Chapter 12: A New Nation Section 2: Houston’s First Term

Bellwork What are the qualities of a good leader?

Houston’s Administration Oct 1836: Sam Houston elected president of the Republic of Texas Sam Houston

Houston’s Administration Houston’s Goals: –Peace with American Indians –Keep guarded against Mexico –Annexation by the U.S.

Houston’s Administration Secretary of State: Stephen F. Austin Secretary of the Treasury: Henry Smith

Houston’s Administration Secretary of the Navy Samuel Rhodes Fisher Secretary of War Thomas J. Rusk

Houston’s Administration Supreme Court: –Chief Justice James Collinsworth –4 Associate Justices 4 District Courts 23 County Courts Chief Justice James Collinsworth

Houston’s Administration Texas claimed Rio Grande as boundary Mexico claimed Nueces River as boundary

Houston’s Administration Ad interim government moved government to Columbia Late 1836: Houston named temporary capital

Houston & Army Unrest Felix Huston: Texas army commander who desired to invade Mexico Replaced by Houston Duel between Huston & Albert Sydney Johnston Felix Huston

Houston & Army Unrest Johnston unable to take command Unrest grows Commander urges a march on the capital Albert Sidney Johnston

Houston & Army Unrest President Houston reduced the size of the army in 1836 because unrest in the army threatened the new government. Houston relied on the Texas Rangers and militia for frontier defense

Economic Policies Expenditures—government expenses Revenues—government income National debt = $1.25 million

U.S. National Debt Each citizen’s share = $30, Grows on average of $1.43 billion per day As of Jan 21, 2008

Economic Policies Efforts to solve problems: –Collected taxes and duties –Tried to get loans from the U.S. –Sale of public lands

Economic Policies Panic of 1837: Financial crisis during Houston’s administration Began in U.S. Texas heavily traded with the U.S.

Economic Policies Limited supply Not backed Value dropped after more paper money was printed Republic of Texas Currency

Land Policy Under Houston – 1836: Texas claimed over 200 million acres in public lands – Constitution of 1836 provided for sale of lands – Empresario system

Land Policy Under Houston Heads of households: 4,604 acres Single men: 1,476 acres Distributed 37 million acres

Houston’s American Indian Policy Conflict spreads as settlement spreads American Indians want to keep land, Texans want to remove Indians

Houston’s American Indian Policy Houston lived with the Cherokee Indians Desired a peaceful solution Sam Houston

Houston’s American Indian Policy Houston negotiated a treaty with the Cherokee Cherokee guaranteed title to land Senate refused to ratify

Houston’s American Indian Policy Ratify—approve or accept formally Cherokee become angry Mexican agents convince Cherokee to attack

Houston’s American Indian Policy Chief Bowles— Cherokee leader and friend of Sam Houston Encourages Cherokee to remain patient Chief Bowles

Houston’s American Indian Policy Gave Cherokee land to keep peace Cherokee viewed as Mexican allies Enlisted Chief Bowles to help keep peace with Plains Indians

Houston’s American Indian Policy Establishes line of forts along frontier Used Texas Rangers to patrol frontier Texans viewed Indians as a roadblock

Houston’s American Indian Policy Negotiated treaties with Indians Houston believed the best American Indian policy was to make peace with each American Indian group.

ProblemSolution/Action Unruly Army Debt Lack of clear land policy Conflict with Indians