1. Section 3 The Lone Star Republic
Texas Faces the World
Republic of Texas – independent nation of Texas
Capital – Houston
Sam Houston elected president (former governor of Tennessee); Mirabeau Lamar – VP
New government asked the U.S. to annex Texas in 1837
Members of Congress wanted to annex but President Jackson (and later President Van Buren) was concerned because Texas supported slavery
Also, Jackson did not want to go to war with Mexico

2. American Indians and Tejanos
Indian policy changed (became more harsh) in when Mirabeau Lamar became president
Demanded American Indians leave homelands and follow all Texas laws – threatened military action if they refused
Houston elected to 2nd term (1841), fighting slowed
Texans had already forced most American Indians from their eastern lands

3. New Immigrants
Majority from southern states; most small farmers, did not own slaves
Slaveholders attracted because TX constitution made slavery legal
Population of enslaved African Americans increased from 5000 (1836) to 70,000(1845)
Germans made up largest group of European immigrants to TX
Laws had to published in German and English (1843)
Established farming communities

4. Struggles of the Republic
Relied on militia companies and Texas Rangers for defense and frontier protection
Mexico still considered TX to be its property
1841 – Lamar authorized military attack on Santa Fe in Mexican territory of New Mexico
Invasion lacked approval of Texas Congress and failed n

5. Section 4 Oregon and the Far West
The Fur Traders
American Fur Company = one of the largest businesses that bought furs from trappers; owned by John Jacob Astor
Mountain men adopted American Indian Customs and clothing to survive; often married American Indian women
Era of American fur trading in Pacific Northwest lasted a short time
Demand for beaver furs fell as fashions changed

6. Section 5 California and the Southwest
Going to California
Mexico gave Swiss immigrant John Sutter permission to start a colony in 1839
Sutter’s Fort was located near the Sacramento River and became a popular rest stop for American immigrants

7. Other Southwestern Trails
After Mexico gained its independence in 1821, the Mexican government agreed to allow American merchants to come to New Mexico
Seized opportunity by starting the Santa Fe Trail – ran from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico
U.S. government offered traders protection by sending troops and providing money to ensure American Indian cooperation

8. Frontier Artists
George Catlin gave up career as portrait painter in Philadelphia to go west
Painted more than 500 images of American Indians