Notes 4th 6-weeks

Republic of Texas  Part 2

Election of 1838

The Texas Constitution limited the first president to a term of two years and no president could serve two times in a row.

In 1838, Vice-President, Mirabeau Lamar took over as 2nd president of Texas

Lamar had a new vision for Texas, a vision that appealed to most Texans

Lamars plan for Texas. Did not shy away from a renewal of conflict with Mexico

Wanted to clear Texas of all Native Texans. Spent large sums of money. Wanted Texas to remain independent and expand its territory.

Clash with Native Texans

Lamar wanted to kill or force all Native Texans out of Texas. He led raids on the Cherokees and Comanches. The Cherokees lost their chief, Chief Bowles and were forced into present-day Oklahoma. This led to fewer raids by the Native Texans, but increased hostilities.

Relations with Mexico

The Treaties of Velasco set the Texas-Mexico boundary at the Rio Grande. Lamar assumed that this included all of the Rio Grande including as far north as its headwaters in Colorado. This would make Santa Fe, New Mexico part of Texas

The Santa Fe Expeition

In 1841, President Lamar sent an expedition to Santa Fe to convince the New Mexicans that they were now part of Texas. When they arrived the New Mexicans refused to become part of Texas. The troops did not have the necessary supplies to return home and surrendered to the Mexican authorities, and were jailed until 1842.This only served to increase tensions with Mexico.

A New Capital

Lamar moved the capital of Texas from Houston to a small community along the Colorado River, about 100 miles north of San Antonio. He felt the capital of Texas should be more centrally located. This new capital was named Austin, in honor of Stephen F. Austin.

Education under Lamar

Mirabeau Lamar is best known for his contributions to education, and is often referred to as the “Father of Education in Texas” He believed that a strong system of education could make Texas a great nation. He and the Texas Congress set aside 18,000 acres of land in each county for public schools. They also set aside over 220,000 acres for two universities.

Financial Problems

The financial situation in Texas worsened under Lamar’s direction. Lamar expanded the use of “redbacks”, which bought only about 12 U.S. cents of goods and services, per Texas dollar. He also spent a lot of money on battles with Native Americans and the Santa Fe Expedition. Texas’s public debt rose to $7 million by the end of Lamar’s term.

Sam Houston Returns

Sam Houston ran for president of the Republic of Texas again in 1841 and won, with Edward Burleson as vice-president. He still wanted to prevent war with Mexico, spend little money, and join the United States. Houston wasted no time in putting his plans back in action. First he worked to reduce government spending, cutting back on Lamar’s expansion policy, and reducing the army and the navy. As a result he spent less than $600,000 in his three-year term.

The Mier Expedition

Twice Mexico sent expeditions into Texas and captured San Antonio. After the second expedition the Mexican troops retreated with 67 hostages. President Houston sent a militia of 300 men under General Alexander Somervell to pursue the Mexican troops. The Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico and Somervell stopped because he believed that his orders did not allow him to cross into Mexico. Somervell’s decision upset many in the militia-about half of them refused to leave without a fight and argued that they did not have enough supplies to return across South Texas. In revolt they elected William S. Fisher to lead them into Mexico. One in Mexico the Texans demanded that the citizens of Mier, a small Mexican town, provide them with the supplies they needed. While they waited Mexican troops arrived and captured the Texans, who were marched to Mexico City. Some escaped at Salado, but few made it back to Texas. The Mexican troops recaptured 176 Texans and made it to Mexico City. Santa Anna ordered one of every 10 prisoners to be put to death. Each prisoner was to select a bean from a mug. Those who drew a black bean were shot by a firing squad and the others were imprisoned. The survivors were eventually released in 1844.

Efforts to gain Annexation

President Houston tried once more to get Texas accepted as a state in the United States. In April 1844 U.S. President John Tyler’s Secretary of State agreed to a treaty that would accept Texas as a state in the U.S. The U.S. Senate rejected the treaty-the Senate ballot fell one vote short of a 2/3’s majority.

Election of 1844

In 1844 Texans elected Dr. Anson Jones as the Republics 4^th president

In the U.S., annexation of Texas became a key factor during the presidential election. Two leading candidates decided not to discuss the issue of Texas in their campaign, but Democratic nominee, James K. Polk, publically supported annexation of Texas and won the election.

Texas becomes a state

The U.S. Congress approved a joint resolution on February 26, 1845, agreeing to accept Texas as the 28^th state. Many citizens of the United States were not happy with Texas being annexed because Texas was a slave state and change the balance of power in Congress.  Pressured by French and British diplomats, the Mexican government offered to recognize Texas’s independence if the Texas Congress would reject annexation. President Jones presented both offers to the Texas Congress. Members of the Congress voted for annexation and proceeded to draft a state constitution. The constitution was ratified by the Texas Congress in October 1845 and the U.S. Congress in December 1845

The U.S. Congress admitted Texas into the Union as the 28^th state after Texas voters approved the state’s new constitution and annexation ordinance

On February 19, 1846 President Jones announced the annexation of Texas

Speech by Anson Jones

“I, as President of the Republic, with my officers, am now present to surrender into the hands of those whom the people have chosen…The lone star of Texas, which ten years since arose amid clouds over fields of carnage, and obscurely shone for a while, has culminated, and, following an inscrutable destiny, has passed on and become fixed forever in that glorious constellation which all freemen and lovers of freedom in the world must reverence and adore-the American Union…”