The Republic of Texas 1836 1845 David G

The Republic of Texas 1836 - 1845

David G. Burnett At the Convention of 1836, Burnett was elected president of the ad interim government of the Republic of Texas. Burnet later served as Vice-president of the Republic under Mirabeau Lamar. After retiring to his farm near the San Jacinto battlefield, Burnet died on December 7, 1870. He is now buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Galveston.

Lorenzo de Zavala At the Convention of 1836, de Zavala was elected vice- president of the ad interim government of the Republic of Texas. After Santa Anna's capture at the Battle of San Jacinto, de Zavala was commissioned to accompany Santa Anna to Mexico to negotiate a permanent treaty.

Lorenzo de Zavala De Zavala resigned as vice president in October. The following month, on 15 November 1836, he died and was buried in the family cemetery on property which is now part of San Jacinto State Park.

The Republic of Texas 1836 – 1845 The Texans held a convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos and adopted a Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. A Constitution modeled after that of the United States was adopted by the new Republic of Texas.

The Three Branches of Government

The Republic of Texas 1836 – 1845 Texas was now its own country, but the leaders faced MANY problems!

The Republic of Texas 1836 – 1845 PROBLEM #1: The government borrowed over $1 million to fight Mexico. The government had to pay this debt.

The Republic of Texas 1836 – 1845 PROBLEM #2: Mexican soldiers still attacked Texas towns. PROBLEM #3: Native Americans still attacked Texas towns.

Presidents of the Republic of Texas Sam Houston (1836 - 1838) (1841 -1844) • 1 st President of the Republic of Texas • 3 rd President of the Republic of Texas Mirabeau B Lamar (1838 - 1841) • 2 nd President of the Republic of Texas • Known as the “Father of Education in Texas” Dr Anson Jones (1844 - 1846) • 4 th and final President of the Republic of Texas • President when Texas became a state of the United States

Sam Houston (1836 - 1838) • Problems Houston faced during his first term: – – – Death of Stephen F Austin (Dec 27, 1836) Annexation – He wanted Texas to become a part of the U. S. Relations with Mexico Native Americans Finances The Texas Capital

Annexation • Most Texans favored annexation to the United States • Houston worked hard for annexation – United States said NO because of the issue of slavery.

Relations with Mexico • Mexico refused to recognize Texas’s Independence • Houston tried to prevent a new war by replacing the commander of the army, Felix Huston, with Albert Sidney Johnston – Huston refused to step down and challenged Johnston to a duel where he shot him • Houston solved the problem by sending all but 600 soldiers home to prevent further fighting

Native Americans • Houston worked to maintain peace with Native Americans • Houston sent Texas Rangers to protect settlers on the frontier. The chief purpose of the Texas Rangers during the Republic of Texas was to fight American Indian groups.

Finances • Texas was in financial trouble – – • Spend less Raise property taxes More customs duties Issue promissory notes Texas debt rose to $1 million

The Texas Capital • Sam Houston moved the Texas Capital from Columbia (too small) to a new town that would be named Houston. It was ideally centered along transportation routes.

Mirabeau B Lamar (1838 - 1841) • Lamar brings a different approach to these problems – Annexation – He DID NOT want to be a part of the U. S. – Relations with Mexico – Native Americans – Finances – The Texas Capital – Education – He is known as the Father of Education because he set aside land for public schools.

Annexation • Lamar was against annexation. • He wanted Texas to remain independent. • He dreamed that one day Texas would stretch all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

Relations with Mexico • Lamar sent the new Texas Navy to help Yucatecan rebels fight Mexico • Lamar organized the Santa Fe Expedition – Army sent to convince New Mexico that it was part of Texas – Expedition ran out of supplies and surrendered to Mexican troops – Prisoners taken to Mexico – The failure of the Santa Fe Expedition ended Lamar’s dream of expanding Texas

Native Americans • Lamar wanted to kill or drive all Native Americans out of Texas • Battle of the Neches: 100 Cherokees killed including Chief Bowles for not leaving their land • Council House Fight: Comanche chiefs killed when they came to peace talks in San Antonio. Because of this, several American Indian groups distrusted and violently resisted the Texas government. • Battle of Plum Creek: 100 Comanches killed in ambush after a large raid on Anglo settlements

Finances • Issued more promissory notes called “red backs” • Offered land to families moving to Texas • Debt rose to almost $7 million because he created the Navy and fought American Indian groups.

The Texas Capital • Moved the capital to a new location on the Colorado River called Waterloo. • It would later be renamed Austin in honor of Stephen F Austin.

Education • Lamar is best known for his contributions to public education. • He sat aside land in each county for public schools.

Sam Houston (1841 - 1844) • Texas would again try to join the United States. • Houston would work to improve relations with Native Americans. • Houston would cut spending and sell the Texas Navy.

New Problems with Mexico • Mexico invaded Texas twice during 1842 capturing San Antonio each time. • Houston sent General Somervell to protect the border. – Some troops disobeyed orders and attacked Mexico; this was called the Mier Expedition. – The Texans were captured and some were executed in the Drawing of the Black Beans.

The Texas Capital • Sam Houston wanted to move the capital back to Houston. • Angelina Eberly and the citizens of Austin wanted the capital to stay – In the Archives War, Austin residents shot at Houston’s men who came to take the state archives. – The capital stayed in Austin.

Dr. Anson Jones (1844 - 1846) • Jones followed most of Houston’s policies including pushing for annexation. • While Jones was president, Texas was annexed (joined) by the United States through a joint resolution in Congress. Dr. Anson Jones transitioned the independent nation of Texas into a state of the United States.

Texas became the 28 th state on December 29, 1845.

Texas became the 28 th state on December 29, 1845.

U. S. -Mexico War • The Rio Grande border was another cause of the war. Mexico believed that the border was actually the Nueces River, about 200 miles north of the Rio Grande. Texans and the U. S. claimed the Rio Grande as the border. • The Mexican American War, lasted just under 2 years from April 25, 1846 – February 2, 1848. The treaty that ended the war was called the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Since the US won, they got to set the terms.

How did the outcome of the U. S. -Mexico War impact Texas? The Rio Grande was accepted as the official border.

Texas Immigration • The population of the newly created State of Texas was located primarily on the coastal plains of East Texas. • By the 1850’s there were more people of German birth or parentage in Texas than there were Mexican-Texans.

Texas Immigration • Many of the expanding cities in Texas during independence and early statehood were primarily ports located along the Texas coast • The estimated population of 150, 000 at annexation grew to 212, 592, including 58, 161 slaves, in the first U. S. census count in Texas in 1850.

Gail Borden Famous Texan