Texas Rangers
President Houston dismissed the
army because of its cost and lack of
leadership. He replaced them by
reinstating the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers main duty was to
protect the settlers on from attacks
by Native Americans and Mexican
soldiers that crossed the border.
President
Sam Houston
First Administration (1836-1838)
Houston focused on forming a
government, and dealing with the
issues of debt, the army, conflict
with Native Americans and Mexico,
and selecting a capital.
Chief Bowles
He was the leader of a group of
Cherokees that arrived in Texas in
1820. He signed a
treaty with Sam Houston during the
Texas Revolution.
Relations with
Mexico
Mexico refused to recognize Texas
as an independent nation. President
Houston released Santa Anna
hoping to change its relations with
Mexico. However, Bustamante
became president of Mexico and he
didn’t agree with Mexico’s plan.
The Mexican government still
refused to recognize the
independence of Texas!!
Conflict with
Native Americans
Native American groups resented
the Texans living on land that they
viewed as their own. In 1838
Houston sent Charles Sims to visit
Native Americans to end the raids
and bring peace. He also called on
TX Rangers to patrol central TX.
With these measures, the frequency
of raids decreased.
DEBT
Texas owed $1.25 million in public
debt that it borrowed to pay for the
revolution. To raise money congress
put a tax on imported goods,
property and livestock. Houston also
sent home soldiers. He also turned
over defense of the country to the
Texas Rangers, who received little to
no pay for their services.
Annexation
Many Texans had a strong desire to
join the United States. The Mexican
government refused to recognize
Texas’s Independence, causing the
U.S to worry that annexing Texas
would damage their relations with
Mexico. Also many in the US were
against Slavery and adding TX to the
Union would give Slave states more
votes in the US Senate than free
states.
President
Sam Houston
Second Administration (1841-1844)
According to the Constitution, a
person couldn’t be elected
two times in a row. Most Texans
were unhappy with the conflict
during Lamar’s administration and
reelected Houston. His main focus
was to return peace, decrease the
public debt, and prepare Texas for
Statehood.
DEBT
Houston worked with Congress to
eliminate government jobs and cut
the salaries of others. Houston tried
to sale the Small Navy but the sale
was blocked. Congress suspended
payment on public debt. During this
term the government only spent
$500,000 but public debt kept
growing and was almost $12 million
by 1846.
Peace Policy
Houston renewed peaceful and fair
dealings with Native Americans. He
established trading posts to provide
them with supplies as well as
sending agents to convince Native
Americans that Texas wanted peace.
Relations with
Mexico
Texas faced new issues with Mexico
after the capture and imprisonment
of the Santa Fe expedition. Texans
wanted war and they got their wish.
Mexican soldiers seized San Antonio
forcing President Houston to order
the movement of government
archives moved from Austin in case
of attack.