Houston Regains Presidency p

 Because Texas was a slave-holding state…  Because of Texas debt…  Because of threat of Mexican invasion…  Because he believed Texas would one day be a large and strong country…  Because of the Native American threat in Texas  …abolitionists did not want Texas annexed.  … Houston called the Texas Rangers to patrol central Texas.  … Lamar did not want Texas annexation.  … Texas requested protection from the U.S.  … Texas sold land to the U.S. when annexed.

 Sam Houston defeated David G. Burnet for the presidency.  Houston disliked Lamar’s policies and wanted to undo the damage. The major issues during Houston’s second term were:  The budget  Threat of invasion from Mexico  Annexation by the United States  In attempt to save money, Houston eliminated dozens of government positions and cut the size of the navy. He tried to sell the navy ships, but angry citizens prevented the sale.  Houston also tried to renew peaceful with Native Americans.

 During Houston’s first term, the United States was not ready to annex Texas because it would unbalance the ratio of slave and free states.  The United States also felt annexation would mean war with Mexico.  The push for annexation stopped when Mirabeau B. Lamar became president because he did not favor becoming part of the U.S.  In 1844 a treaty was signed making Texas a territory of the United States. Texas would give its public land to the U.S. and the U.S. would pay all debts of the Republic of Texas.

 Annexation became an issue during the United States presidential election of  Democratic presidential candidate, James K. Polk, supported Texas annexation.  Polk’s victory in a very close election showed that most of the voters favored annexation.  Annexation gained momentum from growing support for expansion.

manifest destiny  Most Americans believed the United States was destined to expand coast to coast. This belief was called manifest destiny.  Manifest  Manifest - apparent: clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment.  Destiny  Destiny - an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future.  On December 29, 1845, President Polk signed the resolution that made Texas a state.

 Great Britain and France both preferred that Texas remain an independent nation rather than become a part of the United States. Both tried to convince Mexico that it should recognize Texas independence.  In May 1845, Mexico agreed to acknowledge an independent Texas on one condition – Texas must reject annexation by the United States.  Texas was not interested. The Texas Congress quickly rejected the Mexican proposal and voted to accept annexation by the United States.

 On February 19, 1846, Anson Jones, the last president of the republic, turned over the government to J. Pinkney Henderson, the first governor of the state.  President Jones closed his farewell address by declaring that “the final act in this great drama is now performed: the Republic of Texas is no more.”  The Lone Star flag was lowered, and the Stars and Stripes were raised.  Texas officially became the 28 th state in the United States of America.

 Edwin Moore – Texas Navy commander in the 1840’s  Jack “Coffee” Hays – Most famous Texas Ranger from the 1840’s  Chief Bowles - Cherokee chief who attempted to save their land, but died fighting the Texas army. He was a good friend of Sam Houston  William Goyens - Free African American who was a successful businessman. Served as an interpreter of the Native American languages during the Texas Revolution.  Mary Maverick - Famous frontier woman who lived in San Antonio  Jose Antonio Navarro - Native Texan who signed the Texas declaration. He was a Texas congressman during the Republic then became a Texas Senator after annexation.

 Cordova Rebellion - A group of about 100 Hispanics and 300 Cherokees who rebelled against the Republic of Texas over Anglo’s taking their land.  Council House Fight - A meeting between Texas authorities and Comanche’s that turned into a battle when the Comanche negotiators were taken hostage. Comanche’s refused to make treaties with Texas again.  Santa Fe Expedition - Lamar’s attempt to gain control of a major trading center, but failed when the Texas soldiers surrendered in New Mexico. Most of the Texas men were imprisoned or died in Mexican prison.