The Lone
Star Republic
Houston Forms a Government
(1836)
•
Sam Houston
was elected as
the first president
of Texas and
Mirabeau Lamar
as the vice
president.
Houston Forms a Government
(1836)
•
Stephen F.
Austin was
named secretary
of state but died
after a few
weeks of
pneumonia. He
was only 43.
Houston Forms a Government (1836)

The capitol was moved to Houston.
United States Delays Annexation of Texas
•
Texas wanted to be annexed since most Texans were from the U.S.
Several reasons for the delay:
United States Delays Annexation of
Texas
•
Mexico did not
recognize Texas as
independent and U.S.
did not want to
damage relations with
Mexico.
United States Delays Annexation of
Texas
•
Texas was a slave state; the U.S. did not want to tip the power over
to the slave states by adding another one.
Problems in the Republic
• Texas had problems
being recognized as
independent.
Eventually U.S.
recognized Texas and
later European nations.
Problems in the Republic
•
Natives resented the Anglos and continued
attacking until the Texas Rangers were
brought in.
Problems in the Republic
•
Texas was largely
in debt (1.25
million). They
placed tariffs on
several goods
imported into
Texas. By the end
of Houston’s term,
they were 2 million
in debt.
Lamar becomes President
•
•
Since Houston could
not serve consecutive
terms as stated in the
Constitution, Lamar
was elected President.
Lamar did not want
annexation. He
thought Texas would
become great. To do
this, he believed firmly
in education and set
up public schools.
Lamar becomes President
•
The capitol was moved to Waterloo which
was later named Austin after Stephen F.
Austin.
Lamar becomes President
• Lamar removed the Cherokees from
East Texas where Houston had said
they could live. (1839)
Council House Fight
•
•
The Texans wanted the Comanche out
since they had raided and
kidnapped Anglos. The Comanche
agreed to meet in San Antonio and
bring the Anglo captives.
They brought one female all beaten
and bruised. The Texans responded
by taking the Comanche negotiators
hostage.
Council House Fight
•
•
They resisted and a fight ensued.
This is known as the Council House
Fight. (7 Texans and 35 Comanche
killed) The Comanche killed the
hostages as a result.
The Texas Rangers were called in to
rid Texas of Natives.
Santa Fe Expedition (1841)
•
•
Texans wanted to control Santa Fe for
the trade location. They set out and
when they reached Santa Fe, they
were exhausted.
They were defeated by the Mexican
army and prisoners were forced to
march to Mexico City where most died
if they survived the march.
Financial Difficulties
• Lamar’s campaigns were costly.
(Navy, expeditions, schools) The
debt rose to 7 million.
• Paper money known as redbacks lost
their value. One dollar in Texas was
worth about 15 cents.
Houston Regains Presidency
•
He eliminated
official positions,
limited the size of
the army and
recalled the Navy all
in an attempt to
save the
government money.
The Archives War (1842)
•
•
Mexico retaliated for
the Santa Fe incident
by invading Texas
reaching San Antonio.
Houston wanted the
archives moved out of
Austin and back to
Houston. The citizens
of Austin did not want
the capitol moved. A
small skirmish ensued
and the capitol
remained in Austin.
The Archives War (1842)
Mexico again invades but was
defeated at San Antonio. On
the way home the Mexicans
killed a company of volunteers.
The Archives War (1842)
• Texans invade Mexico and were
defeated at Mier. The prisoners
(176) escaped and were
recaptured. For punishment 1
out of every 10 was to be
executed. They drew beans to
see who died. The rest were
marched to Mexico City.
The Archives War (1842)
 Houston
also faced trouble in East
Texas over land grants. People were
killing one another over land. He had
to send 600 soldiers to resolve the
situation.
The Texas Question
• Houston again pushed for Texas to become
annexed. A treaty was signed by U.S.
representatives making Texas a territory.
• The Senate rejected the treaty because Texas
was a slave state and they feared a war with
Mexico.
Polk Becomes President
• Americans believed in manifest
destiny, which meant they were
destined to expand and this
included Texas.
Polk Becomes President
• Texas was to be annexed in
1845 if Texas wanted it. Texas
would keep its public land and
sell off some to pay its debt.
• It could also break up into 5
states with approval of Texas
and the U.S.
Polk Becomes President
• President Anson
Jones of Texas
presented this to the
Texas government
and Texas was
annexed by President
Polk and the U.S. in
1845 and became the
28th state.