The Republic of Texas 1836-1846

David G. Burnet (Mar. 16, 1836 – Oct. 22, 1836) Texas Revolution Elected ad-interim president by delegates at Washington-on-the-Brazos during revolution. Capital: Harrisburg Fled to Galveston to escape Santa Anna Government moved to Velasco after the Battle of San Jacinto

2) Treaties of Velasco Public Treaty Santa Anna would never fight against Texas again Mexican troops would leave Texas Exchange all prisoners Secret Treaty Santa Anna would get Mexico to recognize Texas’ independence Rio Grande would be the border between Texas/Mexico

3) Sept. 1836: election for official Govt. of Rep. of Texas. Sam Houston: President Houston 5119 votes Henry Smith 743 votes Stephen F. Austin 587 votes. Mirabeau B. Lamar: Vice President Stephen F. Austin: Secretary of State Houston Smith Lamar Austin

Samuel Houston (Oct. 22, 1836 – Dec. 10, 1838) New Capital Houston, TX; named in his honor. Annexation into U.S.A. Texans wanted to be annexed Manifest Destiny for U.S. (westward expansion) Some U.S. leaders didn’t want Texas because Texans supported slavery

Cut government spending Created taxes (customs duties, property taxes) 3) Finances Over $1 million in debt Cut government spending Created taxes (customs duties, property taxes) Didn’t work; Texans too broke to pay No loan from U.S. Printed paper money (star money) Didn’t work; no gold or silver to back it up People lost faith in the paper money, $1 was only worth 12₵. Debt increased to over $3 million

4) Military Troubles Mexico refused Rio Grande as border Army Commander Felix Huston & most soldiers wanted to keep fighting Mexico. Houston tried to replace Commander Huston with Albert Sidney Johnston Huston shot Johnston in a duel Huston tried to convince congress to order attack on Mexico Houston ordered Texas Army “home-on-leave” Only 600 loyal soldiers were called back to duty Bonus! Didn’t have to pay the soldiers on leave. Huston Johnston

Houston negotiated peace treaty with Cherokee Chief Bowles 5) Native Americans Houston negotiated peace treaty with Cherokee Chief Bowles Texas Congress refused to ratify treaty. Native American tribes raided Texas settlements Houston relied on the Texas Rangers to patrol frontier Chief Bowles Texas Rangers

Mirabeau B. Lamar (Dec. 10, 1838 – Dec. 13, 1841 Capital Moved to Waterloo, renamed Austin, in honor of Stephen F. Austin. Education Created public education system 18,000 acres per county for public schools, plus land for state universities. “Father of Texas Education” “A cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy…It is the only dictator that freemen acknowledge and the only security that freemen desire.”

3) Mexico Mex. wouldn’t recognize Texas’ independence. Sent Texas Navy to assist revolt against Mexico in the Yucatan Santa Fe Expedition expedition to claim New Mexico Settlers refused to become part of Texas Expedition arrested and marched to prison in Mexico City.

Drove the Cherokee out of Texas 4) Native Americans Battle of the Neches Drove the Cherokee out of Texas Council House Fight Peace conference with Comanche in San Antonio Fighting breaks out; Comanche chiefs and Texans killed Comanche attack all across Texas in revenge Battle of Plum Creek Army Commander Felix Huston finally defeats the main group of Comanche. Small raids continue for years Council House Fight Battle of Plum Creek

Increased the debt significantly. 5) Finances Spent $5 million: Texas Navy, Santa Fe Expedition, Indian Wars, education Couldn’t recoup the cost via taxes or loans, tried printing paper money (red backs); didn’t work. Increased the debt significantly.

Samuel Houston (Dec. 13, 1841 – Dec. 9, 1844) Finances Greatly decreased govt. spending Fired many govt. workers, lowered govt. salaries Cut the size of the Army used Texas Rangers & volunteers to defend the republic Tried to sell the Texas Navy Commodore Edwin Moore refused to allow the sale, refused to return the Navy to Galveston. Houston declared Moore a pirate, formally tried him for mutiny, piracy, and murder Moore found innocent, remained in the Navy The people of Galveston prevented sale, saved the Texas Navy. Houston reduced govt. spending by millions of dollars, but debt kept growing Houston Edwin Moore

2) Native Americans Houston resumed peace with Native Americans signed peace treaties with all Texan tribes Texas gave the American Indians gifts, built trading posts, agreed to slow migration into their lands. Houston’s peace plan cost less than $1 million.

3) Archives War Mex. invaded Texas, captured Victoria, Goliad, and San Antonio. Houston ordered Texas Rangers to move govt. records (archives) to Washington-on-the-Brazos. Citizens of Austin didn’t want the capital to move. Fired cannons at the Texas Rangers trying to remove the archives. Archives stayed in Austin, but Houston’s govt. moved to Washington-on-the-Brazos.

4) Mexican Troubles Mex. Army captures San Antonio again, Texan volunteers chased them out. Texas militia victorious at Battle of Salado Creek. Another militia defeated in “Dawson’s Massacre.” Houston sent General Alexander Somervell to Rio Grande, Somervell could invade Mexico if he thought his army could win. Somervell ordered withdrawal after taking Laredo. 300 of Somervell’s men invaded anyway, attacked town of Mier. Texans defeated, 176 captured & marched to Mexico City. Santa Anna ordered 1 out of every 10 men executed. Captives drew beans from jar, white beans were safe, black beans were executed. Known as the “Black Bean Episode”.

Dr. Anson Jones (Dec. 9, 1844 – Feb. 19, 1846) Kept Houston’s Mexican/Native American policies, returned capital to Austin. Annexation Issues Texans FOR: Fear of Mexico U.S. could keep Texas safe Financial Texas Govt. was deep in debt. American currency worth more than Texan currency Texans AGAINST: Wanted to stay independent Americans FOR: Manifest Destiny (Westward expansion) Didn’t want Britain involved in Texas Americans AGAINST annexation: Additional slave state probably war with Mexico Texas’ debt would add to U.S. debt.

3) Annexation at Last! Jones/Houston convince US President, John Tyler, and US Congress to sign joint resolution accepting Texas as 28th state. Texas citizens must approve state constitution Texas keeps public lands, but money from sale must repay Texas’ debts Texas could divide into five or less states if wanted Texas would be a slave state. Great Britain didn’t want Texas in the US, convinced Mex. to recognize Texas’ independence. Texas congress voted: annexation into the US vs. remain independent with Mexican recognition. Congress unanimously approved annexation in June, 1845 A convention of delegates approved annexation on July 4, 1845. Texas people voted for annexation and adopted State Constitution on Oct. 13, 1845. December 29, 1845; Texas is officially annexed into the United States as the 28th State.