The Republic of Texas

Vocabulary republic - a government where the head of state is not a monarch but usually a president ; the power of rule rests with citizens of the country who elect officials to represent them popular sovereignty- a doctrine in political theory that government is created by the people and that political power belongs to the people limited government- principle of government in which power is limited by set laws, such as those in a constitution

Vocabulary separation of powers- system by which the executive, legislative, and judicial branches are to be independent to keep any one branch from having too much power checks and balances- system in which each branch of government checks on the powers of the other two annexation- formal joining of one political region to another

Sam Houston President of the Republic of Texas and Houston focused on forming a government and dealing with the issues of debt and the army, conflict with Native Americans and Mexico, and selecting a capital

Mirabeau Lamar President of the Republic of Texas Lamar did not agree with Houston’s policies During his administration, he focused on pushing Native Americans farther west and selecting a new capital (Austin) On the negative side, he more than doubled the public debt by way of Indian Wars

Mirabeau Lamar As president, he wanted access to the lucrative (valuable) trade route to Santa Fe, New Mexico In 1841 he sent an expedition of troops and merchants to Santa Fe to take control of the area

Mirabeau Lamar When the expedition reached Santa Fe they were captured by Mexican troops and taken to Mexico City The Mexicans marched the Texans 1,200 miles to Mexico City and put them in prison (imprisoned) After months of negotiation most were released

Against Annexation Texans voted for annexation to the U.S. immediately after the Texas Revolution Once annexed to the U.S., all debts of the Republic of Texas would be paid The United States did not offer to annex Texas for fear of starting a war with Mexico Texas would be added as a slave state The U.S would not annex Texas until 1845

Annexation Anson Jones was the last president of the Republic of Texas Anson Jones turned over Texas to the United States Finally in 1845, Texas was annexed by the United States