Transcript The Republic of Texas

The Republic of
Texas
1836 - 1845
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
Sam Houston
(1836 - 1838)
(1841 -1844)
• 1st President of the
Republic of Texas
• 3rd President of the
Republic of Texas
Mirabeau B Lamar
(1838 - 1841)
• 2nd President of the
Republic of Texas
• Known as the
“Father of Education in
Texas”
Dr Anson Jones
(1844 - 1846)
• 4th 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:
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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
• Sent Texas Rangers
to protect settlers on
the frontier
Finances
• Texas was in financial trouble
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•
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
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
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
• 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
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.
Texas became the 28th
state on
December 29, 1845.