Lamar’s Presidency

1. Lamar’s Presidency

2. Lamar In Office • In September of 1838, Texans had elected new leaders. • Under the Republic’s constitution, a president could not serve consecutive terms , or two terms in a row. • Texans elected Mirabeau B. Lamar as their new president and David G. Burnet as vice-president.

3. Lamar In Office • On taking office in 1839, President Lamar stressed the need for a public education system. • Following Lamar’s lead, the Congress passed education acts in 1839 and 1840. • These acts granted each county 17,772 acres of land to support public schools. • The government also sent aside 231,400, for the future establishment of two public universities.

4. Lamar In Office • The first college in the Republic to receive a charter, was Rutersville College, near LaGrange, in 1840. • The Republic never established a public school system or public universities. • Because of low land prices, land grants set aside to fund these schools were not worth much money. • Lamar is know as the Father of Texas Education. • Rutersville College

5. A New Capital • During Lamar’s administration, the government selected a permanent capital for Texas. • Lamar thought Houston was too far east and wanted to move the political center of Texas west. • The capital was moved to a settlement called Waterloo on the Colorado River and it was renamed Austin. • Many Texans thought Austin was too isolated and too far west. • Austin, 1840

6. Land and Economic Policies • In January 1839, the Congress passed a Homestead Law that protected a family’s home and up to 50 acres of land from seizure for debts. • Thus, most creditors could not sell a Texan’s home to cover debts.

7. Land and Economic Policies • The public debt increased as the value of Texas currency fell. • The Republic responded by issuing new paper money certificate called “red backs”. • The value of these red backs dropped quickly and were worthless within three years of their printing. • Republic of Texas Red back

8. Land and Economic Policies • Texas Naval Ship “Zavala” • The Republic’s debt was largely to blame. • Because of rising military expenses, the government spent more than it collected in revenue. • Military spending rose from $881,000 under Houston to more than $1.5 million under Lamar. • Part of this money went to reoutfit the Texas Navy with new ships.

9. Lamar’s American Indian Policy • Lamar’s American Indian policy contributed to the rise in military spending. • Lamar disliked Indians and wanted to remove them from Texas.

10. Lamar’s American Indian Policy • In 1839, Lamar ordered the Cherokee out of Texas. • When the Cherokee refused, Lamar sent some 500 soldiers led by Kelsey Douglass to forcibly remove them.

11. Lamar’s American Indian Policy • In July, fighting broke out near the Neches River. • After several days of fighting in this Battle of the Neches, more than 100 Cherokee lay dead, including Chief Bowles.

12. Lamar’s American Indian Policy • Texas forces then pursued most of the surviving Cherokee north into Indian Territory in the United States. • Some other American Indians, including the Caddo and Shawnee, also left northeastern Texas during this time.

13. Lamar’s American Indian Policy • Conflict between Texas settlers and the Comanche had also worsened. • In January 1839, Lamar sent Col. John H. Moore to attack the Comanche living west of the Texas settlements. • Moore and his troops fought the Comanche in a series of conflicts. • As a result of these raids, the Comanche eventually agreed to peace talks.

14. Lamar’s American Indian Policy • In March 19, 1840, about 65 Comanche men, women and children arrived at the Council House in San Antonio for peace talks. • The Texas officials had ordered the Comanche to bring all their captives. • The Comanche representatives only brought a few. • One captive, a teenage girl, Matilda Lockhart, reported that the Comanche still held 15 Texans captive.

15. Lamar’s American Indian Policy • When Texans demanded their release, the Comanche chief Muk-wah-ruh, responded that he did not have the authority over the Comanche holding those captives.

16. Lamar’s American Indian Policy • Then the Texans tried to take the Comanche representatives hostage in exchange for the captives. • The Comanche leaders called for help from their friends who were waiting outside. • Fighting broke out in and around the Council House.

17. Lamar’s American Indian Policy • By the battle’s end, 35 Comanche lay dead, including 12 chiefs, 3 women and 2 children. • At least 7 Texans also died. • This Council House Fight, probably destroyed any hope for peace.

18. Lamar’s American Indian Policy • When the Comanche heard about the massacre, they were outraged. • Large Comanche raiding parties struck Linnville and Victoria, killing more than 20 settlers, burning houses and stealing supplies and livestock

19. Lamar’s American Indian Policy • Texas settlers called for revenge for the Comanche raids. • A force of volunteers, regular soldiers and Texas Rangers formed. • The Texans found the Comanche on August 11, 1840. • The Texan force attacked. • During the Battle of Plum Creek, more than 130 Comanche were killed. • One Texan was killed and seven were wounded.

20. Results of Lamar’s Policies • Despite this victory, many Texas settlers still feared the Comanche. • Texas officials decided to strike farther into the frontier area known as Comanche country and had several skirmishes with the Comanche. • Following these defeats, the Comanche moved farther north beyond the Red River.

21. Results of Lamar’s Policies • By the end of his term, Lamar had achieved his goal of removing the Cherokee from East Texas. • The Comanche had also been pushed further north and west, opening up vast lands for settlement.

22. Results of Lamar’s Policies • However, Lamar’s new policy prove a disaster for Texas Indians. • American Indians in Texas has lost land and suffered severely. • Some Texans were concerned about the increased warfare and the expense that went with it. • Lamar’s Indian Policy had cost the Republic $2.5 million and many lives.

23. Results of Lamar’s Policies • In addition, Lamar’s policies had contributed a soaring national debt. • During his term, the debt rose from $3.3 million to over $8 million.