The Republic of Texas 1836 1845 Republic of

The Republic of Texas 1836 -1845

Republic of Texas: approximately 376, 163 sq. miles Texas today: approximately 268, 601 sq. miles.

Who were the Presidents of the Republic of Texas?

David G. Burnet • Served as the ad interim (temporary) president during the Texas Revolution in 1836.

Sam Houston • 1836 -1838 (1 st popularly elected president of Texas) • Texas debt was $1. 25 - 2 million • Dismissed most of the Texas Army due to high financial cost • Put tariffs on goods as a way to raise money

Sam Houston • Replaced Army with Texas Rangers as a defensive force • Wanted Texas annexation to the U. S. • Couldn’t run for reelection. • Texas Constitution= NO consecutive terms • Chose Houston for the Republic’s capital

Houston 1837 -1839 Corner of Main St. & Texas Ave.

Cordova Rebellion • Summer 1838 • Nacogdoches had a large population of Tejanos • Many Anglos move to East Texas after Revolution

Cordova Rebellion • Vicente Cordova (loyal to Mexico) forms alliance with Cherokee Indians to rebel against Texas • Sam Houston tries to calm the situation • Texas army/ Rangers stops rebellion • Impact: A distrust of Tejanos & Indians in Texas

Next election 3 Candidates n Peter Grayson Committed suicide Got drunk & drowned n James Collingsworth in Galveston Bay. n Mirabeau B. Lamar Won: ….

Mirabeau B. Lamar • 1838 -1841 (2 nd elected President) • Didn’t want Texas to be annexed • Increased TX debt from $3. 3 million to $8 million • Involved in establishing education system “Father of Education in Texas” • Chose Austin as the site of the capital

• Did not trust or like Indians • After the Cordova Rebellion- Lamar wanted the Cherokees out of Texas. • Cherokees refuse to leave. • Sends soldiers to make them leave. Kill about 100 including Sam Houston’s friend Chief Bowles

Council House Fight • March 19, 1840 • Comanche agreed release all Anglo captives in San Antonio • Returned a girl- Matilda Lockhart (all messed up) • Matilda told of other captives • Texans attempt to hold Comanche leaders hostage until they bring all captives • Fighting starts- 7 Texans & 35 Comanche are killed • After the fight the Comanche kill many of their captives and make raids on Anglo settlements

Mary Maverick • Early settler in Texas • Recorded many of the important events of Texas in her diary • Worked hard to make sure the history of Texas was preserved Primary Source

Texas Navy • Lamar funds Texas Navy • Edwin Moore commands the entire Texas Navy (Commodore) • Won many battles in the Gulf of Mexico • Very costly; Sam Houston tried to sell during his second term

Jose Antonio Navarro n Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence n Served in the Republic’s Congress & worked for Tejano rights n Served as San Antonio’s Representative in the Texas Congress n Wanted Texas to be annexed by the U. S.

Chief Bowles • Cherokee Chief • Made land treaties with the Republic of Texas • Close friend of Sam Houston • Killed when Lamar ordered Cherokee out of Texas & into Oklahoma

Republic Currency Debt is a huge problem. (Red backs pg 279)

Santa Fe Expedition • Texas claimed the Rio Grande as the border • This included half of New Mexico k • Lamar sent soldiers to o o t & s enforce this claim s e l h i t n m o • Soldiers were 0 0 m 0 , 3 1 t captured by Mexican < u o b a soldiers • Imprisoned in Mexico City – later released • Expedition is a failure

Texas Rangers Established to protect Texans from Indian & Mexican attacks Had to provide their own horses & equipment & had to live off the land (food) Payment- $25. 00 -$30. 00 a month & land grants John ‘Jack’ Coffee Hayes Best known (famous) Texas Ranger Leader among the Rangers Paid $150 a month

Houston & Lamar had different ideas about… Ø Native Americans Ø Debt & Spending Ø Annexation Ø Education Who do you think is more popular with Texans at the time?

Houston n Native Americans: Lamar n Loved them n Debt & Spending: Hated them n Tried to decrease debt n Annexation: Wanted TX to be annexed. n Education: Did nothing to establish an education system in TX. Native Americans: n n Debt & Spending: Increased debt through government spending. Annexation: Didn’t want TX annexed. Education: Strong efforts to establish education system in TX. “The Father of Education. ”

Lamar/Houston Who would you have voted for?

Sam Houston • 1841 -1844 (3 rd elected President) • Tried to decrease TX debt • Wanted peaceful American Indian policies. • Wanted TX to be annexed to the U. S.

Texas still had conflicts with Mexico.

Mier Expedition Ø Mexicans attack San Antonio Sept. 1842. Ø Texans attack Mexicans at Salado Creek. Mexicans retreat & take Texan prisoners Ø President Houston orders General Somervell & Texas militia to Rio Grande to recapture the prisoners. = Not enough troops to defeat the Mexicans. Ø 300 men disobey & invade Mexico at the small town of Mier = need supplies. 3, 000 Mexican soldiers are there waiting. Ø A battle occurs ending in Texan surrender. March Texans back to Mexico City. 176 make it. Santa Anna orders every 10 th prisoner shot.

The Texas prisoners were lined up & forced to draw a bean from a jar. If they drew a… They Lived They Died

Some of the others were later pardoned, escaped or released. Eventually there was peace between Mexico & Texas British & U. S. diplomats urged Mexico to release prisoners.

Anson Jones l 1844 -1845 and last president of the Republic of TX. l Successfully got TX annexed into the U. S. l 4 th

December 29, 1845 Texas is Annexed into the U. S. becoming the 28 th State of the United States

Writing Assignment • Who do you think the best president for the Republic of Texas was? – Use at least 8 facts that you have learned to support your argument. – Underline these facts.