Pioneer Life in the Young State Texas History Chapters 13 and 14

Population Growth Between the Battle of San Jacinto and annexation, the Texas population tripled. Abandoned homes in the South would be marked with GTT, “Gone to Texas.”

Population Growth Settlers obtained land under the Homestead Act by living on the land. Most Texas pioneers either farmed or raised livestock.

Agriculture Most Texans made their living in agriculture. Most Mexican Americans in Texas worked as ranchers and farmers. They obtained land under Texas’ land policy.

Agriculture Getting into the cattle business was relatively easy because of the wild cattle herds.

Agriculture Crops sold to raise money are called cash crops. Cotton was the leading cash crop.

Agriculture Crops used on the farm where they are raised are called subsistence crops. Corn was the chief subsistence crop.

Agriculture City of Jefferson was the main outlet for cotton grown in Northeast Texas Steamboats went from Jefferson to Louisiana.

Transportation Early travel was difficult. Steamboats operated on major rivers and went to Houston on the Buffalo Bayou.

Transportation Some roads had been Native American trails. Stagecoach was popular but expensive way to travel.

Education Houston was the only city during the time of the Republic to have a public school.

New Jobs The development of towns resulted in more jobs for people in various trades. One of the 1st telegraph lines in Texas was built between Houston and Galveston.

Slavery Continues The development of plantations contributed to an increase in enslaved people.

Slavery Continues African Americans included 30% of the 1840s Texas population. Brazoria County had one of the largest populations of enslaved people.

Slavery Continues The Whig political party strongly opposed slavery. Racism is the belief that some races are superior and some are inferior.

Free African Americans Mary Madison wanted to live in Texas as a free person even though she was African American. She filed a petition with the Texas Legislature to remain in Texas.

Immigrants The American Party wanted to restrict the rights of immigrants. Most European immigrants to Texas came from Germany.

Immigrants New Braunfels was one of the largest towns establish by German immigrants in the 1840s.

Immigrants The immigration company, Adelsverien,brought Germans to Texas. They left Germany due to poverty, heavy taxes and political problems.

Immigrants The potato blight that struck Ireland in the 1840s also struck Germany.

New Religions The Texas Constitution of 1836 guaranteed freedom of religion. In 1853, the first Jewish services were held in Galveston.

New State Government Writing a constitution was one of the 1st actions in setting up the Texas state government. Texas still had problems with debt.

Native Americans Texas still had problems with Native American raids. The Texas reservation system for Native Americans never was successful.

Native Americans In 1989, Texans recognized the Kickapoos as a sovereign nation.

Tejanos Tejanos are Texans of Mexican descent. Jose Antonio Navarro was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico.

Problems with Mexico Mexico still refused to recognize Texas as independent. Mexico considered the Nueces River the southern border of Texas.

Problems with Mexico Mexico was insulted by Texas’ annexation by the United States.

War with Mexico Continued U.S. westward expansion led to conflict with Mexico. John Slidell was sent to negotiate with the Mexican government over western lands and boundaries.

War with Mexico War was declared when troops clashed at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. U.S. forces were better equipped and better led than the Mexican forces.

War with Mexico Former Texas President Mirabeau Lamar was an officer in the U.S. Army. Texas Rangers served as army scouts.

War with Mexico Zachary Taylor defeated a Mexican army led by Santa Anna at Buena Vista in February 1847. General Winfield Scott captured Mexico City in September 1847.

Guadalupe-Hidalgo In the Treaty, Mexico surrendered, or ceded, all territory between Texas and the Pacific Ocean. Mexican Cession

Civil Rights Juan Cortina was known as a protector of the rights of Mexicans and Tejanos.

Good Luck on Your Test!