Why is it that Texas is allowed to unilaterally declare independence, while Puerto Rico is not allowed to do so?

collect

Texas can't anymore -- but when it originally joined the US by treaty it was given the right to subdivide into more than one state. The Civil War apparently ended any such treaty rights. Apr 19 07, 11:41 AM

lanfranco

Actually, Texas was never allowed to declare independence under the terms of statehood. I suppose, however, that if all the Texans were to decide that they wanted to secede, the U.S. government couldn't do much about it unless willing to use armed force. I suspect that wouldn't play well. The Puerto Ricans are divided on the subject of their status, but the majority seem to prefer to remain a commonwealth. They want neither statehood nor independence, though I understand that there are vocal minorities in both of those camps. On the claim that Texas could declare independence, scroll down to "Statehood": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Texas Apr 19 07, 12:37 PM