Launching the New Republic - Humble ISD
NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______
The Republic of Texas Lesson 1: Organizing the New Government ESSENTIAL QUESTION How do governments change?
Terms to Know amend to change a constitution or law capitol a building where the legislative body of a republic, state, or country meets public debt the amount of money a nation's government owes tariff a tax on imported goods expenditure money spent revenue money that a government collects annexation the incorporating of a country or territory into another country or territory
What do you know? In the first column, answer the questions based on what you know before you study. After the lesson, fill in the last column.
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
Before
Questions When was Texas a republic?
Now
What was the first capital of the republic? Why did the republic not join the United States right away?
Launching the New Republic Guiding Question What challenges did the leaders of the Republic of Texas face? The era of the Texas Republic began with the Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. It lasted until 1845, the year Texas joined the United States. After independence, Texans needed to form a government. In an election held in 1836, voters approved the Texas Constitution and agreed that Texas should try to join the United States. They denied the Texas Congress the power to amend, or change, the Constitution. Voters elected Sam Houston as president and Mirabeau Lamar as vice president. Houston appointed Henry Smith as secretary of the treasury. Stephen F. Austin became secretary of state. Both men had run against Houston for president.
Marking the Text 1. Highlight the period of the Texas Republic.
Defining 2. What does amend mean?
Reading Essentials and Study Guide 161
NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______
The Republic of Texas Lesson 1: Organizing the New Government, continued
\
Summarizing
3. What was the earliest capital of the republic, why was it not a good site, and where was the new capital?
Defining 4. What is a tariff?
Marking the Text
Reading Progress Check 6. What challenges did Houston face as president?
One of the first tasks of the new government was to select a capital. The current site, Columbia, was too small and rugged for a seat of government. John and Augustus Allen had recently founded a settlement on Buffalo Bayou that they called Houston. The Allens wanted Houston to be the nation’s leading port. They promised to build a handsome city if the government would move the capital there. In December 1836, Congress made Houston the capital for three years. Within a year the town’s population grew quickly. The president’s house was a two-room log cabin. The capitol was a simple two-story building. The new government did not have enough money to pay its leaders or its army. It also owed $1.25 million in public debt from the revolution. To raise money, Congress put in place a tariff. This is a tax on imported goods. It also taxed property and livestock. However, most Texans did not have enough money to pay these taxes. The government was also unable to borrow enough money. Houston did what he could to cut costs: • He sent three of the four regiments of soldiers home. • He tried to avoid conflict with Native Americans. • He turned the defense of the republic over to the Texas Rangers. The Texas Rangers were a force of scouts and messengers formed in 1835. They received almost no pay and had to provide their own horses, food, and guns. After the war, the Rangers’ main duty was to protect settlers from attacks by Native Americans. Under President Houston’s peace policies, their activities were limited. Despite Houston’s cost cutting, expenditures were always more than revenues. That is, the money that the government spent was greater than the money the government took in. By 1839, the public debt had grown by $2 million. To keep running, the government issued paper money for which the buyer would receive a payment of interest. Over time, these bills declined in value, however.
162
Reading Essentials and Study Guide
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
5. Highlight what Texas did to keep its government running.
The new nation faced a number of challenges. The new government had no money. Texas needed other countries to recognize its independence. It had to decide what to do with Mexican leader Santa Anna, who was still a prisoner. Native Americans and settlers were in conflict.
NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______
The Republic of Texas Lesson 1: Organizing the New Government, continued
Relations with Mexico and Native Americans Guiding Question Why were relations between Texas and local Native Americans and Texas and Mexico challenging? Santa Anna was still captive in Texas. He ordered Mexican forces to return south of the Rio Grande. He also proposed a plan by which the United States could pay Mexico for Texas. In November 1836, Houston released Santa Anna. Santa Anna visited the United States and then returned to Mexico. Mexican president Anastasio Bustamante did not agree with Santa Anna’s plans. Mexico still refused to recognize the independence of Texas. The Waco, Comanche, Kiowa, and other Native American groups resented the Texans living on their lands. The Comanche and Kiowa were especially hostile. They launched raids on farms and settlements in central Texas.
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
In 1838, Houston sent Charles Sims to meet with Native Americans to try to end the raids and bring peace. Houston also had Texas Rangers patrol central Texas. The frequency of Native American raids decreased. While Sims successfully negotiated peace with some Native Americans, other Tejanos and Native Americans prepared for war. Many Tejanos had remained loyal to Mexico. They were not happy Texas was independent. The Cherokee were angry that after the revolution many Americans had settled on Cherokee lands. With Mexico’s help, a Tejano named Vicente Córdova secretly raised an armed force. He convinced some Cherokee and other Native American groups in East Texas to join him. In August 1838, the rebels briefly fought against the Anglo Americans. Córdova’s group was defeated near Seguín in March 1839, and the revolt ended. Cherokee leaders said that they had not taken part in the rebellion, and Houston took no action against them.
Seeking Annexation and Recognition
Identifying 7. What two actions did Santa Anna take while he was a captive?
Marking the Text 8. Highlight the information about how Houston worked for peace with Native Americans in Texas.
Reading Progress Check 9. Why did some Native Americans and Tejanos oppose the republic?
Identifying Central Issues 10. Why did some Texans want to join the United States?
Guiding Question What were relations with the United States and other countries like in the early years of the republic? In the 1836 elections, Texans had voted to join the United States. Most Texans were from the United States and wanted their new home to become part of the old one. They were fearful of attacks by Mexico, and wanted U.S. protection.
Reading Essentials and Study Guide 163
NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______
The Republic of Texas Lesson 1: Organizing the New Government, continued
Analyzing 11. Why did Jackson not want to recognize the Republic of Texas?
Reading Progress Check 12. Why did Great Britain and France delay recognizing Texas as an independent nation?
Joining the United States meant annexation, or joining of the territory of one country to another. However, the Mexican government refused to recognize Texas independence. In turn, U.S. leaders did not want to upset Mexico by annexing Texas. In addition, U.S. antislavery groups were able to block annexation. They knew that adding Texas to the Union would give the slave states more votes in the U.S. Senate than the free states had. Meanwhile, U.S. President Andrew Jackson did not recognize Texas independence. He questioned the ability of the republic to survive. Houston sent William H. Wharton and Memucan Hunt to Washington, D.C., to convince U.S. leaders that Texas should be recognized. In March 1837, the United States finally officially recognized the Republic of Texas. Houston next pushed for recognition of Texas by other nations. He sent J. Pinckney Henderson to Europe to negotiate recognition and trade treaties with nations there. Houston hoped that if Great Britain showed interest, the United States would quickly annex Texas. Henderson said the British could buy as much Texas cotton as they needed for their textile mills and offered to sell British goods in Texas. Britain agreed to a trade agreement in 1838. France also signed a temporary trade agreement. Both countries refused to recognize Texas, however. Like the United States, they feared it would not survive. They also did not want to offend Mexico.
Check for Understanding 1. Expository What did Texan voters decide in the election of 1836?
2. Persuasive Why do you think it might have been a good idea for the United States to annex Texas?
164
Reading Essentials and Study Guide
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
Writing
The Republic of Texas Lesson 1: Organizing the New Government ESSENTIAL QUESTION How do governments change?
Terms to Know amend to change a constitution or law capitol a building where the legislative body of a republic, state, or country meets public debt the amount of money a nation's government owes tariff a tax on imported goods expenditure money spent revenue money that a government collects annexation the incorporating of a country or territory into another country or territory
What do you know? In the first column, answer the questions based on what you know before you study. After the lesson, fill in the last column.
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
Before
Questions When was Texas a republic?
Now
What was the first capital of the republic? Why did the republic not join the United States right away?
Launching the New Republic Guiding Question What challenges did the leaders of the Republic of Texas face? The era of the Texas Republic began with the Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. It lasted until 1845, the year Texas joined the United States. After independence, Texans needed to form a government. In an election held in 1836, voters approved the Texas Constitution and agreed that Texas should try to join the United States. They denied the Texas Congress the power to amend, or change, the Constitution. Voters elected Sam Houston as president and Mirabeau Lamar as vice president. Houston appointed Henry Smith as secretary of the treasury. Stephen F. Austin became secretary of state. Both men had run against Houston for president.
Marking the Text 1. Highlight the period of the Texas Republic.
Defining 2. What does amend mean?
Reading Essentials and Study Guide 161
NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______
The Republic of Texas Lesson 1: Organizing the New Government, continued
\
Summarizing
3. What was the earliest capital of the republic, why was it not a good site, and where was the new capital?
Defining 4. What is a tariff?
Marking the Text
Reading Progress Check 6. What challenges did Houston face as president?
One of the first tasks of the new government was to select a capital. The current site, Columbia, was too small and rugged for a seat of government. John and Augustus Allen had recently founded a settlement on Buffalo Bayou that they called Houston. The Allens wanted Houston to be the nation’s leading port. They promised to build a handsome city if the government would move the capital there. In December 1836, Congress made Houston the capital for three years. Within a year the town’s population grew quickly. The president’s house was a two-room log cabin. The capitol was a simple two-story building. The new government did not have enough money to pay its leaders or its army. It also owed $1.25 million in public debt from the revolution. To raise money, Congress put in place a tariff. This is a tax on imported goods. It also taxed property and livestock. However, most Texans did not have enough money to pay these taxes. The government was also unable to borrow enough money. Houston did what he could to cut costs: • He sent three of the four regiments of soldiers home. • He tried to avoid conflict with Native Americans. • He turned the defense of the republic over to the Texas Rangers. The Texas Rangers were a force of scouts and messengers formed in 1835. They received almost no pay and had to provide their own horses, food, and guns. After the war, the Rangers’ main duty was to protect settlers from attacks by Native Americans. Under President Houston’s peace policies, their activities were limited. Despite Houston’s cost cutting, expenditures were always more than revenues. That is, the money that the government spent was greater than the money the government took in. By 1839, the public debt had grown by $2 million. To keep running, the government issued paper money for which the buyer would receive a payment of interest. Over time, these bills declined in value, however.
162
Reading Essentials and Study Guide
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
5. Highlight what Texas did to keep its government running.
The new nation faced a number of challenges. The new government had no money. Texas needed other countries to recognize its independence. It had to decide what to do with Mexican leader Santa Anna, who was still a prisoner. Native Americans and settlers were in conflict.
NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______
The Republic of Texas Lesson 1: Organizing the New Government, continued
Relations with Mexico and Native Americans Guiding Question Why were relations between Texas and local Native Americans and Texas and Mexico challenging? Santa Anna was still captive in Texas. He ordered Mexican forces to return south of the Rio Grande. He also proposed a plan by which the United States could pay Mexico for Texas. In November 1836, Houston released Santa Anna. Santa Anna visited the United States and then returned to Mexico. Mexican president Anastasio Bustamante did not agree with Santa Anna’s plans. Mexico still refused to recognize the independence of Texas. The Waco, Comanche, Kiowa, and other Native American groups resented the Texans living on their lands. The Comanche and Kiowa were especially hostile. They launched raids on farms and settlements in central Texas.
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
In 1838, Houston sent Charles Sims to meet with Native Americans to try to end the raids and bring peace. Houston also had Texas Rangers patrol central Texas. The frequency of Native American raids decreased. While Sims successfully negotiated peace with some Native Americans, other Tejanos and Native Americans prepared for war. Many Tejanos had remained loyal to Mexico. They were not happy Texas was independent. The Cherokee were angry that after the revolution many Americans had settled on Cherokee lands. With Mexico’s help, a Tejano named Vicente Córdova secretly raised an armed force. He convinced some Cherokee and other Native American groups in East Texas to join him. In August 1838, the rebels briefly fought against the Anglo Americans. Córdova’s group was defeated near Seguín in March 1839, and the revolt ended. Cherokee leaders said that they had not taken part in the rebellion, and Houston took no action against them.
Seeking Annexation and Recognition
Identifying 7. What two actions did Santa Anna take while he was a captive?
Marking the Text 8. Highlight the information about how Houston worked for peace with Native Americans in Texas.
Reading Progress Check 9. Why did some Native Americans and Tejanos oppose the republic?
Identifying Central Issues 10. Why did some Texans want to join the United States?
Guiding Question What were relations with the United States and other countries like in the early years of the republic? In the 1836 elections, Texans had voted to join the United States. Most Texans were from the United States and wanted their new home to become part of the old one. They were fearful of attacks by Mexico, and wanted U.S. protection.
Reading Essentials and Study Guide 163
NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______
The Republic of Texas Lesson 1: Organizing the New Government, continued
Analyzing 11. Why did Jackson not want to recognize the Republic of Texas?
Reading Progress Check 12. Why did Great Britain and France delay recognizing Texas as an independent nation?
Joining the United States meant annexation, or joining of the territory of one country to another. However, the Mexican government refused to recognize Texas independence. In turn, U.S. leaders did not want to upset Mexico by annexing Texas. In addition, U.S. antislavery groups were able to block annexation. They knew that adding Texas to the Union would give the slave states more votes in the U.S. Senate than the free states had. Meanwhile, U.S. President Andrew Jackson did not recognize Texas independence. He questioned the ability of the republic to survive. Houston sent William H. Wharton and Memucan Hunt to Washington, D.C., to convince U.S. leaders that Texas should be recognized. In March 1837, the United States finally officially recognized the Republic of Texas. Houston next pushed for recognition of Texas by other nations. He sent J. Pinckney Henderson to Europe to negotiate recognition and trade treaties with nations there. Houston hoped that if Great Britain showed interest, the United States would quickly annex Texas. Henderson said the British could buy as much Texas cotton as they needed for their textile mills and offered to sell British goods in Texas. Britain agreed to a trade agreement in 1838. France also signed a temporary trade agreement. Both countries refused to recognize Texas, however. Like the United States, they feared it would not survive. They also did not want to offend Mexico.
Check for Understanding 1. Expository What did Texan voters decide in the election of 1836?
2. Persuasive Why do you think it might have been a good idea for the United States to annex Texas?
164
Reading Essentials and Study Guide
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
Writing
