Texas History
Fort Burrows
9.3 - Houston’s Second Term
CONFLICT / RESULTArchive War / Texas State archives remain in Austin
Salado Creek / Texans drive out Mexican invaders
Dawson’s Massacre / Mexican kill many Texans and imprisoned the survivors
Somervell’s Expedition / Somervell disbands his troops
Mier Expedition / Texans are captured and some are executed
Main Idea:
During Houston’s second term he tried to cut government spending and establish peace with Native Americans. Conflict with Mexico added to Texans’ desire to become part of the United States.
Vocabulary:
interest – the price paid for the use of the borrowed money
archives – collections of important public documents
(such as constitutions, public records, etc.)
Houston Resumes Command - Houston began his second term as president.
The Texas Economy Under Houston
Houston reduced government spending by millions, but interest caused the debt to keep growing
fired government workers and reduced salaries of others to save money
cut the size of the army, to save money, he used volunteers
still could not reduce the huge debt
Texas was bankrupt
Native American Peace Treaties
Indian raids still threatened the frontier
Houston convinced many tribes to attend a “grand council” where a peace treaty was signed
signed by all the Texas tribes except the Wichitas
our Daddy supported trade posts set up by the government
Continued Conflict With Mexico
Santa Anna had regained power and hoped to retake Texas
1842 Santa Anna sent troops into Texas
he knew that the Texas army was weak and small
he attacked Victoria, Goliad, and San Antonio
Sam Houston was afraid Santa Anna would attack Austin next
The Archives WarFearing attack by the Mexicans, Sam Houston ordered the Texas Rangers to move the archives from Austin to Houston. The people of Austin thought Sam Houston was trying to ‘create’ a new capital in the town of Houston by moving the documents. To stop Sam Houston’s order, they attacked the Texas Rangers. They fired a cannon at the Texas Rangers when they came to move the archives. The archives remained in Austin.
Battle of Salado Creek(outside of San Antonio)
Texans gathered outside of town near Salado Creek
they lured the Mexicans out of town into an open field
the Texans were victorious and drove them back to Mexico
The Battle of Salado Creek( Maverick County )
Mexican troops captured San Antonio. A group of Texans hid near Salado Creek and lured Mexican troops into a trap. Though outnumbered, the Texans were victorious. In a nearby battle, Dawson’s Massacre, 50 Texans were killed, even though they surrendered to the Mexicans. /
Sirena Statue in Salado Creek
Texas Responds to the Mexican Invasion: Mier Expedition
Houston sends General Alexander Somervell to Laredo to make sure that the Mexican army had left Texas.
he was told to invade Mexico only if he could beat the Mexicans
Somervell thought the invasion would fail, so he withdrew his troops
about 300 men ( without Somervell’s approval ) attacked the town of Mier
low on supplies, the Texans had to surrender to the large Mexican force
Santa Anna’s Punishment
Black Bean Episode
The survivors (176) had to draw a bean out of a mug
White bean meant they would go to jail (159)
Black bean meant they would be executed.
Seventeen were killed(10%)
1.Why did Houston order Texas Rangers to move the archives?
A.he wanted to show the city of Austin how much power he had
B.he feared they would fall into the hands of the Mexicans.
C.he wanted them kept in his namesake town
D.he did not like the city of Austin
2.What did the lottery in the Black Bean Episode determine?
A.whether or not Texans would attack Mexico
B.who would get to name the capital of the Republic
C.which parcels of land in Texas would be given away
D.which Texans would be executed by Santa Anna’s troops
3.What problems did Houston face during his second term as president?
______
4.Why did the people of Austin prevent the movement of government documents during the Archives War?
______
5.What happened to the men of the Mier expedition?
______
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