Essential Question: How do governments change? The Convention of 1836 Essential Question: How do governments change?

Starting a New Republic In early February 1836, Santa Anna marched into Texas with a large army, crossing the Rio Grande at Laredo. By February 23, his army was in San Antonio. While one group of Texans was readying for battle in San Antonio, 59 elected delegates began arriving at Washington-on-the-Brazos to attend the Convention of 1836.

Starting a New Republic The delegates began their work on March 1, 1836. The Convention of 1836 marked the fourth time that Texans had met to debate the status of Texas as a part of Mexico. In 1832 and 1833, they had appealed to the Mexican government. In 1835 they had sought support from other Mexican states. At this fourth meeting, most delegates were determined to split from Mexico.

The location of the Convention of 1836 was … Washington-on-the-Brazos Lubbock San Antonio Galveston The answer is: A

Delegates to the Convention The delegates were all male, representing all the Texas settlements. Only two of the 59 delegates, José Antonio Navarro and José Francisco Ruíz, were native Texans. Forty-five of the delegates had been born in the southern United States and moved to Texas. Seven were originally from the northern United States. One delegate was from Mexico and four came from foreign countries—one each from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Canada. Navarro Ruiz Zavala

WHO WAS LORENZO DE ZAVALA? “I, a Mexican by birth and always partial to (fond of) my native country, have been torn between opposing duties and sentiments (feelings).” Decided to support the Texas fight for independence Supported democratic ideals Found a colony with 500 families in Texas Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence Vice-President of the new Republic of Texas Helped to form a new government in Texas

Delegates to the Convention Several of the delegates had previous legislative experience. The first task of the convention was to elect a chairman, and the delegates chose Richard Ellis. H. S. Kimble was chosen as secretary, to record debates and decisions. The next important step the delegates took was to appoint a committee to write a declaration of independence.

Declaring Independence George Childress, originally from Tennessee, had made the motion to write a declaration and was named chairman of the committee to write it. On the morning of March 2, the committee presented the Texas Declaration of Independence to the convention. That same day, all the delegates at the convention approved the declaration. As a result, March 2 became Texas Independence Day.

Declaring Independence After approving Childress’s declaration, the convention turned its attention to writing a constitution for the new republic (a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives). On the night of March 16, the constitution was completed and approved. The delegates then formed an ad interim government and elected Sam Houston as the commander-in-chief of the Texas military.

Models for a New Government The delegates had only a short time to write both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution of Texas. Most of the delegates were very familiar with the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, and the U.S. Constitution. These documents served as the Texas writers’ main models. They also included rights they enjoyed under Spanish and Mexican governments.

James Fannin George C. Childress David Crockett Juan Seguin Just as Thomas Jefferson was in charge of writing the United States Declaration of Independence, ________ was in charge of writing the Texas Declaration of Independence. James Fannin George C. Childress David Crockett Juan Seguin The answer is: B

Looking to American Government DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE The Texas Declaration began with a justification of the their actions. Santa Anna had violated the liberties guaranteed under the Mexican Constitution of 1824. The Convention of 1836 charged that Texans had been deprived of many rights. Those rights included freedom of religion and the right to trial by jury, the right to bear arms, and the right to petition the government. Finally, because Mexico had sent a large army, the declaration also noted that the Texans’ protests against these policies were met with military force.

Texas and U.S. Declaration of Independence

CONSTITUTION There were also similarities between the Constitution of Texas and that of the United States. Both documents established three branches of government: the executive (chief governing officer), legislative (lawmaking body), and judicial (courts). Similar to the U.S. Constitution, Texas’s constitution contained a Bill of Rights that guaranteed basic rights. They included freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, trial by jury, and other basic civil rights, or guaranteed freedoms. This Bill of Rights established civil freedom, political freedom, and religious freedom in Texas.

Spanish and Mexican Models Some features of the Texas Constitution were based on practices common in Spanish and Mexican law courts. For instance, the document recognized both husbands and wives as able to own community property. The constitution also had protections for people in debt. For example, certain property could not be seized as payment of debts. Ministers and priests were barred from holding public office.

Limits on Rights The Convention of 1836 did not treat all people of Texas equally. (Slavery was legal.) Free African Americans were not permitted to live in the Republic of Texas without the permission of the legislature, and their rights to own land were restricted. Native American rights were also left out of the Constitution. Sam Houston, an adopted member of the Cherokee Nation, tried to get them land titles, but the convention did not approve it.

An Ad Interim Government There was not time to hold general elections to approve the constitution and to vote for a leader of the new republic. Therefore, it was necessary to set up a temporary government. The new leaders included the first president, David G. Burnet. Sam Houston was elected by unanimous vote as commander-in-chief of the (volunteers and the regular) army.

On the Move Houston left the convention on March 6 to take command of the army at Gonzales, arriving there on March 11. By that time, the Alamo had already fallen, its defenders killed. On March 15, reports reached the convention that the Alamo had fallen. Two days later, on March 17, the delegates received word that Santa Anna’s army was marching toward their location at Washington-on-the-Brazos. With that news, the convention adjourned, or ended, and the members scattered. (From Harrisburg to Galveston)

Summary One of the first acts of the Convention of 1836 was to require males to serve in the military because they expected to fight for independence. Both American and Texas Declaration of Independence documents justify the act of declaring independence. The Convention of 1836 did NOT address the rights of Native Americans. The delegates did not approve a treaty that granted the Cherokee in Texas the right to their lands. The news of the Alamo made them more certain that they were doing the right thing in establishing an independent country. The establishment of the Republic of Texas brought civil freedom, political freedom, and religious freedom to the new nation. The Texas Constitution had a Bill of Rights that guaranteed basic rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, trial by jury, and other basic civil rights.