Europe

Germany

When Texas won its independence in 1836, it was the subject of much publicity in Germany. Texian grant holders from the Fatherland wrote passionate, persuasive letters home that fired imaginations and inspired future immigration to Texas. Overpopulation in rural Germany, good word of mouth, and the opportunities inherent in a new country led thousands of Germans to Texas after the Battle of San Jacinto.

A commercial group sponsored by the German government called Adelsverein led an organized migration of thousands to Texas in the late 1840s. Their presence has been prominent since. A stable, solid population of artisans and landowners, German immigrants quickly established tightly knit towns in the central part of the state. Today, Germans rank third behind Hispanics as the largest national-origin group.

Spain

After the Battle of San Jacinto was fought, Spain's decline in North America was brutally apparent. It had lost virtually all of its holdings in Northern America to Mexico in 1821. After the Battle of San Jacinto, and the subsequent Texas annexation, the United States used Texas to support numerous bases of operation to ensure Spanish defeat in the Spanish-American War of 1898.

When the smoke cleared, the Spanish-American War would lead to the Treaty of Paris (and its subsequent ratification). According to the terms of the treaty, Spain would concede its closest former Spanish colonies: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. This would officially put an end to the Spanish empire in North America.

The United Kingdom

After San Jacinto, Great Britain immediately recognized Texas as a sovereign nation, wanting to keep pace with French business interests and ensure a steady supply of cotton should border disputes in the Northern United States get out of control. The War of 1812 still echoed in both Great Britain and the United States.

The British opposed Texas annexation, wanting to quell U.S. expansion to the West. They proposed that the Mexican government should recognize Texas on the condition that Texas would not accept annexation. They even offered to defend Texas with force! In all, the British worked hard to facilitate peace (and British influence) in the region.

But their efforts only rushed annexation in Washington D.C., as President Polk moved to block future British power in the region. Its martial influence in Texas ultimately evaporating after 1845, England successfully moved its Texas initiative to the realm of commerce--where it gained permanent power. Anglo-Texas ties remain strong, in part due to mutual interests in the energy industry.

France

When Texas won independence, France recognized its sovereignty at once. In 1838, the French had grown tired of Mexico refusing to repay several debts owed to French citizens living in Mexico. In one instance, Mexican soldiers looted a French bakery. The shop's owner was promised reimbursement, but the bill was never paid.

But as with all bills, the Mexican army's eventually came due. French warships landed in Veracruz, spraying the city with gunfire and closing almost every Mexican port. No ships came or went; Mexico was completely cut off. This was known as the Pastry War. In the conflict, General Santa Anna lost a leg from cannon fire and once again rose to fame.

French colonization in Texas had varying degrees of success. Frenchman Henri Castro brought around 2,000 settlers to Texas in the mid 1840s, and by the Civil War their numbers had swelled. The United States' annexation of Texas ended French colonial dreams in the region, but many direct French descendents still live in the Lone Star State.