Introduction to the Presidents of the Republic of Texas And Their Problems and Important Issues

Presidents of the Republic of Texas Sam Houston (1836 - 1838) 1st President of the Republic of Texas Sam Houston (1841 -1844) 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

The Election of 1836 The election was held FIVE MONTHS after the Battle of San Jacinto in September of 1836. Results of the Election of 1836 President: Sam Houston Vice-President: Mirabeau Lamar Congress: Elected Senators and Representatives Constitution: Yes! Texans voted to approve the Constitution of 1836 Annexation: Texans decided they were willing to give up their independence and seek annexation from the United States In addition to electing new leaders, the Texans had TWO OTHER ISSUES on their ballot. The Constitution of 1836 (written at the Convention of 1836 back in March) – The ballot asked the Texans, “Do you approve the Constitution the leaders wrote at the Convention of 1836?” Annexation – The ballot asked the Texans, “Do you want to try to remain independent OR try to be annexed into the United States?”

Problems Houston faced during his first term: Texas Military – A lot of Texan soldiers want to start another war with Mexico! Ack! Recognition - How to get the U.S. to recognize that we are independent so they will work with us Native Americans – They are attacking Texans… Sam has to deal with them somehow Debt - $1.25 million when he STARTS ($2 million by the end of his first term) PLUS we need money to run the new government The Texas Capital – Temporarily in Houston… gotta build it… what about a permanent one? Relations with Mexico - They just can’t accept that we are gone! That could mean trouble!

How did Houston solve these problems? Houston was cautious. He wanted to prevent another war with Mexico or a new war with Native Texans. Houston limited government spending. Overall… Houston thought the best solution to ALL of these problems was annexation by the United States!

Results of the Election of 1838 Elected Senators and Representatives The election was held in December of 1838… the new president started his job in January of 1839. Houston supporters tried to get Peter W. Grayson, Houston’s Attorney General (a member of Houston’s cabinet) elected… but he committed suicide in Tennessee on the way back from a trip to Washington D.C. THEN Houston supporters tried to get Chief Justice James Collinsworth elected, but while on a boat in Galveston Bay, he fell overboard and died. So… Results of the Election of 1838 President: Mirabeau Lamar Vice-President: David G. Burnet Congress: Elected Senators and Representatives

Category Lamar’s Problems Lamar’s Solutions Capital Houston had only been approved as capital of Texas for three years. Lamar had to choose and build a new capital. SO Lamar moves the capital to Austin… yay! Indians (Cherokee) Lamar did not trust the Cherokee and believed they had no claim to their land. Lamar ordered the Cherokee out of Texas. They agreed to leave after their harvest. However, Lamar would not wait and sent the military in to force them out. Chief Bowles (Houston’s friend) was killed in the battle. Indians (Comanche) The Comanche were raiding Texas settlements and kidnapping Texas settlers. The Comanche agreed to try to work out a peace deal with the Texans, but when they got to San Antonio with the Texan captives, a misunderstanding led to a fight. This caused more Comanche raids. Lamar responded with military action COUNCIL HOUSE FIGHT) . ( Expansion Lamar believed that Texas should expand to the Pacific Ocean, but Mexico and the Disputed Territory is in the way. Lamar tried to start this expansion by sending Texas troops to “invite” Santa Fe to join the Republic. The Texans were captured by Mexican troops and sent to prison. (SANTA FE EXPEDITION) Debt Lamar wasn’t too concerned about Texas’ debt There was no solution. Lamar increased Texas’ debt by spending a lot on increasing the military, fighting the Indians and the Santa Fe Expedition.

Houston’s 2nd Term AND Anson Jones Republic of Texas Debt 10   9 Houston’s 2nd Term AND Anson Jones 8 7 6 Lamar Millions of Dollars 5 During the Revolution 4 Houston’s 1st Term 3 2 1 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 Years

Houston Lamar Debt Native Americans (Cherokee and Comanche) Military Debt – Lamar didn’t care too much about TX debt. It increased by $6 million while he was president ($2 million to $8 million) Native Americans – Lamar believed the Indians should be run out of Texas. He spent a lot of money fighting them. Military – Lamar increased the size of the military Expansion – Lamar believed TX should expand to the Pacific Ocean Capital – Lamar wanted Austin as the capital of Texas Annexation – Lamar did not think TX should be annexed to the US Education – Lamar set aside a lot of money for education; known as the “Father of Education” Debt – Houston tried to decrease the Republic’s debt ($1.25 million - $2 million) Native Americans – Houston tried to make peace with the Indians (both the Cherokee and the Comanche) Military – Houston reduced the size of the TX military Expansion – Houston did not believe TX should expand to the Pacific Ocean Capital – Houston thought Houston should be the capital of the Republic Annexation – Houston worked for Texas annexation to the United States Education – Houston didn’t care much about education Recognition Both presidents knew that TX needed recognition from other nations to survive Debt Native Americans (Cherokee and Comanche) Military Expansion Capital Annexation Recognition Education

Comparing Presidents Compare and contrast problems faced in Houston’s first presidency with Lamar’s presidency. Brainstorm before you write!!! A Venn Diagram is good for Compare/Contrast writing… in the brainstorming decide whether the two things you are comparing are MORE different or MORE similar. State this in your FIRST SENTENCE Start with a GENERAL statement about their differences or similarities and get MORE SPECIFIC in the following sentences Your FIRST SENTENCE in ALL compare/contrast writing assignments should be a GENERAL statement about BOTH subjects of discussion (so your first sentence should mention BOTH subjects and tell the reader if they are mostly the same or different) Examples ***Remember to use the APE format for writing a paragraph!!!! (See the handout in your notes for a reminder of what APE is…)

Vasquez (MX) invades TX Cause and Effect Events Started by the Santa Fe Expedition (Lamar) Lamar’s Santa Fe Expedition CAUSED several other conflicts between TX and MX. The EFFECTS of the Santa Fe Expedition were seen during Houston’s 2nd term in office. Vasquez (MX) invades TX Archives War Santa Fe Expedition (Lamar) Houston’s 2nd Houston’s 2nd Black Bean Drawing Woll (MX) invades TX Mier Expedition Houston’s 2nd Houston’s 2nd Houston’s 2nd

Houston and the Native Americans of Texas As more and more Anglo settlers move into the new nation of Texas, more and more Indians resent them. What do they do to express their resentment? Attack!!! Settlers begin to ask their new president for help. Help! Houston called on the Texas Rangers to patrol Central Texas in order to keep the Indians from killing more settlers. Houston could be tough with the Indians when he needed to… BUT…

Problems Lamar faced during his first term: Capital – Houston had only been approved as capital of Texas for three years. Lamar had to choose and build a new capital… SO Lamar moves the capital to Austin… yay! Native Americans (Cherokee) - Lamar did not trust the Cherokee and believed they had no claim to their land… SO Lamar ordered the Cherokee out of Texas. They agreed to leave after their harvest. However, Lamar would not wait and sent the military in to force them out. Chief Bowles (Houston’s friend) was killed in the battle. Native Americans (Comanche) – The Comanche, who had been raiding, agreed to talk about a peace treaty with the Texans. They met in San Antonio and were supposed to bring their white captives. Council House Fight Relations with Mexico – Lamar felt that Texas should extend all the way to the Pacific Ocean… what was in the way? Umm… Mexico (and the Indians) Debt – At the end of Houston’s first term, we were $2 million in debt…