Source: Wpdms republic of texas, CWenger, Wikipedia
Source: Wpdms republic of texas, CWenger, Wikipedia
By September 1836, the new government of the Republic of Texas was established. Sam Houston was elected president of Texas and Mirabeau B. Lamar was voted as vice president. Voters also approved the Constitution of 1836.
Source: Thomas Flintoff Sam Houston Google Art Project, DcoetzeeBot, Wikimedia
The first task of Houston’s administration was to organize the Republic’s new government. Sam Houston appointed Stephen F. Austin as the Republic’s first Secretary of State, but Austin died a few months later.
Source: Stephen f. Austin, Maksim, Wikimedia
While meeting with Congress, the city of Houston was named as the capital of Texas for three years. Houston had to tackle some of the most important issues facing the new nation. After organizing the new government, Congress had to stabilize the economy.
The early Republic of Texas was severely unstable. The debt from the Texas Revolution left the Republic with more than $1 million dollars of debt. Texas was spending more than it was making. To stabilize the economy, the Texas Congress levied a tariff on imported goods. Congress also levied several other taxes, such as property and business taxes, on the citizens of Texas. Although the taxes were meant to raise money for the new nation, Congress found it hard to collect the taxes.
Let’s think about this: Why do you think it was hard for Congress to collect taxes?
To further stabilize the economy, the Texas Congress decided to print its own currency. The Texas economy had previously used currency from the United States and Mexico. In 1837, the Republic issued “star money” which was an interest-bearing promissory note that lost interest if the note changed hands.
Source: 3front, Texas State Library and Archives Commission
In 1839, Congress issued more than two million “redbacks.” The initial value of these notes was an estimated 37 cents.
Source: 5redback, Texas State Library and Archive Commission
By 1842, the value of the Texas currency had dropped to two cents to the American dollar. Texans all but stopped using Texas currency. By 1838, the Texas debt had risen from $1.25 to $2 million dollars.
Source: John Coffee Hays, 3/4 – length portrait, seated in chair and facing left, Matthew Brady, Library of Congress
The next issue facing the Republic was providing security for Texans. Raids by American-Indian tribes threatened the safety of Texans. American Indians were frustrated with the constant flow of Anglo Americans that continued to move into Texas.
In particular, the raids by Kiowas and Comanches increased in frequency and violence. In some instances, Anglo-American settlers were kidnapped or even killed.
President Sam Houston called on the Texas Rangers to patrol areas in Central Texas where the raids were the worst. Stephen F. Austin established the Texas Rangers in 1823. The Rangers were a tough, no-nonsense group of men whose job was to protect the people of Texas, mainly against American-Indian attacks. Rangers were paid very little and purchased their own weapons and supplies.
In the 1840s, one Ranger was especially effective against the Comanche raids. John “Jack” Coffee Hays (pictured here), helped the Rangers establish their reputation for courage and expert fighting. Hays was successful at a crushing victory against the Comanche.
Source: Badge2, Texas Department of Public Safety
Did you know that the Texas Rangers are still in existence today? The Texas Rangers are currently a part of the Department of Public Safety. Today, the Texas Rangers investigate major crimes and unsolved crimes. The Rangers also lead investigations involving border security operations.
Another tribe, the Cherokees, had an agreement with the Texas government during the Texas Revolution.
Source: chiefbowlestop, Overhill Cherokee
Chief Bowles, of Cherokee and Scots-Irish heritage, was born in North Carolina. He came to Texas after leading a large group of Cherokee Indians from Missouri and Arkansas. The group settled in Nacogdoches where Bowles became a leader in the village.
In February 1836, Sam Houston met with Chief Bowles and the Cherokees where they negotiated a treaty that guaranteed the Cherokees possession of land in East Texas. However, once the government of the Republic of Texas was organized, the Texas Senate refused to recognize the treaty. As a result, the Cherokees did not receive the land they were promised. It is important to note that after the Texas Senate did not recognize the treaty, Anglo Americans were allowed to move into East Texas.
Bowles died in a battle between the Cherokees and Texans at Neches River.
Let's think about this: How do you think the relationship between the Cherokees and the Texans changed after the Texas Senate denied the treaty?
Immigration to Texas was another important issue that the Republic faced. While the Republic of Texas was trying to overcome the challenges of a new nation, it did not stop people from immigrating to Texas. Texas was a symbol of freedom and opportunity which attracted many immigrants who were fleeing oppressive conditions. Additionally, many farmers were attracted to the availability of cheap, fertile land.
After the Texas Revolution, Anglo Americans from the United States, especially those with slaves, moved to Texas in record numbers. Without the threat of Mexican anti-slavery laws, these Americans (mainly southerners), were free to bring slaves and take advantage of the cheap land to start farms. Thus, many African Americans traveled to Texas but were refused the freedom to experience the opportunities that Texas held for most other immigrants.
African-American slaves were not the only ethnic group denied such freedoms. American Indians continued to be pushed out of their land, and Mexicans who immigrated to Texas faced harsh treatment and discrimination.
However, European immigrants like the Germans and the Polish, for example, found that Texas lived up to most of their expectations. These immigrants who were fleeing deplorable conditions in their native countries came to America looking to live in a place with better living conditions and with economic, political, and religious freedom.