Houston’s 2nd Texas Presidency Title: Houston Regains Presidency (Chapter 13, Section 3) Main Idea: Sam Houston’s return to the presidency signaled a change in the government’s economic and Native American policies. His main focus was to return peace, decrease the public debt, and prepare Texas for statehood.

Cutting Expenses In September 1841, Sam Houston was elected to a second term as President. In his first speech to the Texas Congress, he announced he wanted to undo Lamar’s policies that he believed had done a great deal of damage to Texas. His goals were to cut the costs of government, make peace with Native Americans, and pursue annexation by the U.S.

Cutting Expenses Houston worked with the Texas Congress to eliminate government jobs and suspend payments on the public debt. Houston tried to sell the navy (but the angry citizens of Galveston blocked the sale). He spent only $500,000 during his second term. Despite these steps, the public debt kept growing and grew to almost $12 million by 1846.

Peace Renewed Houston also renewed work for peaceful and fair dealings with the Native Americans. He set up trading posts to provide Native Americans with supplies. He sent agents to talk with Native Americans about peace. Several Native American groups signed peace treaties and trade agreements with the Texas government.

Peace Renewed In October 1844, Houston met with leaders of the Comanche and ten other tribes and told them a “bad chief” (aka Lamar) had made war on the Comanche. Houston explained that he was in charge now and that he wanted peace, not war. Eventually, all the tribes signed the peace and trade treaty that came out of these talks.

Eberly Statue in Austin, TX The Archive War In March 1842, a Mexican Army of 700 invaded Texas and captured San Antonio. Houston ordered the government archives, or official documents and records, be moved out of the capital city of Austin. A group of Austin residents, led by Angelina Eberly, engaged in a skirmish with Texas Rangers who tried to move the archives from Austin. Overall, the archives AND the capital stayed in Austin. Eberly Statue in Austin, TX

The Woll Invasion In September 1842, a Mexican army of 1,400 soldiers led by General Adrian Woll invaded Texas and seized San Antonio. Again. The Texas Rangers and Texas volunteers responded and fought against and defeated the Mexicans at the Battle of Salado Creek. Texas Ranger Jack Coffee Hays became a hero at this battle and led the Rangers to victory in many other battles against the Mexicans and Native Americans. Jack Coffee Hays

The Mier Expedition In November 1842, Houston ordered Texas General Alexander Somervell and 700 troops to patrol the border area from San Antonio to Laredo. He also ordered Somervell to clear any Mexican forces found north of the Rio Grande. After finding no trace of the Mexican army, Somervell ordered his troops back to Gonzales (headquarters for the Texas army).

The Mier Expedition However, 300 men led by Colonel William S. Fisher mutinied by attacking the Mexican town of Mier. Result? The Mexican army of 900 men led by General Pedro Ampudia outnumbered the Texans and forced them to surrender after two days of fighting. Pedro Ampudia

Santa Anna’s Revenge As Texas captives were marched to Mexico City, some escaped, but 176 were later recaptured. Santa Anna, now back in power, ordered every 10th Texan in captivity executed as punishment for the escape. Of the 176 men recaptured, 17 were to die. General Santa Anna

Santa Anna’s Revenge To determine which men were to be executed, each prisoner drew a bean from a jar containing white and black beans. Those who drew a black bean were executed immediately. The rest of the prisoners who drew white beans were transferred to a prison in Vera Cruz. They were not released until 1844.

The Regulator-Moderator War Two groups of settlers called the Regulators and the Moderators had been feuding since 1839 in East Texas. Both groups were formed to keep law and order. By 1841, each group protected itself from the other as property was burned and there were revenge killings.

The Regulator-Moderator War In August 1844, Sam Houston sent 600 Texas militia to East Texas to end the feud and bring peace. The militia stopped the fighting, but smaller feuds continued for the rest of the century.