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TEXAS BECOMES A REPUBLIC

Texas had become a republic. Sam Houston was later elected President of Texas with
5, 119 votes out of 6,640; Mirabeau Bounaparte Lamar became Vice-President. The
constitution was unanimously ratified and a significant number of votes were cast
recommending that Texas seek annexation to the United States.

But the Republic was a straggling frontier community of less than 40,000 people. It
was a series of plantations and farms carved out of the Southern forests along the river
bottoms. Most Texans were farmers. The largest towns were frontier outposts
With mud streets. There was no money economy, nor any money. There were no
banks or improved roads or organized schools. There was no industry. Texas
desperately wanted to be annexed to the U.S.

Finally the U.S. recognized Texas as an independent republic but Mexico,

understandably, refused to do so. U.S. President Andrew Jackson felt Texas was the
key to the U.S. expanding to the Pacific ocean but, because of the treaty the U.S. had
with Mexico, he could not officially help or annex Texas.

Besides all the social problems experienced by a new republic, Texas President, Sam
Houston faced many other problems over the next few years, not the least of which
were Indian problems. Fighting Indians kept his military busy. But, in addition to fights
caused by Indians, there were many feuds between the various groups of settlers which
broke out. There were fights between newcomers and squatters. There were fights
between the Regulators and the Moderators. Houston used the militia to put the
Republic back in control.

While the new Republic was getting on its feet, Santa Anna was biding his time. You

will remember that Santa Anna was not executed due, in part, to urging from the
United States. He ultimately was returned to Mexico and was again elected President
of Mexico. He never accepted the fact Texas was now an independent entity. In a
show of force he sent a military expedition across the Rio Grande in the spring of 1842.
The Mexican army easily captured San Antonio, Refugio and Goliad as they were
virtually unopposed. Houston sent his military to San Antonio but the Mexicans had
gone back to the South after only a few days.

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