor Predicts End of U.S. - WSJ.com via kwout

First, it seems a bit fantastic that a Texas Republic would cover the entire South and Southeast. Ark-la-tex-ahoma seems more a plausible scenario, with bits and pieces of New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas thrown in to the west and north.

Other issues that come to mind:

• Ignoring the huge differences in culture between West Coast cities separated by mountain ranges such as Seattle versus Spokane.
• Utah attempted to become its own country before, it's hard to imagine it not trying to again rather than throw in with the Pacific coastline states.
• Chicago is a super regional powerhouse whose influence stretches to Minnesota's western and northern borders, down to Missouri's southern borders and around to Indiana.
• Does Canada have influence to exert?

In sum, the professor would have done just as well to simply copy the scenario laid out in the excellent, but now cancelled show, Jericho. .:.