The Republic, Sam Houston, and Annexation Chapter 11.3

Sam Houston elected again In 1841 Sam Houston was elected president of the Republic of Texas for a second term. His views and policies were the same as before: prevent war with Mexico, spend little money join the United States. He cut back on Lamar’s expansion policy, reduced the Army, and eliminated the Navy. He ordered Edwin Moore back to Texas. Moore had been fighting Mexico in the Yucatan.

Mexico strikes back… On March 5th, 1842 (almost 6 years to the day the Alamo fell) 700 Mexican soldiers took control of San Antonio. On September 11th, 1842 Mexican General Adrian Woll led 1,400 soldiers into San Antonio and took 67 hostages. Houston ordered General Alexander Somervell to pursue Woll with 300 men.

Somervell pursues Woll Somervell failed to reach the Mexicans and the hostages before reaching the Rio Grande. He refused to go on, but half of his men volunteered to go after the Mexicans. When they reached the town of Mier in Mexico they were captured by Mexican forces. Some managed to escape, but 176 faced the fate of an old Mexican leader…

He’s back!!!! San Anna is back in power in Mexico. At first Santa Anna ordered all 176 captured men executed, like at Goliad. “The Black Bean Incident” He then decided on another fate – One out of every 10 prisoners would be put to death. 159 white beans and 17 black beans were put into a pot. Each prisoner drew a bean, if they selected white they lived. Black, and they were executed. Those who weren’t executed were put in prison for almost two years.

Back in Texas Houston did not like the new capital of Austin. He thought it was too far in the frontier and could easily be attacked by the Mexicans and Indians. Houston tried to move the capital to the city of Washington-on-the-Brazos.

The Archives War Archives – public records, papers, or documents Some of Houston’s men tried to move the state archives from Austin to Washington-on-the-Brazos. Citizens responded by firing weapons and forcing the archives to stay in Austin. A woman – Angelina Eberly – first warned the citizens by firing a cannon.

Annexation In 1844, the U.S. Congress debated making Texas a territory of the nation. The vote on the bill fell one vote shy of approval. Texas and Sam Houston would have to wait some more.

1844 Elections In 1844, Texas elected their fourth president – Dr. Anson Jones. In the U.S. elections, James K. Polk a nominee from Tennessee, won the U.S. presidency. He favored annexing Texas. Jones Polk

Texas becomes a state The U.S. Congress approved a resolution on February 26th, 1845 to accept Texas as the 28th state. A state constitution was approved by Texans in October 1845 and by the U.S. Congress in December 1845. On February 19th, 1846 Texas officially joined the U.S. 10 years after the Republic was founded.

The U.S. in 1845 With the annexation of Texas the U.S. grew to 2/3rds the size it is today.

Manifest Destiny Because of the rapid expansion west, many Americans believed it was their destiny by God or “Manifest Destiny” to occupy all the land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.