1. Lamar’s Presidency
Unit 6:
Chapter 12 Section 2

2. Mirabeau Lamar Becomes President
Texans elected Lamar president when Houston’s term ended in 1838.
Improving education was Lamar’s main goal.
Congress set aside nearly 18,000 acres of land in each county to support public schools

3. The Cordova Rebellion
In 1838, Vicente Cordova gathered a group of 400 Cherokee and Mexican loyalists on the Angelina River in East Texas.
They were easily defeated by Texas forces.
This event led to distrust of Mexicans and the urge to remove the Cherokees from Texas.

4. The Capital Is Moved to Austin
1839 Congress approved Waterloo on the Colorado River as the site of a permanent capital.
The new capital was named Austin, in honor of S.F.A.
There, the government built a large, capitol building on Congress Avenue

5. Lamar’s Policy Towards the Indians
Lamar believed the Cherokees had no fair claim to Texas lands they occupied.
He ordered their removal from Texas. The Battle of Neches results with the death of Chief “Duwali” Bowles.
Surviving Cherokees were forced from their land and moved across the Red River out of Texas.

6. The Council House Fight
After raiding several settlements, the Comanches agree to meet with Texas authorities.
The Comanches promised to bring their Anglo captives, but produced only one girl, Matilda Lockhart.
The angered Texans tried to take the Comanches hostage, but they resisted.

7. The Council House Fight
The fight results in 7 Texan and 35 Comanche deaths.
The Council House Fight has been called “the greatest blunder in the history of Texan-Indian relations.” It led to more raids, battles (Plum Creek), and overall more bloody conflict.

8. Conflicts with the Comanches
Lamar’s
Conflicts with the Comanches

9. Texas Rebuilds Its Navy
Lamar ordered a newly restored navy into Mexican waters.
He thought Mexico would recognize Texas in exchange for the promise that the navy would not invade Mexico.
Sam Houston regained the presidency in 1841 and recalled the navy.

10. The Santa Fe Expedition
The Texans wanted control of Santa Fe, a trading center on the upper Rio Grande in present-day New Mexico.
1841: Lamar sent an expedition party led by Jose Antonio Navarro (a Lamar supporter and Houston critic) to Santa Fe to try to control the region and open up trade for Texas.

11. Santa Fe Expedition, 1841

12. The Santa Fe Expedition
The Santa Fe expedition had many misfortunes and hardships; heat, shortages of water and food, and Indian attacks that led to suffering.
They were also confronted by a Mexican army that took the Texans captive and forced them to march 1,000 miles to Mexico City where some were later imprisoned.
Expedition considered a failure.

13. Financial Difficulties
Lamar’s maintenance of the navy and expeditions were expensive.
As a result, Texas paper money called “redbacks” were issued to help pay off the debt. Ultimately, they became worthless and had no real value.
Texas was deeply in debt when Lamar left office – more than $7 million!