Notes for Ch. 12The Republic of Texas

In your notebook, make a list of things Texas would need once they become independent. (Think about things you would need once you move out of your parent’s house (Flemingworld) and translate that to “Academicworld” terms.)

On the same sheet of paper (below your list) start your notes as we read Ch. 12, Section 1.

Capitals of the Republic1. Columbia, TX 2. Houston , TX

• December 1836 (for three years only!!!)3. Austin, TX

Right after becoming a Republic, the Texans voted on their new government . They decided that:• Houston would be president and Lamar is vice

president• Approved the Constitution of 1836• Agreed that Texas should join the United States

21

3

Houston’s First Term as President

AnnexationReasons the United States did NOT want TX• U.S. didn’t want to damage relations with Mexico

(MX did NOT recognize TX independence)• Slavery – at this point in history the U.S. had 13 slave

states and 13 free states… Texas would throw off that balance

- becoming a part of the United States

Recognition• The U.S. – recognized us (became our

friend/ally) in Dec. 1836• France• Great Britain• The Netherlands

(Texas’ friends/allies)

Native American IssuesRed Tribe (Plains Indians) Problems• Native Americans were raiding Central TX (Comanche,

Kiowa, Apache)• Raids decreased after Houston sent in the TX RangersGreen Tribe (East TX Indians) Problems• Remember… Houston had lived with the Cherokee when

he was younger• Houston tried to make peace with the Cherokee• Cherokee promised not to fight during the Revolution to

get their land titles – Texans lied! No land titles after the war!!!

Debt• TX Republic Debt when Houston took office - $1.25 million• Why so high? Because of the TX Revolution AND because the TX gov’t

was spending (expenditures) more than it earned (revenue)• TX Republic debt after Houston’s first term as president - $2 million

What is the Disputed Territory?• Since Texas had been created, the border had been the NUECES RIVER• In the Treaties of Velasco, Santa Anna promised to make the RIO

GRANDE the border of Texas• The area between these two rivers is called the DISPUTED TERRITORY• Why??? Because Texas said the land between the Nueces and the Rio

Grande belonged to them… Mexico said that land belonged to them… therefore it was DISPUTED TERRITORY

Lamar Becomes PresidentLamar’s Policies and Goals• Opposes annexation• Lamar thought improving education was the key to a healthy

democracy in Texas• Created an endowment fund for TX public education

Lamar Chooses a New Capital• Lamar believed TX should expand west to the Pacific Ocean• Lamar chose Waterloo as the site of the new capital BECAUSE it was farther west

than most other TX towns• Austin was founded in 1839

Austin in 1839 or 1841

Lamar and the Native AmericansGreen Tribes (East TX Cherokees)• Lamar reversed anything Houston had done to make peace with the Cherokees• Lamar believed the Mexicans were trying to get the Cherokee to attack the Texans

• Lamar ordered the TX army to East TX to attack the Cherokee• The Texans won, burned the villages and forced the surviving Cherokee out of

Texas forever

Council House FightPlains Indians (Comanche, Kiowa, Apache) Problems• Comanche were still raiding TX settlements• Comanche agreed to meet with Texans in San Antonio (read pp. 277 & 278

for the story of what happened)• The Result of this Fight – More fighting AND because of what happened

in San Antonio, the Comanche NEVER trusted the Texans again (they would talk with American soldiers… but NEVER Texans!!!)

Lamar and the Military• Lamar thought a big, strong military would force Mexico to recognize us• This cost Texas A LOT of money• He sent the new Navy ships into Mexican waters to harass Mexican ships (when

Houston gets re-elected in 1841… he recalls the TX Navy)

Santa Fe Expedition• Santa Fe was an important center for trade ($$$) between Mexico and the U.S. – Lamar

wanted it• Lamar sent an “expedition” to Santa Fe in order to get control of it• The expedition went very badly and the Texans were captured and sent to a Mexican

prison… most of the Texans died• Our friends, the U.S. and Great Britain, helped get the remaining TX survivors released

from prison• THE RESULT OF THE SANTA FE EXPEDITION – It made Mexico really mad and

cost A LOT of money

Debt• TX Republic Debt when Lamar took office - $2 million• Lamar spent A LOT of money on

• Indian Wars (both Cherokee and fights after the Council House Fight)• A bigger Navy• Santa Fe Expedition

• TX Republic Debt when Lamar leaves office - $7 million

Cause and Effect Events Started by the Santa Fe Expedition

Santa Fe Expedition

(Lamar)

Vasquez (MX) invades TX

Archives War

Woll (MX) invades TX

Mier ExpeditionBlack Bean

Drawing

Houston’s 2nd

Houston’s 2nd Houston’s 2nd

Houston’s 2nd

Houston’s 2nd

• Lamar’s Santa Fe Expedition CAUSED several other conflicts between TX and MX.

• The EFFECTS of the Santa Fe Expedition were seen during Houston’s 2nd term in office.

Houston is Re-elected• Houston tried to reduce the debt as soon as he regained the presidency

• Selling Navy ships• Cut government positions• Made the army smaller

• It did not work… TX debt still increased

Houston’s Temporary Peace• Houston was able to make peace with the Plains Indians… this peace lasted several

years

The Archives War