| Much of the process of westward expansion took place despite considerable resistance. Mexico, which lost large tracts of land to the U.S., resisted almost every move. For example, when the Republic of Texas won its independence from Mexico, it sought statehood almost immediately. That came about a decade later when Texas Annexation took place (1845). This caused the escalation of conflict not only with Mexico, but within the United States, as anti-slavery forces saw a threat in the addition of Texas as another slave state. | |