Problems in the Republic of Texas

The Republic of Texas

Foreign Recognition Texas could say it was a country but, it wasn’t until another country officially accepted Texas Relations with Mexico was one of the young Republic’s greatest challenges in foreign relations. Texas was therefore eager to have other countries, recognize, or officially accept, its status as an independent country. They also hoped that recognition would lead to foreign trade and loans, both of which were desperately needed to improve the Republic’s economy.

Foreign Recognition Recognition from the United States was particularly important. Texans hoped it would pave the way for U.S. annexation of Texas. However, the northern and southern states were at odds over the issue of slavery. Northerners who opposed slavery were against recognition of the Republic of Texas because it supported slavery and opposed any action to free slaves.

Foreign Recognition The United States was the 1st to officially recognize Texas in France became the 2 nd in It was the 1 st European country. Great Britain recognized Texas independence in November  Belgium and the Netherlands recognized Texas soon after but, Mexico never did.

Santa Fe Expedition In 1836 Texas’ borders were defined as the mouth of the Rio Grande to where it begins. This included parts of New Mexico, including Santa Fe. President Lamar decided he was going to enforce this…even though people in New Mexico didn’t want to be Texans!!

Santa Fe Expedition In 1841 Lamar sent 320 men, and 5 companies of soldiers to Santa Fe to take control of it. They took about $200,000 worth of goods. The group started running low on water and food. American Indians started attacking.

Santa Fe Expedition The groups split up – one stayed with the wagons, while the other headed toward New Mexico. Both got captured by Mexican troops. They were marched over 1,200 miles to Mexico City where they were put in jail. 60 Texans died and the expedition cost a large sum of money.

Archives War In 1842 Mexico attacked Texas. General Rafael Vasquez with 700 troops attacked San Antonio, Goliad, Refugio, and Victoria. He then promptly returned to Mexico.  Houston called a special session of Congress to meet in Houston, arguing that Austin was defenseless against Mexican attack. He also ordered the secretary of state to remove the archives back to Houston.

Archives War The people of Austin did not want this to happen because they were afraid that Houston would replace Austin as the capital. The citizens of Austin were determined to prevent the move. They formed a vigilante "Committee of Safety" and warned the heads of government in Austin that any attempts to move the official papers would be met with armed resistance.

Archives War In December 1842, Houston announced that Austin was no longer the capital and ordered Colonel Thomas I. Smith and Captain Eli Chandler to Austin to remove the archives. Smith and Chandler and 20 men loaded three wagons without incident before being spotted by Angelia Eberly. She fired a cannon to alert the citizens of Austin. Smith and Chandler fled with their wagons, with the vigilantes in hot pursuit. At Brushy Creek in Williamson County, just north of Austin, Chandler and Smith were forced to surrender at gunpoint. The archives were returned to Austin, where the citizens celebrated with a New Year's Eve party.

Mexico Attacks Again!! In 1842 General Adrian Woll attacked San Antonio with 1,400 troops. Hundreds of Texas militia and Texas Rangers headed for San Antonio. They attacked General Woll at Salado Creek. The Mexicans retreated to Mexico taking prisoners with them.

Mier Expedition President Houston ordered General Alexander Somervell to go to the Rio Grande with 750 troops to get back the prisoners captured by General Woll. When Somervell go there he realized he did not have enough troops or supplies and ordered his troops home. 300 disobeyed and decided to attack Mexico anyways.

Mier Expedition Texas troops under the command of Colonel William Fisher entered Mier on December 23, They demanded supplies from the townspeople. They townspeople said they would have them the next day. The next day no supplies were given then Texans attacked the town only find 900 Mexican troops waiting for them.

Mier Expedition After a day of fighting 100 Mexican soldiers and 30 Texans were dead or wounded. Texans surrendered because they were running out of supplies. The Mexican commander ignored orders to kill the prisoners and marched them to Mexico City.

Mier Expedition 200 Texans escaped on the march to Mexico City. However, wandering through the mountains with no food or water caused many to either die or be recaptured. Santa Anna, who was President of Mexico again, ordered the prisoners to be shot. An aid told him not to shoot everyone because it would anger the world and bring war to Mexico.

The Black Bean Incident Santa Anna ordered every 10 th person to be shot. 176 Texan prisoners drew beans from a clay jar to see who would live and who would die. A white bean meant you lived, while a black bean meant you died.

The Black Bean Incident If you drew the black bean you were blindfolded and shot. Out of the men who drew the white bean: 18 eventually escaped, at least 20 died in jail, and others were eventually pardoned. It wasn’t until September 1844 that the last of the prisoners were released.

The Black Bean Incident

Be Nice to Texas!! Great Britain and France wanted to stop the United States from expanding, or getting bigger, and because of this they did not want Texas to be part of the U.S. In 1845, the governments of Great Britain and France again intervened to attempt to continue Texan independence by brokering a permanent peace. Their negotiations were successful: Mexico would recognize the independence of Texas on the condition that Texas remain independent.

Decisions…Decisions… President Anson Jones presented both the United States’ Joint Resolution to Annex Texas and the Mexican treaty terms to the Congress of the Republic and to the Annexation Convention, and through them to the people of Texas. Texas had a choice to make…