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Convention of 1836 Declaration of Independence Texas Constitution 1836
Convention of 1836Declaration of Independence
Texas Constitution
1836
Meeting of the Convention
General Council of Texas called for a Convention
General Council wanted to create a permanent government
Provisional Government had failed because the Governor and General Council didn’t get along
Meeting of the Convention
Texans differed in what they fought for in early days of the revolution
They had to put aside differences and establish a common goal
Voters from across Texas selected delegates to the convention on February 1, 1836
Mexican AdvanceSanta Anna’s large army marched through Texas
The General’s goal was clear...crush the rebels!
At the end of February, Santa Anna laid siege on the Alamo
If the Texans were going to have a voice, they had to act quickly
Mexican AdvanceOn March 1, the delegates met at Washington-on-the-Brazos for the Convention of 1836
Possibly met at Noah Byar’s Blacksmith Shop
Santa Anna was only 150 miles away
Convention of 1836
A total of 59 male delegates attended the Convention of 1836
Only two (2) delegates were born in Texas – most born in U.S.
Most delegates were lawyers, planters, soldiers – many well educated with political experience
Convention of 1836
All delegates agreed that they now wanted to be free from Mexico
But, delegates had different ideas about the shape that the Texas government should take
They disagreed on many issues and had many heated debates
Convention of 1836
Some delegates thought they should join the fight at the Alamo
Sam Houston convinced them that joining the battle was not a good idea
The most pressing task was creation of a government for Texas
Houston knew for the revolution to succeed, it would need to have direction
Texas Declaration of IndependenceDelegates opened the meeting by electing officers on the first day
Richard Ellis was elected president of the convention
He appointed a committee
to write a declaration of
independence
Texas Declaration of IndependenceHe named lawyer, George C. Childress, to lead this group
Childress wasted no time, worked all night and presented the document the next day
EVERY delegate voted to approve the declaration on March 2, 1836
They declared Texas an independent republic
George C. Childress
Texas vs. U.S. Declaration
Childress had a good model for the Texas Declaration of Independence
He followed the one for the U.S. written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776
Jefferson and Childress both wrote during times of great turmoil
Both declarations led to Independence Days that people celebrate each year
Texas vs. U.S. Declaration
The two Declarations are similar – they both have three (3) parts:
1. Opening statement that describes how people believe they should be ruled
2. Long middle section listing complaints against mother country
3. Both end with section that declares independence
Texas vs. U.S. Declaration
Justifying IndependenceChildress included a long list of misdeeds committed by Mexico
He claimed three (3) main reasons why Texans declared independence:
1. Mexico did not protect the rights of its people (living in Texas)
2. It did not provide representation for Texans
3. It did not provide a fair justice system
Justifying Independence
After March 2, 1836 the Texas Revolution had a cause to rally around
There would be no more confusion about the war’s goals – Texans were fighting for their freedom
Next task was how to govern an independent Texas
Quote
“The 59 signers who forged a nation out of this wilderness left this unique legacy, this
indisputable truth, what Texans can dream, Texans can do”
George W. Bush, 42nd President of the U.S.
The Constitution
Took four (4) months to write U.S. Constitution in 1787 – used as a model
Texans did not have that much time – Santa Anna captured the Alamo on March 6, 1836
On March 16, two weeks after the Convention began, the delegates had written the Texas Constitution
The Texas Constitution took effect in September 1836 when the people ratified it
U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution
Similarities and Differences
U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution
Unitary republicFederalSystem
Similarities and Differences
U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution
Unitary republic
Presidentby
popular vote
FederalSystem
President by
electoralvote
Similarities and Differences
U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution
Unitary republic
Presidentby
popular vote
Serves 3 yearsNot 2 in a row
FederalSystem
President by
electoralvote
Serves 4 years2 in a row
Similarities and Differences
U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution
Unitary republic
Presidentby
popular vote
Serves 3 yearsNot 2 in a row
FederalSystem
President by
electoralvote
Serves 4 years2 in a row
Catholic clergycannot hold
office
Similarities and Differences
U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution
Unitary republic
Presidentby
popular vote
Serves 3 yearsNot 2 in a row
FederalSystem
President by
electoralvote
Serves 4 years2 in a row
Catholic clergycannot hold
office
More difficultto amend
Similarities and Differences
U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution
Unitary republic
Presidentby
popular vote
Serves 3 yearsNot 2 in a row
FederalSystem
President by
electoralvote
Serves 4 years2 in a row
3 Branches -Executive
-Legislative -Judicial
Catholic clergycannot hold
office
More difficultto amend
Similarities and Differences
U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution
Unitary republic
Presidentby
popular vote
Serves 3 yearsNot 2 in a row
FederalSystem
President by
electoralvote
Serves 4 years2 in a row
3 Branches -Executive
-Legislative -Judicial
Checks and balances
Catholic clergycannot hold
office
More difficultto amend
Similarities and Differences
U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution
Unitary republic
Presidentby
popular vote
Serves 3 yearsNot 2 in a row
FederalSystem
President by
electoralvote
Serves 4 years2 in a row
3 Branches -Executive
-Legislative -Judicial
Checks and balances
Bicameral legislature
Catholic clergycannot hold
office
More difficultto amend
Similarities and Differences
U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution
Unitary republic
Presidentby
popular vote
Serves 3 yearsNot 2 in a row
FederalSystem
President by
electoralvote
Serves 4 years2 in a row
3 Branches -Executive
-Legislative -Judicial
Checks and balances
Bicameral legislature
Several layers of courts
Catholic clergycannot hold
office
More difficultto amend
Similarities and Differences
U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution
Unitary republic
Presidentby
popular vote
Serves 3 yearsNot 2 in a row
FederalSystem
President by
electoralvote
Serves 4 years2 in a row
3 Branches -Executive
-Legislative -Judicial
Checks and balances
Bicameral legislature
Several layers of courts
Voting by males only Catholic clergycannot hold
office
More difficultto amend
Similarities and Differences
U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution
Unitary republic
Presidentby
popular vote
Serves 3 yearsNot 2 in a row
FederalSystem
President by
electoralvote
Serves 4 years2 in a row
3 Branches -Executive
-Legislative -Judicial
Checks and balances
Bicameral legislature
Several layers of courts
Voting by males only
Bill of Rights included
Catholic clergycannot hold
office
More difficultto amend
Similarities and Differences
Ad Interim Government
Delegates were in favor of the Constitution and selected an ad interim government
Advance of Mexican army kept delegates from setting up a lasting government
Convention of 1836 closed on March 17
David Burnet APPOINTED first president of Texas
Lorenzo de Zavala became vice president (first Mexican born person to hold office)
David Burnet de Zavala
Ad Interim Government
Earlier in the convention, Sam Houston was selected to lead the army and had left
For safety from Santa Anna, the new government moved to Harrisburg, Galveston Island, Velasco and finally settled in Columbia until October 1836
Burnet disagreed with Houston and other leaders
New nation faced many tests in Spring 1836 – low morale and supplies – ad interim lasted
