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Home , Felix Huston, Government of Texas, Republic of Texas

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Why It Matters Now As ’s first president, 1 The of Texas Sam has served as a model for Texas leaders for many generations. TERMS & NAMES OBJECTIVES MAIN IDEA , cabinet, 1. Identify the problems faced by the The new Republic of Texas faced John Allen, Augustus Allen, Republic of Texas. many problems. Sam Houston, Houston, revenue, promis- 2. Explain Sam Houston’s role in the early its first president, focused on sory note, Felix Huston, days of the Republic of Texas. restricting spending Mirabeau B. Lamar 3. Analyze the reasons for Texas statehood. and establishing good foreign 4. Describe the issues surrounding the relations. He also worked to avoid annexation of Texas. new conflicts with Native Texans.

WHAT Would You Do? Imagine that you are a citizen of the Republic of Texas. You are no Write your response longer ruled by , but instead by the new Texas government. The to Interact with History Texas Constitution has set up the government for the new nation, and in your Texas Notebook. Sam Houston has been elected president. How do these changes directly affect you as a Texas citizen?

Problems in the New Republic Texans had taken steps to make sure that their new nation would have a successful beginning. They had adopted a constitution and elected Sam Houston as their first permanent president and Mirabeau B. Lamar as their vice-president. In his inaugural address, Houston spoke of Texas’s future.

TEXAS VOICES [We] modestly remonstrated against oppression, and, when invaded by a numerous host, we dared to proclaim our independence and to strike for freedom on the breast of the oppressor. As yet our course is onward. We are only in the outset of the campaign of liberty. Sam Houston, inaugural address, 1836

However, the new Republic faced many problems. The Mexican government refused to recognize Texas’s independence, so the two nations were still at war. Houston also needed to persuade other nations to recog- ▲ Sam Houston overwhelmingly defeated his opponents, Stephen F. nize Texas as being independent. The new president faced financial prob- Austin and Henry Smith, in the lems as well. The government had debts from the and election of 1836 to become the first no money with which to repay them. Native Texans, who had remained president of the Republic of Texas. ● Why do you think Texans favored peaceful during the Revolution, resented the growing number of settlers Sam Houston? invading their territory. Now they threatened to declare war.

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Republic of Texas in 1836

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Texas Settlements Texas’s Holdings Mexico’s Holdings

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Sabi T ne B r R. ra in zo i s ty Co R R Nacogdoches lor . . ado R. San Augustine San Felipe Houston Washington-on-the-Brazos Liberty Bastrop 30˚N R La Grange Presidio io 0 200 Miles G Anahuac r a Harrisburg n Gonzales Brazoria d N Columbia e u 0 400 Kilometers ec es Goliad Velasco R . Matagorda San Patricio Victoria ▲ The boundaries of the Republic of Texas in Laredo Refugio 1836 extended north into other present-day Gulf of ● states. How many present-day states hold Mexico land once occupied by the Republic of Texas?

Given these problems, Houston was cautious in his policies. He did his best to prevent another war with Mexico or with Native Texans. He also limited government spending so Texas would not fall deeper in debt. Houston believed that the best solution to Texas’s problems was annexation to the . He pushed for annexation so the larger, more established U.S. government could help Texas solve its problems. Houston appointed well-known Texans to his cabinet to help him cabinet a council that advises deal with the problems of the new Republic. Stephen F. Austin served as the chief executive secretary of state. Henry Smith was named secretary of the treasury. Thomas J. Rusk continued as secretary of war, a position he had held under Governor Smith during the ad interim government of Texas. Such experienced leaders provided stability for the new government. Stephen F. Austin’s calling card Death of Stephen F. Austin Stephen F. Austin served as secretary of state for only about three months before he died on December 27, 1836, at the age of 43. Austin, who was Texas’s first under Spanish and Mexican , had served as a leader for all American colonists in Texas. He led the first major military conflict in the Revolution. Then he traveled to the United States to raise troops and money for the war. In memory of Austin, President Houston proclaimed a 30-day period of mourning, or grieving.

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▲ The Allen brothers ran an advertise- ment in a Texas newspaper to attract settlers. On January 1, 1837, Houston had 12 people and one log cabin. Only four months later, the city’s population jumped to 1,500 people and 100 houses. ● Why did the Allen brothers name their city Houston? A New Capital Before Houston was elected, ad interim president David Burnet had declared Columbia the capital city. This small town in Brazoria PLACE was where the first Texas Congress met on October 3, 1836. However, The city of Houston was lo- many people believed that the town was too small and isolated to serve cated on a coastal plain where as the capital city. A large number of Texans wanted to find a new loca- the flat land and high rainfall tion for the capital. resulted in many marshes. Two brothers, John and Augustus Allen, planned to build a new town The marshes were breeding grounds for mosquitoes that near Harrisburg, which had been burned during the Revolution. The carried diseases like malaria Allen brothers agreed to provide buildings in their town for the govern- and yellow fever. ● Why aren’t ment and to name it in honor of Sam Houston. Congress and Houston malaria and yellow fever still accepted their offer. After the town was built, however, many people problems in Houston today? found conditions in Houston inadequate. The government buildings were just log structures and the streets were muddy. Government offi- cials and visitors complained about the heat, humidity, diseases, and size of the mosquitoes. Although many people demanded that the capital be moved, the town of Houston remained the capital of Texas throughout Houston’s first administration. The First Attempt at Annexation When Texans elected Sam Houston president, a majority also voted to seek annexation to the United States as soon as possible. The addition of Texas to the Union made sense to many people in the Republic of Texas and in the United States. Most Texans had immigrated from the United States. Texans’ language, customs, and ideas about laws and government were similar to those of most Americans. The addition of Texas to the United States would allow for U.S. western expansion, so most Texans thought the United States would be eager to accept Texas as a new state. But Texas was not admitted to the Union for ten years, mainly because of the controversy over . Several Texans, including William H. Wharton, Memucan Hunt, and , worked in Washington to persuade the U.S. Congress to accept Texas into the Union. Members of the U.S. Congress who favored

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annexation introduced a bill to admit Texas. , a former U.S. president and at the time a member of Congress, blocked its passage because Texas would have entered the Union as a slave state. Adams was determined not to admit more states that supported slavery into the Union. His views were shared by many other politicians and those who opposed slavery. The issue dragged on until Houston ordered Jones to withdraw the request. Houston did not want Star Money was issued in amounts of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500. Texas to be embarrassed by having its request delayed any longer. Financial Woes One of the biggest problems in the new Republic was the lack of money. When Sam Houston began his presidency, Texas had a debt of over $1 million. Houston held government expenses to a minimum and tried to raise revenue only for items that were absolutely necessary. To revenue the annual or current raise money, the government began to collect customs duties and prop- income of a government erty taxes, but the debt continued to rise. In 1837 the Texas Congress authorized Houston to issue about $600,000 in promissory notes. This paper money was used to pay govern- promissory note a written ment expenses. These notes represented a promise that the government promise to pay a sum of money would pay the specified sum of money to the holder of the note at a future at a future time date in exchange for its cash value at that moment. The notes were called “Star Money” because they displayed a star on the front. They circulated at or near face value, or their actual cost, for most of Houston’s adminis- tration. However, when financial prospects did not improve, some feared that the promise of future payment might not be kept. As a result, people started refusing to accept the promissory notes. Trouble in the Army During his administration Houston also faced problems with the Texas army. Although Santa Anna had agreed to the independence of Texas in the , the Mexican government refused to accept the treaties. Tensions still existed between the two countries. Also, thousands of U.S. citizens had arrived in Texas too late to fight in the Revolution, but they were ready for battle. Felix Huston, commander of the Texas army, was among those who wanted to renew the war with Mexico. To prevent Huston from starting another war, President Houston tried to replace him with , a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Johnston had resigned from the U.S. Army and moved to Texas. When Johnston tried to take command, Huston challenged him to a duel. The Texas army was made up of volunteers who would not have followed Johnston if he had refused ▲ Felix Huston was a lawyer who raised the challenge. He accepted and was wounded. an army of 500 to 700 volunteers Huston remained in command, so President Houston sent all but to fight in the Texas Revolution. 600 of the soldiers home on leave and never called them back to duty. However, the battles were over when he and his army arrived. Because the soldiers were no longer in service, the government did not ● What position did Huston hold after have to find the money to pay them. the Revolution?

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Houston’s Native Texan Policy In addition to tensions with Mexico, Texans faced growing conflicts Treaty with with Native Texans. The Native Texans resented the large number of Native Texans Anglo American settlers who were moving onto their lands. Also, the The Cherokees, originally from Texas Congress refused to ratify a treaty that Houston had negotiated the southeastern United States, with the Cherokees during the Texas Revolution. In return for keeping were first reported to be in peace during the Revolution, the Cherokees were promised the title to Texas in 1807, when they re- the land they occupied in . The Cherokees had some of the ceived permission from the Spanish government to settle. richest farmland in the area, highly desired by settlers. Also, many settlers In 1822 their population grew wanted to rid the Republic of all Native Texans. to 300. By 1830, there were The Native Texans fought back by conducting raids against the 400 Cherokees living in Texas. settlers. Houston enlisted the help of the Texas Rangers, a group of However, thousands of Native soldiers organized during the Revolution, to patrol the frontier. The Americans were being forced Texas Rangers controlled the number of raiding parties and warned to move to territories in Okla- homa and . ● Why settlers of any dangers. Although Houston was sympathetic toward the do you think the Texas Con- Native Texans, many Texans did not share his views. Attacks on both gress refused to approve the sides continued. treaty signed during the Revolution? The Election of 1838 The Texas Constitution limited the first president to a term of two years. Later presidents could serve for three years, and no president could be elected two times in a row. In 1838 Houston had to hand over the reins of the government. President Houston and Vice-President Mirabeau B. Lamar had not seen things eye to eye. Lamar had remained popular and announced his bid for the presidency. Houston recruited Peter Grayson, and then James Collingsworth, as opponents for Lamar, but both Grayson and Collings- worth died before the election. Lamar most likely would have defeated either of them because he offered a new vision for the future of Texas, one that appealed to most Texans.

1 Terms & Names Organizing Information Critical Thinking Interact with History Identify: Use a spider map like the 1. Why did the Republic of Review your response to • cabinet one shown to classify the Texas face problems with Interact with History in your • John Allen problems that the ? Texas Notebook. After read- • Augustus Allen Republic of Texas faced. 2. Describe Sam Houston’s ing about the problems • Houston political policies. within the new Republic, •revenue 3. Why did many Texans list two more ways that •promissory note your life would be affected PROBLEMS want to seek annexation? • Felix Huston by the independence of OF THE 4. Why were some • Mirabeau B. Lamar REPUBLIC OF Texas. TEXAS Americans opposed to the annexation of Texas? Go to www.celebratingtexas.com ACTIVITY to research the Activity topic. Research Sam Houston and his relationship with the Native Americans. Why did Houston have a Culture strong connection to them?

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