Republic of Texas to State of Texas We

Republic of Texas to State of Texas

We won, but now what? • After gaining independence, Texans faced the challenge of building a new nation

President and Vice President Sam Houston Mirabeau B. Lamar

New Constitution • Texans approved the Constitution of 1836 • Texans liked the proposal regarding Texas joining the United States

New Government • Houston and the Congress met at Columbia to organize the new government • Stephen F. Austin was named the Secretary of State, but he died of pneumonia after only a few weeks

City for the new capital? • Columbia was too small • The Allen brothers had founded Houston, on Buffalo Bayou • They promised to build a handsome city if congress would locate the capital there • Congress designated Houston as the capital for the next three years

Complaints about the city of Houston • Visitors to Houston complained of the muddy streets and swarms of mosquitoes

Trouble with the Army • Many of the people that arrived to help fight for independence from Mexico, didn’t get the chance to fight in the revolution • These people joined the military and wanted action • Army commander Huston (not Sam Houston), called for an invasion of Mexico • President Houston sent all 600 soldiers home on leave and never called them to duty

Joining the United States • Many Texans had emigrated from the United States and wanted Texas to join, or be annexed • Mexico is now refusing to recognize Texas’ independence • The United States government did not want to annex Texas if it meant damaging relations with Mexico

Annexed To incorporate a country or territory into another

Slavery is an issue • People of the United States did not want Texas to join because of slavery • If Texas joined the Union (another name for the United States), it would tip the balance of the power in the U. S. senate towards slave states • Annexation is delayed

Can we at least be recognized? • The United States worried that Texas could not keep its independence against a Mexican invasion – The U. S. delayed recognizing Texas – President Houston sent representatives to Washington, D. C. to work on recognition and annexation – President Jackson saw that Texas was a responsible government and on March 3, 1837, granted official recognition of Texas

What about other nations? • We now needed European nations to recognize Texas – Other nations did not want to offend Mexico and they believed we would quickly be annexed by the United States – France recognized Texas on September 25, 1839 – Great Britain and the Netherlands recognized Texas in 1840 and Belgium followed after that. • President Houston hoped that the U. S. would move quickly to annex Texas

What about the Indians? • Indians resented the newcomers and began a series of raids that lasted several years • President Houston called on the Texas Rangers to patrol central Texas • Cherokee Indians had moved to Texas after being forced out of their homes in Georgia – During the Texas Revolution, the Cherokees promised to remain peaceful if they were allowed to keep the title to their land – The Republic of Texas refused to accept this treaty and did not give the

Time to pay up! • The Republic of Texas had major money problems • Texas had unpaid bills for equipment and supplies that were purchased during the Revolution • The expenditures, or money paid out, were much greater than the revenue, or money received.

Expenditures Money paid out

Revenue Money that a nation or state collects

Poor Sam • When Sam Houston became president, the debt was $1. 25 million • At the end of his first term as president, the debt for Texas was $2 million • Congress took steps to raise money and placed a tariff, or tax, on various goods – These taxes were difficult to collect

Tariff A tax on imported goods

Santa Anna • In March 1837, Santa Anna arrives back in Mexico – Renounced (takes back) all of his promises he made in Texas – Mexican government refuses to recognize the independence of Texas

Texas gets a new President • Houston could not be re-elected as President after he served two years because the Constitution of 1836 forbid him from doing so • Texans elected Mirabeau B. Lamar, who had been vice president under Houston

Lamar • Opposed annexation • Moved the capital to Austin • Reversed Houston’s policy toward Native Americans – Ordered the Texas Army to attack the Cherokees and forced them out of Texas • Rebuilds the Navy

Father of Education in Texas • Wanted to improve education – Congress set aside 18, 000 acres of land in each Texas county for public schools – Congress reserved 288, 000 acres of public land in central Texas for 2 universities – Texas ended up trading out some of this land with land in West Texas • Oil was discovered on these lands and is still funding Texas education today

Comanche Indians • The Comanche Indians had raided several settlements and agreed to meet with Texas authorities in San Antonio • The Comanche Indians promised to bring their Anglo captives, but only brought one girl that looked like she had been beaten • Texan troops tried to take the Indians hostage, but they resisted • This is known as the Council House Fight – 7 Texans died and 35 Comanche Indians died

No more treaties • The Council House Fight is known as “the greatest blunder in the history of Texan-Native American relations. ”

Cause and Effects of Indian Conflict Causes: Effects: • Settlers immigrate to Texas • Lamar orders Cherokees to leave • Cherokees move to Texas but do not hold title to land • Texas Rangers retaliate against raids • Comanche Indians raid Texas settlements • Comanche Indians withdraw to the High Plains, leaving more land to the Anglo settlers

Santa Fe Expedition • Lamar sent an expedition to Santa Fe, New Mexico with orders to control the region and begin trade with New Mexico • The Mexican army forced the Texans to surrender and marched them 1, 000 miles to Mexico City. – Many died on the way or died in the Mexican prison – The few that survived were eventually released • This angered the Mexicans Santa Fe

Poor Lamar • Lamar caused Texas to sink deeper in debt – Spent $2. 5 million on the Indian wars – Bought several ships for the Navy – Issued redbacks, paper money, but they shrank in value • A paper dollar in Texas at the end of Lamar’s term was only worth 15 cents – Failed in attempts to borrow money from other nations – Public debt was now $7 million

Redbacks Additional money issued during Lamar’s presidency to help in easing the large public debt

Sam Houston is Reelected • Sam Houston replaces Lamar as President – Eliminated several government positions – Cut the size of the army – Tried to sell the navy ships (the people of Galveston prevented this from happening) – Renewed peace with the Indians

Now you have made me mad … • Mexico is still angry about the Santa Fe expedition and send 500 soldiers into Texas – Occupy San Antonio, Goliad, and Refugio – They withdrew after several days, but Texans panicked

Archives War • With the Mexican soldiers in south Texas, Houston declared an emergency and tried to move the archives from Austin to Houston

Archives Official government documents

Oh no you don’t! • People of Austin suspected that Houston wanted to move the capital from Austin permanently and fired on the government officials when they tried to move the archives Angelina Eberly • The archives and the capital remained in Austin

More Invasions by Mexico • Mexican forces invaded Texas again, led by General Woll, but this time, sent 1, 400 soldiers into San Antonio • The Texas militia and the Texas Rangers forced them out, but Captain Dawson and his group of volunteers were killed

Protect us! • The Woll invasion angered Texans, and Houston ordered General Somervell and 750 soldiers to patrol the area between San Antonio and Laredo • Once they arrived in Laredo, they saw signs of the Mexican army – General Somervell told his men to go back to Gonzales, but 300 of them refused – Colonel Fisher led these 300 men and attacked the Mexican town of Mier

The Mier Expedition • The Texans expected an easy victory in Mier, but 900 Mexican soldiers were defending the city • The Texans were outnumbered and low on supplies – they surrendered on December 26, 1842 • The Mexican army began to march their captives to Mexico City, but the Texans overpowered their guards and escaped on February 11, 1843

Recaptured • Many of the Texans that had escaped died of starvation and exposure (it was cold in the mountains) • Mexican troops recaptured the survivors about a week later • Santa Anna is back in power and orders every 10 th Texan to be executed as punishment for their escape

Drawing of Black Beans • Of the 176 men that were recaptured, 17 were to die • The prisoners were ordered to draw beans from a jar – Those who drew black beans were shot – Those who drew white beans were marched to prison in Mexico City • Some were pardoned, a few escaped, and others died of disease or starvation