Transcript File the republic of texas-2015

The Republic of Texas:
1836 - 1845
Section 1:
Houston’s First Term
Section 2:
Lamar Takes Office
Section 3:
Houston’s Second Term
Section 4:
Anson Jones and Annexation
Section 5:
Daily Life in the Republic
Launching the New Government
• Under Sam Houston’s leadership, the new congress began
work in October of 1836.
• His first task was to form a cabinet.
• Houston named Stephen F. Austin as secretary of state.
Austin would be in charge of relations with other countries.
• Columbia became the site of the new capital. Later, the
capital moved to the town of Houston.
Launching the New Government
A cabinet is a group of people who take charge of
certain duties.
Relations With Other Nations 1
• Houston had two main foreign policy goals. Foreign policies
are a government’s plan to deal with issues outside the
country.
• Texans voted to ratify the Constitution of 1836 and to
support annexation by the United States. Annexation is
when one country takes over all or part of another country.
• The United States was the first nation to recognize Texas.
Great Britain, France, and other nations waited to see if
Texas could hold on to its freedom.
Relations With Other Nations 2
• Relations between Mexico and Texas were tense.
• Mexico rejected the Treaty of Velasco.
• Mexico rejected the Rio Grande as the border of the new
Republic.
• Texas objected to Mexico’s offer to sell Texas to the United
States. Texans believed that this offer suggested that
Mexico still owned Texas.
Houston’s Policies at Home 1
• Domestic policies are a government’s plans to deal with
issues inside the country.
• Armed forces - Most of Houston’s new troops were from
the United States. They had missed the Texas Revolution,
and they wanted to attack Mexico. Houston sent many of
them home on leave. This would save money and keep
them from causing trouble.
Houston’s Policies at Home 2
• Relations with Texas Indians - Houston sent messages of
friendship to several tribes. He tried to make treaties and
set up trading posts. He had little support from Congress.
• Economic policies- Houston tried to cut government
spending and impose taxes. However, few Texans could pay.
He printed money, which proved to be worth very little.
Chapter 9, Section 2
A New Capital
• In 1838, Mirabeau Lamar became president of the
Republic. During his three years in office, he undid many of
Houston’s policies. He also changed the flag of the Republic
to the Lone Star flag.
• Lamar persuaded Congress to move the capital to a small
frontier settlement called Waterloo.
• As Waterloo grew, Congress renamed it Austin, in honor of
Stephen F. Austin.
Lamar’s Foreign Policy Toward Mexico
• Lamar offered Mexico $5 million to resolve the ongoing
conflict between Texas and Mexico. In return, Mexico had
to:
– recognize Texas independence
– accept the Rio Grande as the southern border of Texas
• Mexico rejected the offer. Peace talks failed because
Mexico refused to negotiate with Texas.
• Lamar tried to convince Santa Fe and eastern New Mexico
to join Texas. His Santa Fe expedition angered Mexico.
Expedition - a journey made for some special purpose
Lamar’s Foreign Policy/Other Nations
• Lamar wanted the Republic of Texas to become a great
nation and compete with the United States.
• France became the first European nation to recognize the
Republic of Texas and agree to trade with the new nation.
Great Britain was next, followed by the Netherlands and
Belgium.
Lamar’s Domestic Policies
Chapter 9, Section 2
• Armed forces - Lamar strengthened the army and navy. He
fired Houston’s soldiers and built a new army. He recruited
soldiers from the United States and paid them with land.
• Relations with Indians - Lamar believed that Native
Americans blocked the Republic’s westward expansion. He
used the newly strengthened army to drive the Indians
from the frontier.
• Economic policies - Lamar ordered millions of paper dollars
printed. He planned to back the money with a loan from
France, but the loan fell through. This mistake lost him
much support among the voters.
Houston Resumes Command
Chapter 9, Section 3
Houston began his second term as president. Texas was
bankrupt, and Indian raids still threatened the frontier.
The Texas Economy Under Houston
Houston reduced government spending by millions, but
interest caused the debt to keep growing. Interest is the price
paid for the use of borrowed money.
Native American Peace Treaties
Houston convinced many tribes to attend a “grand council”
where a peace treaty was signed. He supported trade posts
set up by the government.
Continued Conflict With Mexico 1
The Battle of Salado Creek
• Mexican troops captured San Antonio. A group of Texans
hid near Salado Creek and lured Mexican troops into a
trap. Though outnumbered, the Texans were victorious.
• In a nearby battle, Dawson’s Massacre, 50 Texans were
killed, even though they surrendered to the Mexicans.
Continued Conflict With Mexico 2
The Archives War
• Fearing attack by the Mexicans, Houston ordered Rangers
to move the archives from Austin to Houston. Archives are
collections of important public documents, such as
constitutions and other public records. The people of
Austin resisted this move and attacked the Rangers. The
archives remained in Austin.
Texas Responds to the Mexican
Invasion
Chapter 9, Section 3
Somervell’s Expedition
Houston sent General Alexander Somervell to make sure that
the Mexican army had left Texas. He was told to invade
Mexico only if he could beat the Mexicans. He felt he could
not, so he withdrew his troops.
The Mier Expedition
Some 300 of Somervell’s men refused to go home. Instead
they attacked the Mexican town of Mier. When they ran out of
supplies, they surrendered. Many escaped but were
recaptured. As punishment, Santa Anna ordered 10 percent of
them executed. In the Black Bean Episode, a lottery selected
which 17 Texans would die.
Anson Jones Becomes President 1
Anson Jones’s Early Life
• Practiced medicine in Brazoria
• Fought in the Texas Revolution
• Served in Congress
• Appointed Minister to the United States by Sam Houston
• Later served in the U.S. Senate
• Served as secretary of state during Houston’s second
term
Anson Jones Becomes President 2
Presidential Policies
• Maintained Houston’s peace policy toward Native
Americans in Texas
• Tried to make peace with Mexico
• Tried to convince Mexico to recognize the independence of
Texas
• Tried to convince the United States to annex Texas
Arguments For and Against Annexation
Arguments For Annexation
• Being part of the United States would protect Texas from
being retaken by Mexico.
• Joining the Union would enable Texans to use U.S currency,
or money.
• Many Texans had family ties in the United States.
Arguments Against Annexation
• As a slave state, Texas would upset the balance of free and
slave states in the U.S. Congress.
• The United States was reluctant to admit a state so deeply
in debt.
Negotiating an Agreement 1
The Treaty of 1844
Most Texans agreed to the Treaty of 1844, but it was vetoed
by the United States Senate.
– Texas would become a territory of the United States.
– Texas would give up its public lands (lands owned by the
government rather than by individuals).
– The United States would pay the debts of the Republic.
Jones’s Strategy
Jones enlisted the help of Great Britain to win a better deal
for Texas. Britain was willing to help Texas in the hope that
the Republic would remain independent.
Negotiating an Agreement 2
The Joint Resolution of 1845
• Texas would join the United States as a state after its
people approved a constitution.
• Texas would keep its public lands. Money used from the
sale of public lands would be used to pay off the Texas
debt.
• Texas could divide into as many as four states.
• Texas would be a slave state.
• Mexico offered to recognize Texas independence—if Texas
rejected annexation by the United States.
Joint resolution - an act of both houses of Congress that has
the power of law
Chapter 9, Section 5
The New Texans 1
• Between 1836 and 1845, many people moved to Texas for
its abundance of cheap land. Texas leaders gave land to
veterans and families of Texans killed in the revolution. No
land was offered to African Americans or Native Americans.
Veteran - a person who served in the armed forces
Chapter 9, Section 5
The New Texans 2
• Texas required new settlers to live on the land for three
years before they were given full ownership. The
government did this to discourage land speculators.
• To speed up settlement, the government brought back the
empresario system.
Population Growth of Texas, 1834 1847
Chapter 9, Section 5
How much did the population increase from 1834 to 1847? (Do the
math)
Life on Farms
Farmers
• The majority of farms in the Republic were small family
farms.
• Most farmers practiced subsistence farming. They grew
just enough crops to support the farm.
• Some planted cash crops, crops that are sold for profit.
Life on Ranches
Ranchers
• Cattle ate for free on public grazing land.
• Cattle meat supplies often outpaced demand.
• Ranchers were challenged by thieves, drought, and
disease.
• Sheep ranching grew as U.S. textile mills began requesting
wool.
Chapter 9, Section 5
Life in Towns
• Towns - Most towns grew when farms and ranches
appeared in an area. Some grew around one business.
• Towns offered goods and services not available on the
farm.
• Many townsfolk were immigrants.
• Most Texas towns stayed small.
Chapter 9, Section 5
Life in Forts
• Armed forces - All fit men between 17 and 50 were eligible
to serve. The military was mostly volunteer. Types of troops
included infantry, artillery, and rangers.
• Daily life in the armed forces was routine, and consisted of
drills and assigned tasks. Meals included salted beef, beans,
and hardtack (stiff wafers of bread).
Chapter 9, Section 5
Education
Schools
• The first Texas public school opened in Houston in 1839
and closed in 1840.
• Children were needed on the farm, so mothers often
taught their children at home.
• Religious groups built the first places of higher learning in
Texas.
• Rutersville College opened in 1840. Baylor University is the
oldest continually operating university in Texas.
Chapter 9, Section 5
Worship
Religion
• The Republic of Texas had no established church.
• The fastest growing religious groups in the Republic were
Protestants.
• They held revivals to attract new members. A revival is a
meeting designed to reawaken strong religious beliefs.
• Churches also published newspapers and built schools.