Sam Houston Sam Houston Second Term NotesSecond Term Notes

Challenges that Houston Faced…Challenges that Houston Faced…Texas was Bankrupt (unable to pay Texas was Bankrupt (unable to pay

bills)bills)Indian raids still threaten frontierIndian raids still threaten frontierDisputes with Mexico ContinuedDisputes with Mexico Continued

Texas EconomyTexas Economy

Needed to decrease spending. He did Needed to decrease spending. He did this by:this by:Firing some workersFiring some workersReducing Salaries of othersReducing Salaries of othersCut the size of the armyCut the size of the armyUsed Texas Rangers and Volunteers for Used Texas Rangers and Volunteers for

Defense of the NationDefense of the NationTried to raise money by selling the navy Tried to raise money by selling the navy

ships (built by Mirabeau Lamar)ships (built by Mirabeau Lamar)

Results of Reform AttemptsResults of Reform Attempts

Houston did reduce spending, but Houston did reduce spending, but the debt kept growing.the debt kept growing.

Selling of navy was unsuccessful Selling of navy was unsuccessful because sailors kept ships at sea to because sailors kept ships at sea to keep Houston from selling them.keep Houston from selling them.

Native American AffairsNative American Affairs

Houston wanted to keep peace with the Houston wanted to keep peace with the Native Americans and stop the violence.Native Americans and stop the violence.Made a peace treaty with the Caddoes – this Made a peace treaty with the Caddoes – this

allowed them to settle along the Brazos allowed them to settle along the Brazos River. River.

In return, they would convince hostile tribes In return, they would convince hostile tribes to meet with Government officials. to meet with Government officials.

First met in March of 1843 First met in March of 1843 Agreed to stop all fighting of all Texas tribes Agreed to stop all fighting of all Texas tribes

against the Republic of Texas until all tribes against the Republic of Texas until all tribes could meet together in a Grand Council. could meet together in a Grand Council.

Indian Affairs continued…Indian Affairs continued…

Comanche and Wichita leaders Comanche and Wichita leaders refused to attend the meeting.refused to attend the meeting.

The Grand Council continued to sign The Grand Council continued to sign the peace treaty in September of the peace treaty in September of 1843.1843.

Houston met with the Comanche Houston met with the Comanche leaders and convinced them to sign leaders and convinced them to sign in October of 1843.in October of 1843.

Continued Conflicts with Continued Conflicts with MexicoMexico

Santa Anna was back in Mexico, and Santa Anna was back in Mexico, and hoped to retake or harass Texas. hoped to retake or harass Texas.

Archives War in March of 1842Archives War in March of 1842Archives – A collection of important public Archives – A collection of important public

documents such as Constitutions and documents such as Constitutions and records.records.

Mexico invaded again, took the towns of Mexico invaded again, took the towns of Victoria, Goliad, and San Antonio. Victoria, Goliad, and San Antonio.

Sam Houston knew Mexico was invading Sam Houston knew Mexico was invading Texas again, so he moved the archives of Texas again, so he moved the archives of Texas to Houston from Austin.Texas to Houston from Austin.

Conflict with Mexico Conflict with Mexico Continued…Continued…

People thought he was moving the People thought he was moving the capital, so they fought against the Texas capital, so they fought against the Texas Rangers trying to move the archives.Rangers trying to move the archives.

A few days after Mexico took San A few days after Mexico took San Antonio, a Texas militia arrived only to Antonio, a Texas militia arrived only to find that Mexican troops had left the find that Mexican troops had left the city.city.

Conflict with Mexico Conflict with Mexico Continued…Continued…

Battle of Salado CreekBattle of Salado CreekMexico attacked San Antonio again, Mexico attacked San Antonio again,

hoping to prove that Texas couldn’t hoping to prove that Texas couldn’t control its territory.control its territory.

Texan volunteers and militia were Texan volunteers and militia were outnumbered by over 800 men.outnumbered by over 800 men.

The Texans lured the Mexicans into a The Texans lured the Mexicans into a trap, and defeated the Mexican Army.trap, and defeated the Mexican Army.

Only one Texan died that day.Only one Texan died that day.

Conflict with Mexico Conflict with Mexico continued…continued…

After the battle, 50 Texan Volunteers After the battle, 50 Texan Volunteers from LaGrange arrived. from LaGrange arrived. They ran into the Mexican force that had They ran into the Mexican force that had

just been defeated. just been defeated. The Mexicans surrounded them, and did The Mexicans surrounded them, and did

not accept their surrender. not accept their surrender. The men were massacred in a fight The men were massacred in a fight

called “the Dawson’s Massacre”called “the Dawson’s Massacre”

Texas’ Response to the Texas’ Response to the InvasionInvasion

Texans wanted Revenge on Mexico Texans wanted Revenge on Mexico for the Invasion…for the Invasion…Houston sent General Alexander Houston sent General Alexander

Somervell to scout and see if Mexico had Somervell to scout and see if Mexico had left Texas.left Texas.

They were to invade Mexico only if they They were to invade Mexico only if they thought they could win. thought they could win.

He did not invade, but could not prevent He did not invade, but could not prevent his troops from rioting and looting Laredo his troops from rioting and looting Laredo (town in Texas). (town in Texas).

Texas’ ResponseTexas’ Response

300 of Somervell’s men did not follow 300 of Somervell’s men did not follow him when he retreated to Gonzales.him when he retreated to Gonzales.These men stayed under the command of These men stayed under the command of

a man named William Fisher. a man named William Fisher. They attacked the town of Mier, where They attacked the town of Mier, where

they fought bravely but were defeated. they fought bravely but were defeated. 176 Men were captured by Mexican 176 Men were captured by Mexican

forces, and 17 were executed in the forces, and 17 were executed in the “Black Bean Episode”“Black Bean Episode”

Black Bean EpisodeBlack Bean Episode

Men drew beans out of a can. There Men drew beans out of a can. There were 159 white beans, and 17 black were 159 white beans, and 17 black beans.beans.The men who drew the black beans The men who drew the black beans

were executed by Mexico.were executed by Mexico.It was a common practice by them to It was a common practice by them to

execute 10% of prisoners as a message.execute 10% of prisoners as a message.