Lamars Presidency Ch 12 Section 2 Mirabeau Lamar

Lamar’s Presidency Ch. 12 Section 2

Mirabeau Lamar Becomes President Texans elected Lamar president when Houston’s term ended in 1838. Improving education was one of Lamar’s many goals.

Mirabeau Lamar Becomes President Congress set aside nearly 18, 000 acres of land in each county to support public schools. Lamar also opposed annexation. He wanted Texas to be a powerful nation, reaching the Pacific Ocean

The Capital Is Moved to Austin A. In 1839 Congress approved Waterloo on the Colorado as the site of a permanent capital. B. The new capital was named Austin, in honor of Stephen F. Austin.

Lamar’s Policy toward Native Americans Lamar believed Cherokees had no fair claim to Texas lands they occupied. In 1839 he ordered Cherokees removed from Texas. Surviving Cherokees were forced from their land moved across the. Red River out of Texas.

Raids Lead to Council House Fight After raiding several settlements, the Comanches agreed to meet with Texas authorities. The Comanches promised to bring their Anglo captives, but produced only one girl, Matilda Lockhart. The angered Texans tried to take the Comanches hostage, but they resisted.

Raids Lead to Council House Fight In what was called the Council House Fight, 7 Texans and 35 Comanches died. The Council House Fight has been called “the greatest blunder in the history of Texan-Native American relations. ”

Texas Rebuilds Its Navy Lamar ordered a newly restored navy into Mexican waters. He thought Mexico would recognize Texas in exchange for the promise that the navy would not invade Mexico. Sam Houston regained the presidency in 1841 and recalled the navy.

The Santa Fe Expedition Texans wanted control of Santa Fe, a trading center on the upper Rio Grande in present-day New Mexico. In 1841 Lamar sent an expedition to Santa Fe to control the region and open up trade.

The Santa Fe Expedition The Santa Fe expedition was plagued by misfortune and hardship; heat, shortages of water and food, and attacks by Native Americans led to suffering. The expedition was confronted by a Mexican army that forced the Texans to march 1, 000 miles to Mexico City.

Financial Difficulties Lamar’s maintenance of the navy and campaigns were expensive. Texas was deeply in debt when Lamar left office.