Sam Houston The First President of The Republic

Sam Houston The First President of The Republic of Texas Carrie Hunnicutt 2010 – 2011

Issues facing The Republic of Texas: Annexation Foreign policy (relations with Mexico) Armed Forces Native Americans Domestic Policy (economic)

We won, but now what? • After gaining independence, Texans faced the challenge of building a new nation President Sam Houston Vice President Mirabeau B. Lamar

Trouble with the Army • Many soldiers joined too late and did not get the chance to fight in the revolution – These people wanted action – Called for an invasion of Mexico • President Houston sent all 600 soldiers home and never called them to duty

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

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 because Texans did not have any money

Sam Houston • IN FAVOR of joining the United States • Wants peace with Mexico • Wants peace with the Natives • Small army – sent soldiers home on leave • Cut government spending. Tried to find new ways to make money (taxes, borrow from the USA, etc)

Sam Houston Second Term Notes Challenges that Houston Faced… üTexas was Bankrupt (unable to pay bills) üIndian raids still threaten frontier üDisputes with Mexico Continued

Domestic Policy -Texas Economy l Needed this by: l Firing to decrease spending. He did some workers l Reducing Salaries of others l Continuing policies from his first term

Continued Conflicts with Mexico l Santa Anna was back in Mexico, and hoped to retake or harass Texas. l Archives War in March of 1842 l Mexico invaded again, took the towns of Victoria, Goliad, and San Antonio. l Sam Houston knew Mexico was invading Texas again, so he moved the archives of Texas to Houston from Austin.

Conflict with Mexico Continued… l Battle of Salado Creek l Mexico attacked San Antonio again, hoping to prove that Texas couldn’t control its territory. l Texan volunteers and militia were outnumbered by over 800 men. l The Texans lured the Mexicans into a trap, and defeated the Mexican Army. l Only one Texan died that day.

Conflict with Mexico continued… l After the battle, 50 Texan Volunteers from La. Grange arrived. l The Mexicans surrounded them, and did not accept their surrender. l The men were massacred in a fight called “the Dawson’s Massacre”

Texas’ Response to the Invasion l Texans wanted Revenge on Mexico for the Invasion… l Houston sent General Alexander Somervell to scout and see if Mexico had left Texas. l They were to invade Mexico only if they thought they could win. l What do you think Texas wanted to prove by this?

Texas’ Response l 300 of Somervell’s men did not follow him when he retreated to Gonzales. l These men stayed under the command of a man named William Fisher. l 176 Men were captured by Mexican forces, and 17 were executed in the “Black Bean Episode”

Armed Forces l Houston did reduce spending, but the debt kept growing. l Houston tried to sell the navy that Lamar built for money. l Selling of navy was unsuccessful because sailors kept ships at sea to keep Houston from selling them.

Native American Affairs l Houston wanted to keep peace with the Native Americans and stop the violence. l First met in March of 1843 l Agreed to stop all fighting of all Texas tribes against the Republic of Texas until all tribes could meet together in a Grand Council.

Indian Affairs continued… l Comanche and Wichita leaders at first refused to attend the meeting in September (Grand Council Meeting), when all other tribes signed the treaty. l Houston met with the Comanche leaders and convinced them to sign in October of 1843.