The First President of The Republic of Texas

Carrie Hunnicutt2010 – 2011

Sam Houston

Issues facing The Republic of Texas:

Annexation

Foreign policy (relations with Mexico)

Armed Forces

Native Americans

Domestic Policy (economic)

We won, but now what?

• After gaining independence, Texans faced the challenge of building a new nation

President Sam Houston

Vice President Mirabeau B. Lamar

Trouble with the Army• Many soldiers joined too

late and did not get the chance to fight in the revolution– These people wanted

action– Called for an invasion of

Mexico

• President Houston sent all 600 soldiers home and never called them to duty

What about the Indians?• Indians resented the

newcomers and began a series of raids that lasted several years

• President Houston called on the Texas Rangers to patrol central Texas

Poor Sam• When Sam Houston became president, the debt was

$1.25 million

• At the end of his first term as president, the debt for Texas was $2 million

• Congress took steps to raise money and placed a tariff, or tax, on various goods– These taxes were difficult to collectbecause Texans did not have any money

Sam Houston

• IN FAVOR of joining the United States

• Wants peace with Mexico

• Wants peace with the Natives

• Small army – sent soldiers home on leave

• Cut government spending. Tried to find new

ways to make money (taxes, borrow from the

USA, etc)

Sam Houston Sam Houston Second Term NotesSecond Term Notes

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

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

Domestic Policy -Texas Domestic Policy -Texas EconomyEconomy

Needed to decrease spending. Needed to decrease spending. He did this by:He did this by:Firing some workersFiring some workersReducing Salaries of othersReducing Salaries of othersContinuing policies from his first termContinuing policies from his first term

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 1842Mexico 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 Sam Houston knew Mexico was

invading Texas again, so he moved invading Texas again, so he moved the archives of Texas to Houston the archives of Texas to Houston from Austin.from Austin.

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 territorycontrol 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 trap, and defeated the Mexican ArmyArmy..

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

Conflict with Mexico Conflict with Mexico continued…continued…

After the battle, After the battle, 50 Texan 50 Texan Volunteers from LaGrangeVolunteers from LaGrange arrived. arrived. 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 Texans wanted Revenge on Mexico for the Invasion…Mexico for the Invasion…Houston sent General Alexander Houston sent General Alexander

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

What do you think Texas wanted to What do you think Texas wanted to prove by this?prove by this?

Texas’ ResponseTexas’ Response

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

of a man named William Fisher. of a man named William Fisher. 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””

Armed ForcesArmed Forces

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

Houston tried to sell the navy Houston tried to sell the navy that Lamar built for money.that Lamar built for money.

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 Houston wanted to keep peace with the Native Americans and stop the the Native Americans and stop the violence.violence.

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

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

Indian Affairs continued…Indian Affairs continued…

Comanche and Wichita leaders at Comanche and Wichita leaders at first refused to attend the meeting in first refused to attend the meeting in September (Grand Council September (Grand Council Meeting), when all other tribes Meeting), when all other tribes signed the treaty.signed the treaty.

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