Convention of 1836 Declaration of Independence Texas Constitution

1. Convention of 1836Declaration of IndependenceTexas Constitution 1836

2. Meeting of the Convention • General Council of Texas called for a Convention • General Council wanted to create a permanent government • Provisional Government had failed because the Governor and General Council didn’t get along

3. Meeting of the Convention • Texans differed in what they fought for in early days of the revolution • They had to put aside differences and establish a common goal • Voters from across Texas selected delegates to the convention on February 1, 1836

4. Mexican Advance • Santa Anna’s large army marched through Texas • The General’s goal was clear...crush the rebels! • At the end of February, Santa Anna laid siege on the Alamo • If the Texans were going to have a voice, they had to act quickly

5. Mexican Advance • On March 1, the delegates met at Washington-on-the-Brazos for the Convention of 1836 • Possibly met at Noah Byar’s Blacksmith Shop • Santa Anna was only 150 miles away

6. Convention of 1836 • A total of 59 male delegates attended the Convention of 1836 • Only two (2) delegates were born in Texas – most born in U.S. • Most delegates were lawyers, planters, soldiers – many well educated with political experience

7. Convention of 1836 • All delegates agreed that they now wanted to be free from Mexico • But, delegates had different ideas about the shape that the Texas government should take • They disagreed on many issues and had many heated debates

8. Convention of 1836 • Some delegates thought they should join the fight at the Alamo • Sam Houston convinced them that joining the battle was not a good idea • The most pressing task was creation of a government for Texas • Houston knew for the revolution to succeed, it would need to have direction

9. Texas Declaration of Independence • Delegates opened the meeting by electing officers on the first day • Richard Ellis was elected president of the convention • He appointed a committee to write a declaration of independence

10. Texas Declaration of Independence • He named lawyer, George C. Childress, to lead this group • Childress wasted no time, worked all night and presented the document the next day • EVERY delegate voted to approve the declaration on March 2, 1836 • They declared Texas an independent republic

11. George C. Childress

12. Texas vs. U.S. Declaration • Childress had a good model for the Texas Declaration of Independence • He followed the one for the U.S. written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 • Jefferson and Childress both wrote during times of great turmoil • Both declarations led to Independence Days that people celebrate each year

13. Texas vs. U.S. Declaration • The two Declarations are similar – they both have three (3) parts:

14. Texas vs. U.S. Declaration

15. Justifying Independence • Childress included a long list of misdeeds committed by Mexico • He claimed three (3) main reasons why Texans declared independence:

16. Justifying Independence • After March 2, 1836 the Texas Revolution had a cause to rally around • There would be no more confusion about the war’s goals – Texans were fighting for their freedom • Next task was how to govern an independent Texas

17. Quote “The 59 signers who forged a nation out of this wilderness left this unique legacy, this indisputable truth, what Texans can dream, Texans can do” George W. Bush, 42nd President of the U.S.

18. The Constitution • Took four (4) months to write U.S. Constitution in 1787 – used as a model • Texans did not have that much time – Santa Anna captured the Alamo on March 6, 1836 • On March 16, two weeks after the Convention began, the delegates had written the Texas Constitution • The Texas Constitution took effect in September 1836 when the people ratified it

19. Similarities and Differences U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution

20. Similarities and Differences U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution Federal System Unitary republic

21. Similarities and Differences U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution Federal System Unitary republic President by popular vote President by electoral vote

22. Similarities and Differences U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution Federal System Unitary republic President by popular vote President by electoral vote Serves 3 years Not 2 in a row Serves 4 years 2 in a row

23. Similarities and Differences U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution Federal System Unitary republic President by popular vote President by electoral vote Serves 3 years Not 2 in a row Serves 4 years 2 in a row Catholic clergy cannot hold office

24. Similarities and Differences U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution Federal System Unitary republic President by popular vote President by electoral vote Serves 3 years Not 2 in a row Serves 4 years 2 in a row Catholic clergy cannot hold office More difficult to amend

25. Similarities and Differences U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution 3 Branches -Executive -Legislative -Judicial Federal System Unitary republic President by popular vote President by electoral vote Serves 3 years Not 2 in a row Serves 4 years 2 in a row Catholic clergy cannot hold office More difficult to amend

26. Similarities and Differences U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution 3 Branches -Executive -Legislative -Judicial Federal System Unitary republic President by popular vote President by electoral vote Checks and balances Serves 3 years Not 2 in a row Serves 4 years 2 in a row Catholic clergy cannot hold office More difficult to amend

27. Similarities and Differences U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution 3 Branches -Executive -Legislative -Judicial Federal System Unitary republic President by popular vote President by electoral vote Checks and balances Bicameral legislature Serves 3 years Not 2 in a row Serves 4 years 2 in a row Catholic clergy cannot hold office More difficult to amend

28. Similarities and Differences U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution 3 Branches -Executive -Legislative -Judicial Federal System Unitary republic President by popular vote President by electoral vote Checks and balances Bicameral legislature Serves 3 years Not 2 in a row Serves 4 years 2 in a row Several layers of courts Catholic clergy cannot hold office More difficult to amend

29. Similarities and Differences U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution 3 Branches -Executive -Legislative -Judicial Federal System Unitary republic President by popular vote President by electoral vote Checks and balances Bicameral legislature Serves 3 years Not 2 in a row Serves 4 years 2 in a row Several layers of courts Voting by males only Catholic clergy cannot hold office More difficult to amend

30. Similarities and Differences U.S. Constitution Texas Constitution 3 Branches -Executive -Legislative -Judicial Federal System Unitary republic President by popular vote President by electoral vote Checks and balances Bicameral legislature Serves 3 years Not 2 in a row Serves 4 years 2 in a row Several layers of courts Voting by males only Catholic clergy cannot hold office Bill of Rights included More difficult to amend

31. Ad Interim Government • Delegates were in favor of the Constitution and selected an ad interim government • Advance of Mexican army kept delegates from setting up a lasting government • Convention of 1836 closed on March 17 • David Burnet APPOINTED first president of Texas • Lorenzo de Zavala became vice president (first Mexican born person to hold office)

32. David Burnet de Zavala

33. Ad Interim Government • Earlier in the convention, Sam Houston was selected to lead the army and had left • For safety from Santa Anna, the new government moved to Harrisburg, Galveston Island, Velasco and finally settled in Columbia until October 1836 • Burnet disagreed with Houston and other leaders • New nation faced many tests in Spring 1836 – low morale and supplies – ad interim lasted