Annexation- to add new land to your country (making Texas a state is an example)

Veteran- someone who served in the military

President Sam Houston: 1836-1838Hosted by O.C.

Why did Houston Win?San Jacinto! Houston was popular after whipping the Mexican army

and defeating Santa Anna. He was the man of the moment!

The Election of 1836Houston v Austin v Some Other Guy

Houston- 5,119Austin- 586The Other Guy- 736

“A successful military chieftain is hailed with admiration...but the

bloodless pioneer of the west...attracts no notice.”- Austin

This was the first Texas flag.

This was the first capital ofTexas: Independence Hall

at Washington on the Brazos.This is where Texas declaredIndependence from Mexico

on March 2nd, 1836.

Washington on the Brazos- 1st Capital

View from Washington on the Brazos, looking down at the river, where the ferry was located.

Columbia on the BrazosThe Second Capital of Texas

The Death of Stephen F. AustinAustin got a job as Secretary of State for the Texas government. He was broke, and had to live in a shack in Columbia. He caught pneumonia and died.

Henceforth, Austin shall be known as

the “Father o’ Texas.”

Why did the Texas government choose the city of Houston to be the capital?

Capital CitySam Houston

chose “Houston” to be the capital

of Texas.

He did this because it was a safe location, and

Texas got the capital building

for free.

Houston was a miserable

city! Swampy, hot,and muddy!

1 in 8 diedof yellow fever!

Hogsroamed free, eating

the trash!

Silence, you meddlingkid! Houston was far

away from the Comancheand close to the coast,

which was good for trading!

First Capitol Building in Houston

The Texas “White House”

How should Texas treat the Indians? Houston wanted peace

with the Indians. He realized that peace would save lives and money.

(One example was giving the Cherokee tribe a bunch

of land in East Texas.)

“If I could build a wall from the Red River to the Rio Grande (to separate the Indians from the

Texans) the white people would go crazy trying to devise a means to get beyond it.” (Actual

quote)

Texas Debt/Government

Spending The Texas government had

little money. Houston spent

wisely: small army, small government, no wars. He also

raised taxes.

“We owed 1.25 million dollars for the equipment we bought and borrowed to fight the Texas

Revolution. Most Texans refuse to pay taxes. We must save as much money as possible.”

Deaf Smith

Annexation Houston WANTED Texas to be annexed. Most Texans came from the U.S. Texas

and the U.S. shared a common culture. Texans wanted U.S. protection.

The U.S. said no, because it would have

1. Caused a war with Mexico 2. It would have upset the balance between slave and non-slave states.

“Texas needs the protection of the U.S. Mexico could invade at any time.”

United States

Please?

Texas Army

Texas could not afford to pay a large army, and the soldiers it did have wanted to invade Mexico. Houston sent most of the soldiers home and kept a small army for emergencies. Texas basically had NOT army when Houston was

president.

“If we attack Mexico and they whip us, then all our work is for nothing! Better to leave Mexico

alone. They’ve got enough problems.”

Who was the first president of Texas?

What were 3 problems Texas faced as a new country?

Would you have voted for Sam Houston if you lived back then?