Republic of Texas: Section 2 President Lamar Takes Over He and Houston have differing views What is considered President Lamar’s greatest achievement? Why did Houston not serve a second term? How many years was the president’s term?

Main Issues of Lamar’s Presidency Education: Lamar believed education was necessary in a republic. WHY? Accomplishments: land set aside for schools in each county. Were the counties the same as today? Land set aside to produce income to pay for building two major universities. Money came from grazing leases.

Permanent University Fund The original land in central Texas was traded for less valuable land in west Texas. About 2 million acres of poor, dry grazing land did not produce much income. 1923: The Santa Rita #1 oil well came in on PUF lands. Texas public education was RICH! The lands were full of oil and created two of the best public universities in the nation: University of Texas and Texas A&M.

Capital of Texas moves to Austin In 1836, Houston was chosen as the capital of Texas, but this was temporary. 1839: The present site of Austin was chosen to build the capital. What does the name Austin reflect? What factors contributed to the site being chosen?

Native Americans Unlike Sam Houston who had promised the Cherokees title to their lands in East Texas, Lamar did not believe they had any claim to the land. 1839, Texas army attacked the Cherokees on the Neches River, close to Van, Texas. Over 100 Cherokees were killed including Chief Bowles. Survivors were moved across the Red River out of Texas.

Comanche Problems Comanche raids on outlying settlements Comanches took settlers captive Meeting in San Antonio to trade captives and negotiate a peace didn’t work Comanches did not bring but one hostage Attempts to hold the Comanche negotiators hostage until the captives were released led to the Council House Fight: greatest blunder in the history of Texan-Native American relations, resulting in years of warfare and many deaths.

Texas Rangers fight Comanches and Kiowas Texas Rangers were the front line of frontier justice. The Rangers grew as Texas got tough with Indian conflicts and patrols of the Mexican border. The Texas Rangers are still used in law enforcement in Texas, today Who was the actor who portrayed a Texas Ranger?

Financial Difficulties Lamar’s policies were expensive. Indian wars, rebuilding the navy were costly and attempts to borrow from the U.S. didn’t work. Texas debt was increasing and Texas money was worth almost nothing.