Transcript Republic of Texas - Midland Independent School District

Republic of
Texas
• Texas was discovered and explored by the
Spanish
• The French claimed a small part of East
Texas but it was quickly abandoned
• The Spanish lost control of Texas when
Mexico won a revolution in 1821.
• Santa Anna was the President of Mexico
and quickly became a dictator.
• Texas declared and won independence
from Mexico in 1836
• Texas captured Santa Anna at the battle of
San Jacinto and forced him to sign the
treaty of Velasco
• In the treaty he agreed that all Mexican
troops would leave Texas and the border
for the two countries would be the Rio
Grande.
• Santa Anna was returned to Mexico with
his troops
• Texas faced many problems as a new
country
– Location of the capital
– HUGE debt
– Native Texans (Indians)
– Border disputes with Mexico
– Slavery
– Recognition
– Annexation
– Unrest in the Army
– School system
Location of the Capital
many leaders disagreed on where to
locate the Capital of Texas
They didn’t want it to be too close to
Mexico where it was vulnerable to invasion
They didn’t want it close to Native
Texans where it was likely to be attacked
It was originally in Columbia, then Houston,
then Washington on the Brazos and finally
Austin.
• HUGE Debt
– Sam Houston tried not to spend too much
money but did issue redbacks.
– Lamar increased the debt during his presidency
to $7 million.
– During his second term Houston sold land to
pay off some of the debt
– Jones sold land to the United States in order to
enter the country debt free
• Native Texans
– Houston gave land titles to many Native
Americans, but it was on good farmland and
Anglo settlers wanted it.
– Many Texans, including President Lamar,
wanted to rid the Republic of all Native Texans.
– The Texas Rangers were organized to patrol the
frontier and prevent Indian raids.
• Border Disputes
– Santa Anna agreed to the Rio Grande river as
the border between the two countries in the
treaty of Velasco
– After he returned to Mexico he changed his
story and claimed that the border should be
the Nueces river which shrunk Texas and
claimed much more land for Mexico
• Slavery
– Texas was an agricultural country and even
though only ¼ of Texans owned slaves they
believed it was necessary for the economy.
– Few Texans thought we should abolish Slavery
to achieve annexation into the United States
Slavery in Texas 1839
Owned Slaves
didn't own
slaves
• Recognition
– Although Santa Anna had signed the treaty of
Velasco the Mexican government refused to
accept it
– Lamar worked to get Texas independence
recognized by other countries
• Annexation
Houston wanted to be part of the
United States and tried to make deals with
them to be annexed during both of his terms
Lamar wanted to be a separate and
sovereign counrty
• Unrest in the Army
• School System
– Houston felt that each family should be
responsible for educating their children and
because Texas was agricultural they should
learn a trade.
– Lamar