Republic of Texas Section 3: Houston’s 2 nd Term

1. Republic of Texas Section 3: Houston’s 2nd Term Texas attempted to balance the budget, but the debt increased. Houston reversed policies of Lamar

2. Sam Houston tried to reduce the debt • What did he do to save money? • Why did it fail? • Cut government jobs • The interest on the debt • Also, • Houston worked to settle Indian conflicts and accomplished several years of calm.

3. Problems with Mexico Increased • Lamar had sent an expedition to Santa Fe to show Texas claim to the disputed territory. • The expedition failed. • In March 1842, angered Mexicans invaded Texas • And again in September 1842: 1,400 Mexican troops occupied San Antonio and after fighting and casualties the Mexicans withdrew back to Mexico. • Who were the Texans who fought the Mexicans?

4. Mier Expedition • Invasion angered Texans. • Houston tried to solve the problem diplomatically. How? • Soldiers were supposed to patrol South Texas, but some disobeyed and entered Mexico attacking the town of Mier. • What happened in the battle and to the Texas soldiers?

5. The Black Bean • Texans marched to Mexico City as prisoners. • Every 10th man was executed. They were chosen by drawing beans. • What other places have you heard of similar ways of picking people? • How has the “Black Bean” become a saying in our culture?

6. Regulators and Moderators • The conflict broke out in East Texas near the Lousiana border over land titles. • As it grew, people took sides and destroyed each other’s property. • With little law enforcement available, the conflict grew. • Houston brought in troops and persuaded them to end the Regulator-Moderator War. • What family feud is well-known in the U.S.?

7. Annexation to the United States • How did this finally happen? • What was the Texas Question? • What was the process of annexation? • Reasons Texas was not annexed in 1836: • Fear of angering the Mexicans • Fear the Mexicans would take Texas back • Fear the Texans were not ready to govern themselves

8. Background: • Lamar did not favor annexation • Most Texans wanted annexation • Houston favored annexation • Annexation brought mixed views in the U.S.: slavery issue and a fear of war with Mexico

9. What had changed? • Texas population had grown • Texas had become a territory of the United States, giving public lands in Texas to the U.S. in return for the U.S. paying off Texas debts. • Texas becomes the main issue of the 1844 U.S. presidential election. Polk campaigned in favor of annexation, Clay campaigned against it. • Polk won, indicating most favored annexation • Why would those in the North favor annexation?

10. Joint Resolution of Congress for annexation • Congress approved annexation as soon as Texans voted for it and adopted a state constitution. • Texas got to keep public lands, except those they sold to pay the public debt. • Anson Jones, elected Texas President in 1844 called in the Texas Congress to vote. Annexation was approved. • Texas became a state on Dec. 29, 1845.

11. Mexico tries to stop annexation • Mexico agrees to recognize Texas as a country if it would not become a part of the United States. • Why would they do this? • The Texas Congress voted against the Mexican proposal. • Feb. 19, 1846, Anson Jones turned over the government to the first governor of Texas, Pinckney Henderson, and Texas became the 28th state of the United States.