1. Chapter 12, Section 1 Notes Title: Sam Houston’s Government
Main Idea: After gaining independence, Texans faced the challenge of building a new nation.
Key Terms: capitol, annexation, expenditure, revenue, tariff

2. I. Houston Forms a Government
In September 1836, Texans elected Sam Houston as the first president of Texas and Mirabeau B. Lamar as the first vice president of the Republic.
They approved the Constitution of 1836 and the proposal that Texas join the United States.
The new congress first met at Columbia in Brazoria County, but it was too small.

3. I. Houston Forms a Government
So, the congress later designated the new town of Houston established along Buffalo Bayou by the Allen brothers as the new capital of the Republic of Texas.
Due to muddy streets, poor houses, and mosquitoes, the government moved into a large, two-story capitol building where the lawmakers met.
Stephen F. Austin was named Secretary of State, but served only a few weeks. He died in December from pneumonia.

4. II. The United States Delays Annexation
Most Texans had emigrated from the U.S., had strong cultural and business ties to the U.S., and wanted U.S. protection. Therefore, they favored annexation, or becoming part of the U.S.
Mexico refused to recognize Texas’s independence.
The U.S. hesitated to annex Texas because it did not want to hurt relations with Mexico.

5. II. The United States Delays Annexation
D. Also, antislavery groups were against annexation because Texas would join the Union as a slave state.

6. III. Recognition As a Nation
U.S. President Andrew Jackson sent Henry Morfit of Virginia to investigate Texas on a fact-finding mission. Jackson wasn’t ready to recognize Texas as a nation.
So Houston sent William H. Wharton and Memucan Hunt to Washington, D.C., to work for both annexation and recognition.

7. III. Recognition As a Nation
In March 1837, the USA was the first nation to recognize Texas as an independent nation.
J. Pinckney Henderson later obtained recognition from France, Great Britain, and the Netherlands.

8. IV. Native American and Texan Conflicts
As Anglo-American settlers increased in Central Texas, so did raids by the Comanches, Kiowas, and other Native Americans.
Cynthia Ann Parker was one of many young children that were kidnapped during this time.
Her son Quanah Parker, later becomes a famous Comanche chief.

9. IV. Native American and Texan Conflicts
C. Houston called on the Texas Rangers to patrol Central Texas and decrease the raids.
D. He also worked to improve relations with the Native American groups, urging peace, even though the Senate refused to accept the treaty that was supposed to give the Cherokees title to their land.

10. V. Texas Debt Soars
The Texas government encountered financial problems, as its expenditures (money paid out), were greater that its revenue (money received).
To raise money, the Texas congress placed a tariff, or tax, on various goods imported into Texas.
By the end of Houston’s first term as president, the public debt (money owed) of Texas had climbed to 2 million.

11. VI. The Release of Santa Anna
Santa Anna was released in November 1836 and he visited the USA before returning to Mexico in 1837.
He retired for a few years before returning to power and renouncing all promises made in Texas.
Overall, his release had NOT improved Texas-Mexico relations and Mexico still refused to recognize Texas independence.

12. Chapter 12, Section 2 Notes Title: Lamar Becomes President
Main Idea: President Lamar’s policies differed sharply from Houston’s policies.
Key Terms: endowment fund, cabinet, redback

13. I. Lamar Becomes President
The Constitution of 1836 stated that the president could NOT serve consecutive terms; therefore Houston could not be reelected after his first term.
In 1838, Lamar became President of Texas. He opposed annexation and believed that Texas would be a powerful, independent nation that extended all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

14. I. Lamar Becomes President
He also believed in public education and set aside land as an endowment fund to support schools and universities.
He is known as the “Father of Education in Texas”.

15. II. The Capital is Moved to Austin
The capital was moved to a new site located on the Colorado River near Waterloo village. Edwin Waller was put in charge to lay out streets and construct the city.
Lamar and his cabinet arrived there in October 1839 and named it Austin, after SFA.

16. III. Lamar’s Policy Toward the Native Americans
Lamar reversed Houston’s policies of peace and attacked Native Americans.
He believed the Cherokees had no claim to the lands they occupied.
So he ordered them out of Texas as the army attacked and destroyed Cherokee villages.

17. III. Lamar’s Policy Toward the Native Americans
D. Along the Neches River nearly 100 Cherokees were killed, including Duwali, also known as Chief Bowles.
E. They were forced out north of the Red River.

18. IV. Raids Lead to Council House Fight
In 1840, the Comanches agreed to meet with the Texans and exchange captives. The Comanches only brought 1 girl named Matilda Lockhart who appeared bruised and beaten.
The Texans were angry and they attempted to take the Comanche negotiators as hostages until the Comanches freed all their Anglo captives.

19. IV. Raids Lead to Council House Fight
Result? A bloody battle called the Council House Fight in which 7 Texans and 35 Comanches died.
The fight also launched new raids led by Buffalo Hump; the Texas Rangers led by Ben McCulloch and many more volunteers fought back and killed many Comanches in revenge attacks (see p. 278 for more information).

20. V. Texas Rebuilds Its Navy
Lamar built up the Texas Navy and ordered new ships into Mexican waters.
Overall, his goal was to force Mexico to recognize Texas as an independent nation.

21. VI. The Santa Fe Expedition
In 1841, Lamar sent an expedition to Santa Fe to control the region and open trade with New Mexico.
(4) Big Problems Along the Way:
Heat
Lack of water
Attacks by Native Americans
Fighting with the Mexican Army
(3) Reasons Why the Expedition Failed:
Loss of many lives and imprisonment
Additional public debt
Angered Mexicans

22. VII. Financial Difficulties
Lamar spent millions fighting Native Americans and reorganizing the navy.
He also failed in his attempts to borrow from the U.S. and European governments and to back up his paper money known as redbacks, which quickly shrank in value.

23. ISSUES of the Republic of Texas
HOUSTON
LAMAR
Annexation
Capital
Education
Native Americans
Military
Budget (Government Spending)