Chapter 12: A New Nation

Section 3: Lamar’s Presidency

Bellwork

What was Sam Houston’s American

Indian policy?

Lamar in Office

• Mirabeau B. Lamar: elected second president of Texas in 1838

• Vice President: David G. Burnet

Mirabeau B. Lamar

Lamar in Office

•Made public education a priority

•Granted counties 17,712 acres of lands to support public schools

•Set aside 231,400 acres for starting two public universities

Lamar in Office

• 1840: Rusterville College opens

• Republic never established a public school system or universities

• Low land valuesRusterville College

A New Capital

•Houston too far east

•Wanted to move capital to edge of Texas settlement

•Strengthen Republic's control of region

A New Capital

•1839: Congress appoints a group to select new capital

•Waterloo, a village on Colorado River, selected

•Renamed Austin in honor of SFA

A New Capital

•Edwin Waller—laid out a new capital for Texas

• Capitol, government offices, streets, & homes built

Judge Edwin Waller

A New Capital

• Some Texans disliked new capital:

– Too isolated

– Vulnerable to attack by Mexico

– Comanche territory

Texas Capitol 1839-1853

Land & Economic Policies

•Homestead Law—law passed in 1839 to protect a family’s home and up to 50 acres of land from seizure for debts

• Important as financial situation worsened

Land & Economic Policies

• Public debt increased

• Red backs—paper money issued by they Republic of Texas during Lamar's administrating to help stop an economic crisisRepublic of Texas Currency

Land & Economic Policies

• Became worthless within three years

• Republic spent more than it collected in revenue

• Military spending rose form $881,000 under Houston to more than $1.5 under Lamar

Lamar’s American Indian Policy

• Lamar disliked Indians and wanted them removed from Texas

• Believed Indians did not have a right to their lands

• 1839: Lamar orders Cherokee to leave Texas

Lamar’s American Indian Policy

•Cherokee refuse

•Lamar sends 500 soldiers

•Fighting breaks out—Battle of Neches

Lamar’s American Indian Policy

• Battle of Neches

– 100 Cherokee killed

– Chief Bowles killed

– Surviving Cherokee pursued north to Indian Territory

Chief Bowles

Lamar’s American Indian Policy

• Conflict between Texan settlers and Comanche worsens

• Lamar orders attacks on Comanche

• Comanche agree to peace talks

Lamar’s American Indian Policy

• Texans order Comanche to bring all captives

• March 19, 1840: 65 Comanche arrive in San Antonio for peace talks

• Bring only a few captives

Lamar’s American Indian Policy

•Texans demand release of captives

•Comanche peace chief says he can not release captives

•Fighting breaks out

Lamar’s American Indian Policy

•Council House Fight—battle in 1840 between Texas and Comanche after the Comanche did not release all their captives

•35 Comanche dead

•Comanche execute Texas captives

Lamar’s American Indian Policy

•Launch attacks against settlements

•Texans seek out Comanche

•Battle of Plum Creek: more than 130 Comanche killed

The Results of Lamar’s Policies

• Removed Cherokee from East Texas

• Comanche pushed farther north and west

• Land opened up for settlement

The Results of Lamar’s Policies

• Indians devastated

• Warfare cost Republic $2.5 million

• Lives lost

• National debt: increased from $3.3 million to more than $8 million

Education Economy Land Policy Indians

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