The Republic of Texas

The Republic of Texas

Treaty of Velasco May 1836 – Treaties of Velasco • After San Jacinto, Santa Anna was forced to sign the Treaty of Velasco. This treaty ended the Texas Revolution and gave Texas its independence. • It had two parts, one public and one secret:

Public and Secret • The public part of the treaty made Santa Anna agree to never fight against Texas again and to withdraw all troops out of Texas.

• The secret part of the treaty made Santa Anna promise to get Mexico to recognize Texas independence and set the southern border of Texas as the Rio Grande.

Republic of Texas • Republic of Texas granted citizens liberties including freedom of religion

The Early Republic In 1836, 5 months after the Revolution, Texans held an election Results of the Election of 1836

President: Sam Houston

Vice President: Mirabeau B. Lamar

Constitution: approved the Texas Constitution of 1836

Congress: elected senators and representatives

Annexation: voted to seek U.S. annexation of Texas

1836 – Sam Houston Elected President

st 1

Administration

• Houston focused on: – Forming a Gov’t – Focused primarily on: Debt – Other issues dealt with: army, American Indians & Mexico – Moved capital to Houston

Problems in the new Republic 1. Mexico wouldn’t acknowledge its independence & disputed its territory 2. Other nations wouldn’t recognize TX as independent 3. Debt (lack of money) from Texas Revolution 4. Conflicts with Texas Indians 5. Military

Houston Solves Problems • Got U.S. to recognize the Republic of TX • Money: Economic Policies; added poll tax, printed more money • Military: sent entire army home, except 600 soldiers – Texas Rangers: replace army with Rangers • Primary Purpose of TX Rangers – protect Texans from American Indian Tribes • Indians: Called on the Texas Rangers; tried to make peace by giving them title to their land, TX Senate refused to accept this • He believed the best thing for Texas would be annexation to the U.S.

Chief Bowles • Leader of the Cherokees • Signed treaty w/ Houston during the TX Revolution

Mexico not recognizing Texas as independent

Reduce military (ie: Felix Huston who wanted to start war)

DEBT

Raids by Indians

Promissory notes Cut Spending

Texas Rangers

The Texas Question • Most Texans wanted Texas to become part of the United States including Pres. Sam Houston. • But Northerners in the U.S. did not want to see the expansion of Slavery into new U.S. territory. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 had limited the amount of future Slaves states and Texas would disrupt the balance.

The First Attempt to Annexation • The addition of Texas to the United States made sense to many. • Texan Anson Jones went to the U.S. Congress and tried to get them to accept Texas into the Union. • Texas would have been considered a slave state, and many members of the U.S. congress opposed slavery. • This decision was delayed, and Houston ordered Jones to withdraw the request.

– Houston didn’t want Texas to be embarrassed by having its request delayed any longer.

Second Administration

1838 – Mirabeau Lamar elected President Vice President – David G. Burnet Houston couldn’t run fro a second term as President

Mirabeau Lamar • “Father of Education” • Didn’t agree w/Houston’s policies • Focused on: – Pushing American Indians farther west – Commitment to education – A new capital (Austin) • More than doubled the debt by Indian Wars & increased inflation • Was against Annexation

A New Capital • Lamar did not like Houston being the capital of Texas. • Lamar wanted a more centrally located capital. • He choose 100 miles north of San Antonio. • He named this site Austin, in honor of Stephen F. Austin. http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/02/25/mardi.gras.melee/map.texas.austin.jpg

Lamar’s Problems • • • •

Biggest problem was money Gov’t was spending more than it was making TX gov’t was lots on military TX dollar called “redbacks” was only work about 2 cents by 1841

Lamar’s Indian Policies • Lamar disliked Indians & wanted them removed from Texas • He ordered the Cherokees to leave Texas • Chief Bowles – ordered to lead Cherokee out, refused • Lamar sent soldier to force them out • Bowles was killed • Cherokees forced to present-day Oklahoma

Lamar’s Presidency ECONOMY

LAND POLICY

TEXAS INDIANS

Action

Action

Action

issued red backs

passed homestead law

declared war on American Indians

Result

Result

Result

worthless within three years, in part because of rising national debt

protected Texans’ homes and up to 50 acres from seizure for debts

removed Cherokee from East Texas, pushed Comanche north & west, increased debt

Third Administration Sam Houston’s 2nd Term 1841 • Worked to reduce debt created by Lamar’s policies • Worked to renew peace with Indians • Settled dispute over land titles • Pushed for annexation • Opposed building Navy – thought it would drain Texas’s finances

FourthAdministration 1844 - Anson Jones elected President • • • •

Followed most of Houston’s policies Maintained peace with Native Americans Tried to limit spending Pushed for Annexation

• 1845 – Texas is Annexed into the U.S.

Presidents of the Republic of Texas Sam Houston (1836 - 1838)

Sam Houston

• 1st President of the Republic of Texas

• 3rd President of the Republic of Texas

Mirabeau B Lamar (1838 -

(1841 -1844)

1841)

Dr Anson Jones (1844 - 1846)

• 2nd President of the Republic of Texas

• 4th and final President of the Republic of Texas

• Known as the “Father of Education in Texas”

• President when Texas became a state of the United States

• • • • • • • • •

limited government spending faced financial problems promissory notes was peaceful with Mexico and the Indians reduced the army eliminated the navy supported annexation served as president of the Republic of Texas served 2 terms

• • • • • • • • •

increased government spending faced financial problems “Redbacks” issued encouraged war with Mexico and Indians supported military expeditions established public education wanted TX to be independent served as president of the Republic of Texas served 1 term

• announced the annexation of Texas • supported annexation

• served as president of the Republic of Texas

• served 1 term