Houston’s 2 nd Texas Presidency

1. Houston’s 2nd Texas Presidency • Title: Houston Regains Presidency (Chapter 12, Section 3) • Main Idea: Sam Houston’s return to the presidency signaled a change in the government’s economic and Native American policies. His main focus was to return peace, decrease the public debt, and prepare Texas for statehood.

2. A Policy Of Economy • To reduce debt, he cut government jobs and reduced the size of the army. • He sold Navy ships to Galveston citizens who gave them back as gifts. WHY? • Houston dishonorably discharged and court-martialed Edwin W. Moore, Commodore of the Texas Navy, for aiding Mexican rebels by blockading Mexican coast. • Despite these attempts to cut costs, the debt of the republic increased, largely because of the high interest that had to be paid. Edwin W. Moore

3. Peace Renewed • Houston also renewed work for peaceful and fair dealings with the Native Americans. • Houston appointed William Goyens, a free African American and successful businessman, as an agent to negotiate peace treaties with the Cherokees. He also served as an interpreter; he spoke Spanish and several Native American languages. • The treaties ensured calm for several years. William Goyen’s Headstone

4. The Archives War • A Mexican Army of 500 occupied San Antonio, Goliad, and Refugio. • Houston ordered the government archives moved to Houston. • A group of Austin residents, led by Angelina Eberly, engaged in a skirmish with Texas officials who tried to move the archives from Austin. • Overall, the archives AND the capital stayed in Austin. Eberly Statue in Austin, TX

5. The Woll Invasion • In September 1842, a Mexican army of 1,400 soldiers led by General Adrian Wollinvaded Texas and occupied San Antonio. • The Texas Rangers and Texas militia responded and drove them out of Texas after some heavy fighting. • One of the best-known Texas Rangers, was Jack Coffee Hays, a surveyor of the Republic of Texas, and a captain of a Texas Ranger company during the Lamar and Houston’s presidencies. Jack Coffee Hays

6. The Mier Expedition • In November 1842, Houston ordered Texas General Alexander Somervell and 750 troops to patrol the border area from San Antonio to Laredo. • After finding no trace of the Mexican army, Somervell ordered his troops back to Gonzales(headquarters for the Texas army).

7. The Mier Expedition • 300 men led by Colonel William Fisher mutinied by attacking the Mexican town of Mier. • Result? The Mexican army of 900 men led by General Pedro Ampudiaoutnumbered the Texans and forced them to surrender after two days of fighting. Pedro Ampudia

9. Santa Anna’s Revenge • As Texas captives were marched to Mexico City, some escaped, but later died from starvation and exposure. The rest were recaptured. • Santa Anna, now back in power, ordered every 10th Texan in captivity executed. • Of the 176 men recaptured, 17 were to die. General Santa Anna

10. The Drawing Of The Beans • To determine which men were to be executed, each prisoner drew a bean from a jar containing white and black beans. Those who drew a black bean were executed. • The rest of the prisoners who drew white beans were transferred to a prison in Vera Cruz.