Presidents of Texas Sam Houston n Mirabeau Lamar

Presidents of Texas Sam Houston n Mirabeau Lamar n Sam Houston * n Anson Jones n n * Under the Constitution of 1836, a person could not be elected president for consecutive terms.

Sam Houston 1 st President of Republic

Became the 1 st president on October 22, 1836

Capital Columbia was too small n Houston (new city being formed) was chosen to be capital for 3 years n Houston had muddy streets, crudely built homes and swarms of mosquitoes n

Economic Policies

DEBT: We owe & we have no $ At the end of term, the national debt was $2 million n Believed in SMALL government n Tried to save rather than spend n

Land Policy

Rich in LAND n Paid veterans with land n Cheap land for settlers n

American Indian Policy

CONFLICT More Anglo settlers in Central Texas led to more raids n President Houston called out the Texas Rangers to patrol n Houston worked on improving relations between the Cherokees and Texas government. n

Army Unrest

Houston faced serious problems with the military. n The army was restless and wanted to invade Mexico. n Houston did not want to go to war with Mexico again. He knew it would be costly and they could lose! n He wanted peace but would fight if needed. n President Houston sent all but 600 soldiers home on leave and never recalled them. n

Annexation n Houston was FOR annexation, which meant he supported joining US

Texas gets a new President n n Houston could not be reelected as President after he served two years, because the Constitution of 1836 forbid him from doing so Constitution of 1836 Texans elected Mirabeau B. Lamar President Mirabeau B. Lamar

Mirabeau Lamar President 1839 -1841

Public Education Father of Texas Education n Stressed the need for public education system n Congress granted each county 17, 712 acres of land to support public schools n Set aside 231, 400 acres for future establishment of public universities n

New Capital Lamar thought Houston was too far east n He wanted the capital to be moved west n In 1839 he chose Waterloo and renamed it Austin n Who was it named for? n Many were not happy- they said Austin was isolated, too far west and in Comanche territory n

Other Policies

Lamar Spent $2. 5 million fighting the Indian wars in 3 years n Spent millions on the Texas Navy n No one would lend Lamar’s government money n By the end of his term, paper dollar was only worth 15 cents n Texas debt $7 million dollars n

Indian Policy The white man and the red man cannot dwell in harmony together. Nature forbids it…. Mirabeau B. Lamar, 1839

Lamar Reversed Houston’s policies on Cherokees n He ordered Cherokee removal from Texas n The Texas Army attacked the Cherokees on July 16, 1839 n n n Nearly 100 Cherokees were killed including Chief Bowles The remaining Cherokees were forced across the Red River

Chief Bowles 1756 -1839 n Born in North Carolina and moved to Texas in 1819 n Cherokee leader n Friend of Sam Houston n

Council House Fight

Comanche Trouble The Comanche and Texans agreed to meet in San Antonio in 1840 to make a peace treaty. n The Comanches agreed to bring their Anglo captives but only brought Matilda Lockhart. n n Matilda was covered in bruises, sores

n Matilda told the Texans that the Comanche were holding 13 others. n Texans tried to take the Comanches hostage but they fought back. 7 Texans and 35 Comanches were killed n The Comanches killed their hostages and vowed revenge. n They refused any more treaties with Texas or to even talk to Texans. n “The greatest blunder in the history of Texas - Native American relations. ” n

Back to Lamar Cheap land for settlers (the only thing he and Houston agreed on!) n Against annexation n For WAR w/ Mexico n

Output (rough draft) Houston and Lamar are running against each other for President of Texas. n Choose one of the candidates and create a campaign poster! n n 2 promises (from the issues) 2 accomplishments (from before they became president or during their 1 st term) Name, slogan, graphics and color

Foreign Recognition Why do we need it? Why can/can’t we get it? What can we do to get it?

Texas needed to be recognized as an independent nation. n WHY? n

United States Texas wanted US to recognize it so they would be annexed by the US. They also wanted protection, trade and financial help from the US. n The U. S. was worried about angering Mexico. n

President Andrew Jackson and the U. S. formally recognized Texas on March 3, 1837.

Mexico Texas wanted Mexico to recognize it as an independent country so Mexico would not invade or harass Texas. Santa Anna had agreed to help win Texas’ recognition after release but did not. n Mexico refused to recognize Texas and continued to claim it as Mexico. n

Mexico finally recognized Texas in 1845 after the US and Texas agreed on annexation. n Mexico’s recognition was on the condition that Texas stayed independent. n

Europe Texas hoped that European recognition would open up trade and cause the US to annex Texas quicker. n Europe was afraid to offend Mexico. n

n Europe quickly recognized Texas. Europe hoped Texas would remain independent and stop US expansion.

Annexation? Join the US or stay an independent country?

Pros Most Texans were from the US Texas and the US had close business ties US military protection US currency US post office and other services South: Slavery Cons Texas could retain control over trade and other policies Texas could expand westward North: Anti-slavery

Anson Jones 1844 - 1845 Texas’ last President

Annexation Jones would not take a stand on annexation n The people of Texas were furious! They wanted annexation! n June 4, 1845: Jones offered Texas a choice of annexation or independence. n n n Mexico had finally recognized Texas TEXAS WANTED ANNEXATION!

n “The Republic of Texas is no more. ” Anson Jones retired to his plantation and Texas became the 28 th state of the US. n James K. Polk is president of US at the time n