The Republic of Texas, 1836-1845

1. The Texas Revolution
2. The Foundation of a New Nation
3. Politics in the Republic
4. Indian Relations

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The Texas Revolution

1. What happened at the Battle of Gonzales and the Battle of Goliad?(7.3:B)
       The first fighting of the Texas Revolution took place on October 2, 1835, at the Battle of Gonzales, north of San Antonio. Mexican soldiers left San Antonio and went to Gonzales to seize a canon and other weapons. American settlers in the area and a few volunteer reinforcements drove the Mexican army away. A week later, the revolutionaries won the Battle of Goliad when they captured the presidio (fort) there. They also seized military goods including weapons and munitions.
2. Who was Ben Milam and what did he do?(7.3:A)
       Ben Milam led a rebel force against Mexican troops that had occupied in 1835. The rebels captured the city but Milam was killed in the fighting.
3. What happened at the Convention of 1836? What was George Childress' role at the convention??(7.3:B)
       Texans held the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos. At that convention, the delegates declared independence from Mexico. The primary author of the Declaration of Independence was George Childress. 
4. Who were elected president and vice-president in newly independent Texas?(7.3:A)
       David G. Burnet was elected President of the new government and Lorenzo de Zavala was elected Vice-President.
5. What role did Sam Houston play in Texas' quest for Independence??(7.3:A)
       Sam Houston was named commander of all the Texas troops during the Texas revolution. 
6. When did Texas declare its independence from Mexico? What were the reasons Texas sought independence?
       On March 2, 1836 Texas declared its independence from Mexico.
7. Who was William B. Travis?(7.3:A)
       William Travis was co-commander of the defenders of the Alamo. He wrote an eloquent letter during the siege of the Alamo requesting help from the people of Texas and the United States.
8. What happened at the battle of the Alamo? Who was the commander of the Mexican troops? Why was the Battle of the Alamo an important event in Texas fight for independence?(7.3:A, B)
       Mexican troops, commanded by Santa Anna, defeated a group of Texans at the Alamo after a 13 day siege. Almost all of the Alamo defenders lost their lives in the battle, and most of those left were murdered by Santa Anna after he captured the Alamo.
       During the battle, Santa Anna lost hundreds of men. Too many sergeants and corporals died. They were necessary because they connected top commanders with privates. Also important was the fact that the Mexicans lost 13 days in their siege. General Houston used those days to continue to recruit men for his army and to slowly withdraw northeastwardly toward Louisiana. That the Mexicans had spared none of the Alamo�s fighting men also hurt them. The way the Alamo defenders were butchered stirred anti-Mexican sentiment in Texas and in the United States.
9. Who was Colonel James Fannin? What happened at the Goliad massacre?(7.3:A,B)
       Colonel James Fannin led a force of 350 or so men that held Goliad. As General Jose de Urrea led a Mexican force towards Goliad, Fannin decided to abandon the post and retreat to Victoria, but Urrea�s forces intercepted the Texans. At the Battle of the Prairie, Urrea forced Fannin to surrender and then marched the Texans back to Goliad. Santa Anna ordered their executions, even though Urrea, personally, pleaded for their lives. Altogether, some 350 were murdered while only 30 or so managed to escape.    
10. What was the "Runaway Scrape"?(7.3:B)
        During the Runaway Scrape, thousands of settlers panicked. They did not want to be placed in the hands of Santa Anna. They followed Houston�s army and ran pell-mell toward Louisiana. Even Texas government officials fled the area and hurried to Galveston Island so they could escape by sea if necessary. Houston also turned his march toward Galveston while Santa Anna and part of his army did likewise.
11. What happened at the Battle of San Jacinto?(7.3:B)
        The Battle of San Jacinto was a complete victory for Texas' forces. The Texans captured Santa Anna and forced him to sign a surrender that recognized the Republic of Texas.

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The Foundation of a New Nation

1. Name four major settlements in the early Texas Republic. 
       See Communities for this answer.
2. What type of government did the Constitution of 1836 form for Texas?
       Texas was declared a republic, which is a democratic form of government in which voters elect representatives to carry out the wishes of the people.
3. What were the Treaties of Velasco?(7.4:A)
       In the Treaties of Velasco, Santa Anna agreed to end the fighting between Mexico and Texas and agreed that he would attempt to convince the Mexican government to recognize Texas independence. Also, the first treaty provided for an exchange of prisoners between the two countries.
4. Who was elected the first president and vice-president of the Republic of Texas?(7.4:A)
       Sam Houston was elected president of Texas by a majority of votes. Mirabeau Lamar, another hero of the Battle of San Jacinto, was chosen as vice-president.
5. Whom did Sam Houston choose as members of his cabinet?(7.4:A)
       Stephen F. Austin was appointed as secretary of state, Thomas Rusk became secretary of war and Henry Smith was designated secretary of the treasury.
6. Where and when did the Texas Congress first meet? Where did it move and why?(7.4:A)
       The first elected congress of the Republic of Texas met at Columbus on October 3, 1836. Since the town of Columbus proved to be too small to accommodate the Texas government, the state legislature suggested that the government be moved to a more suitable location. Soon after, the Texas Congress passed one of its first acts, moving the capital to Houston.

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Politics in the New Republic

1. Who was Albert Sidney Johnston and what happened to him?(7.4:A)
       Albert Sidney Johnston was appointed by Sam Houston to be commander of the Republic of Texas army, but before he could take charge of the army, Felix Huston shot and wounded Johnston in a duel.
2. What was done to combat the financial crises that existed in the Republic of Texas during Sam Houston's first term? Were the methods effective in solving the crises?(7.4:A)
       The administration�s remedy was to print of more paper money and collect various revenues. Both methods were ineffective. The government was spending more money than it raised in revenues.
3. For what is President Mirabeau B. Lamar and his administration best known?(7.4:A)
       Lamar is best known for his commitment to public education.
4. What were President Houston�s main goals during his second term?(7.4:A)
       President Houston, during his second term in office, set out to reduce the Texas debt by decreasing the overall size of the Texas government. The second Houston administration is also known for its attempts to restore peace with the Native Americans, the settling of the conflict between the Regulators and Moderators in Shelby County, Texas and his efforts at administering foreign diplomacy.
5. Who were the Texas Rangers?(7.4:A) (Texas Rangers)
       The modern Texas Rangers were organized by Stephen F. Austin and Moses Morrison in 1823. Their duties were to protect the Texas frontier from hostile forces. By 1900, the rangers had been reorganized into a crime fighting, crime prevention and crime investigation organization, and their name had been standardized as "Texas Rangers."
6. Who was the last president of the Republic of Texas? What policies did he pursue?(7.4:A)
       The last president of the Republic of Texas was Dr. Anson Jones from Brazoria County. Jones continued to carry out many of Houston�s former policies, establishing peace with the Native Americans and limiting government spending.

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Indian Relations

1. Why did the Republic need a national Indian policy?(7.4:A)
       The Republic of Texas had a pressing need for a national Indian policy because with increasing Anglo migration into the new country, Texans and Native Americans came into almost continual conflict with each other over land.
2. Why did Mexican officials encourage the Native Americans to attack the Texans?
       Mexican officials hoped to regain the territory lost when Texas won its independence. So they encouraged trouble between the Native Americans and the Anglos in Texas.
3. Why were forts built throughout Texas during this period?
       The new forts served two purposes. First, the military posts would prevent Native American from raiding areas heavily populated by non-Indian settlers. Second, the fortifications would prevent settlers from encroaching further onto Indian territory.
4. How did land speculators view Sam Houston�s Indian policy?
       Land speculators saw Houston�s Indian policy as interfering with their business and as costing them thousands of dollars in profits gained from the sale of frontier lands. This issue was a heavily debated topic, and it remained a central question in every national election held in the Republic.
5. What sparked the famous Cherokee War? What was the outcome of the war?(7.4:A)
       President Lamar sent the Texas army to forcibly remove the Cherokees from east Texas. This sparked the famous Cherokee War of 1839. Texans won the war within a few days. The Battle of the Neches, fought near Tyler, Texas, marked the defeat of the Cherokees. The remaining Cherokees left Texas. They moved north in the region designated as Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma.
6. Who was Cynthia Ann Parker and Quanah Parker?(7.4:A)
       Cynthia Ann Parker was captured and raised by a group of Comanche and Kiowa Indians. She was eventually accepted into their society. She married the Comanche Chief Peta Nocona and their son, Quanah Parker, became an important leader among his people.
7. What happened at the Council House Meeting?(7.4:A)
       At this meeting, Comanche chiefs and Texas officials were to discuss plans for peace. Instead, a battle erupted in the downtown area. More than 40 Comanches were killed along with seven Texans in what became known as the Council House Fight. 
8. What impact did the Indian wars have on the Texas government?(7.4:A,B)
       The cost of the Indian Wars was devastating to the government budget. Not only was there a large toll on the lives of both Native American and Texans, but the wars cost the Texas government more than $2.5 million.

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