Texas History
Fort Burrows
8.4 - Securing Independence
READ - pgs 197 - 200
Main Idea:
Americans supported the Texas Revolution, but the United States did not bring Texas into the Union.
Setting the Scene:
One week before the Battle of San Jacinto, our Gran-daddy wrote a letter to President Andrew
Jackson to ask for help. SFA knew that American aid was vital.
“Pardon me for the intrusion upon your valued time. I address you as individuals, as men, as
Americans, as my countrymen. I obey an honest but excited impulse… It appears that Santa Anna
has succeeded in uniting the whole Mexican nation against Texas. This is a war… of Mexicans against
Americans. Will you, can you, turn a deaf ear to the appeals of your fellow citizens ?”
People in the United States liked the news from
San Jacinto. Most were happy that the Texans
had won the battle. People in the South and West
hoped that Texas would become another state.
Many Americans believed in manifest destiny.
Texas was not brought into the Union. People in
Northern states did not want to add another state
that let people have slaves. Also, the United
States had agreed not to seek land West of the
Sabine River. (Trade agreement with Mexico for
Florida).
While the fighting was going on, three Texans
traveled to the United States.
They asked
Americans for help. Banks and businesses lent
money to support the fight. The institutional
loans they gave would be repaid later.
Some individuals gave money.
Others sent
supplies, guns, and food.
In Texas, Houston made Santa Anna promise to
negotiate a treaty. On May 14, 1836, Santa Anna
and David Burnett – the president of Texas –
signed two treaties. One was made public and one
was kept secret. ( This treaty never was put into
effect ).
Many Texans did not want to let Santa Anna
go. Burnet was afraid that he would renege on
their agreement. In the end, Santa Anna was
released. Mexico’s government would not honor
either treaty because Santa Anna had been a
prisoner when he agreed to grant that Texas was
independent. No firm boundary was set between
the two areas. There was peace, but it was an
uneasy one.
Vocabulary:
manifest destiny – events that are destined to happen no matter what people do
*** U.S. believed that they had the right and duty to expand to the Pacific Ocean
institutional loans – money lent to Texas by U.S. banks and businesses
negotiate – to reach an agreement through compromise
renege - to back out of an agreement
America’s Feelings About Texas
 many Northerners did not support Texas during the revolution because Texans
owned slaves
 they felt that if Texas eventually joined the U.S. that it would enter as a slave state
 Texas had the support of most of the southern U.S. states
 Government opinions

President Jackson did want to add Slave-State Texas to the U.S.

Manifest Destiny: America’s destiny to expand to the Pacific Ocean

he did not add Texas at this time due to pressure from the North
Support Comes From America
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Texas History
Fort Burrows
 The United States, in 1837, was the 1st to recognize TEXAS as a free republic and begin
TRADE

then France in September 1839

then Netherlands and Great Britain in 1840
 Stephen F. Austin, William Wharton, and Branch Archer traveled to the U.S. during the
revolution to get support
 the U. S. pledged $100,000 in institutional loans
 Private Citizens gave $25,000 to the war effort
 Merchants from New Orleans sold supplies to Texas on credit
 Children in Cincinnati, Ohio, donated money to buy cannons for Houston’s army
o these cannons were called the “Twin Sisters”
 Alabama sent hundreds of muskets
 Southern states donated food, clothing, money and guns
 more than 2,000 men from Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee fought for Texas.
 without these men and supplies the Texans would have probably lost the war
 Spring had arrived to Texas, many of the soldiers went home to plant crops
Type of Support
SERCURING INDEPENDENCE
Significance
$100,000 in Industrial Loans and
$25,000 in donations
Enabled Texas government to pay the soldiers for their
services and buy supplies
Flour, Clothing, & GUNS
Enabled the Army to continue fighting
2,000 men to fight in the Army
Increased the size and strength of the Army
Increased its chances for VICTORY
The Treaty(s) of Velasco – May 14, 1836
Burnet and Santa Anna negotiated a peace settlement. They signed two Treaties of Velasco—a public
one and a secret one.
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The Public Treaty
Santa Anna agreed to end the war and
never attack Texas again
the Mexican army was to withdraw south
of the Rio Grande
vowed to never-ever attack Texas again
both sides agreed to release prisoners of
war
Burnet agreed to release Santa Anna
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The Secret Treaty
Santa Anna agreed to end the war against
Texas
Santa Anna vowed Mexico would never
invade Texas
Mexico would recognize Texas as a free
nation
Mexico would sign a ‘trade-agreement
with Texas, the Republic of Texas
the Rio Grande would become the border
between the Republic of Texas and
Mexico
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Texas History
Fort Burrows
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Santa Anna was eventually released by U.S. President Jackson
many Texans were angry when they realized Santa Anna would be set free Burnet could not
ensure Santa Anna’s safety. He had to renege (back out of an agreement) on his side of the
bargain
Mexican government refused to accept the treaty because Santa Anna was a prisoner when he
signed it
Mexico and the Republic of Texas never agreed on a border
Mexico never officially recognized or accepted Texas as an independent nation
1.
What is manifest destiny ?
A.
the belief that countries are meant to go to war
B.
the belief that a country’s destiny is determined by its leader
C.
the belief that a country’s expansion is meant to happen
D.
the belief that large countries must be broken into smaller ones
2.
In an institutional loan, who lends the money ?
A.
a bank or a business
B.
a hospital
C.
a public facility
D.
a group of citizens
3.
How did Americans help Texas during the revolution ?
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4.
Why was President Andrew Jackson unable to add Texas to the United States ?
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5.
What did Santa Anna agree to do in the secret Treaty of Velasco ?
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