The Texian Revolution
In 1835, Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna abolished the Mexican Constitution of 1824, granting himself massive executive rights within the state. In defiance, English-speaking colonists in the state of Coahuila y Tejas formed so-called Committees of Correspondence and Safety, controlled by a central committee in San Felipe de Austin. Only a few weeks later, several interior Mexican states rebelled against Santa Anna's rule, providing the Texians with the perfect opportunity. They revolted, and managed secure control of Tejas, or Texas, by early 1836. On March 2nd, 1836, the Republic of Texas was declared in Washington-on-the-Brazos.
Sam Houston: President of the Republic
Sam Houston was born in Timber Ridge, Virginia on March 2, 1793. He was of Scottish and Irish heritage. From the start, Houston was dissatisfied with his poor life in a frontier town. He never wanted to become a store clerk, which would have been his inevitable fate. So, instead, at the age of 16, Houston ran away from home and traveled southeast to Hiwassee Island, on the Tennessee River. There, he lived with a Cherokee tribe, led by the chief Ahuludegi. Ahuludegi became an adoptive father to Houston, giving him the Cherokee name Colonneh, or the Raven, and taught him Cherokee. Three years after moving to Hiwassee, he moved back to Maryville, where he founded the state's first school.
In 1812, Houston reported to a training camp in Knoxville, Tennessee, and enlisted in the 39th Infantry Regiment, so as to fight the British. By December, he had risen to third lieutenant. In 1814, he was wounded in the groin by a Creek arrow. Only a few days later, he was struck in the shoulder and arm by several bullets. After the war ended, he became close to Andrew Jackson, who acted as a friend and mentor to him. In 1817, Jackson appointed him sub-agent in managing the removal of the Cherokees from Tennessee to a reservation in Alabama. John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, often ridiculed him, and soon started an inquiry into his behavior towards the Indians. Offended, Houston resigned in 1818.
Now we shall leap forward fourteen years, to 1832. Houston has been forced to flee from the States, as a result of a civil lawsuit which had destroyed his reputation. He decided to make his way to Mexican Tejas, where he bought a small plantation. He was immediately swept up in Texian politics, and soon became a leading figure among the Tejanos. In March 1836, he was declared Commander-in-Chief by the Convention of 1836. Early in the war, he suffered two large setbacks; first, he was forced to retreat in the face of a superior Mexican force at Gonzales on March 6th, leading directly to the Massacre at the Alamo. Second, James Fanning, one of Houston's most talented commanders, was executed by Santa Anna at Goliad on March 10th. However, on April 12th, Houston decisively defeated the Mexican army at San Jacinto, forcing the defeated Santa Anna to sign the Treaty of Velasco, granting Texas independence.
Texas was free.
The Lamar Presidency
Two year later, Mirabeau Lamar is elected as President, while Sam Houston, despised by most Texas nationalists, returns to his plantation, and obscurity. Immediately, the Nationalist Lamar launches a genocidal war against the natives in Texas. Within weeks, the Cherokee are driven south, into Mexico. Lamar's approval rates skyrocket, as even non-Nationalist Texians are impressed by his victories. Next, Lamar drives west, into Comanche territory...and into the greatest struggle of his Presidency.
In 1839, the year of Lamar's campaign against the Comanche, the Republic of Texas had an army of 30,000, and a tiny navy. The Cherokee, who had been easily beaten, had numbered only 2,000 in all, and were relatively non-violent. However, the Comanche were a completely different story. Numbering almost 32,000 in all, they were well-supplied with firearms and food by the Mexicans to the south, eager to crush the fledgling Republic. However, Lamar had taken precautions to prevent the defeat of Texas. In late 1838, Lamar had visited Martin Van Buren, President of America, and convinced him to loan 10,000 American troops to Texas, in the interest of keeping Mexico down. He also convinced Van Buren to supply the Texian Army with weapons and other supplies. Finally, in 1839, Lamar was ready, and on May 13th, Texian troops forcibly "evicted" several thousand Comanches and Kiowas from the Republic. Angered by this, the Comanche launched a strike toward Austin. Leaping on this opportunity, Lamar declared war on the Comanches and, having taken personal command of the army, crushed the Comanche forces in the republic and crossed the border into Comancheria, burning and looting.
Armed with superior American weapons and advised by American veterans, Lamar swept aside Comanche resistance in what would become western Texas, slowly pushing the Comanches north. By January 1840, the Comanches were asking for a treaty. Lamar demanded all of southern Comancheria, and further said that the Comanches must move north, into the Oklahoma territory. Reluctantly, knowing they could not continue fighting, the Comanche chiefs complied, and victory was declared in the Texian-Comanche War. Now, Lamar was free to concentrate on expansion, towards the Pacific.
Tune in next time for another episode of Texas the Great!
In 1835, Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna abolished the Mexican Constitution of 1824, granting himself massive executive rights within the state. In defiance, English-speaking colonists in the state of Coahuila y Tejas formed so-called Committees of Correspondence and Safety, controlled by a central committee in San Felipe de Austin. Only a few weeks later, several interior Mexican states rebelled against Santa Anna's rule, providing the Texians with the perfect opportunity. They revolted, and managed secure control of Tejas, or Texas, by early 1836. On March 2nd, 1836, the Republic of Texas was declared in Washington-on-the-Brazos.
Sam Houston: President of the Republic
Sam Houston was born in Timber Ridge, Virginia on March 2, 1793. He was of Scottish and Irish heritage. From the start, Houston was dissatisfied with his poor life in a frontier town. He never wanted to become a store clerk, which would have been his inevitable fate. So, instead, at the age of 16, Houston ran away from home and traveled southeast to Hiwassee Island, on the Tennessee River. There, he lived with a Cherokee tribe, led by the chief Ahuludegi. Ahuludegi became an adoptive father to Houston, giving him the Cherokee name Colonneh, or the Raven, and taught him Cherokee. Three years after moving to Hiwassee, he moved back to Maryville, where he founded the state's first school.
In 1812, Houston reported to a training camp in Knoxville, Tennessee, and enlisted in the 39th Infantry Regiment, so as to fight the British. By December, he had risen to third lieutenant. In 1814, he was wounded in the groin by a Creek arrow. Only a few days later, he was struck in the shoulder and arm by several bullets. After the war ended, he became close to Andrew Jackson, who acted as a friend and mentor to him. In 1817, Jackson appointed him sub-agent in managing the removal of the Cherokees from Tennessee to a reservation in Alabama. John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, often ridiculed him, and soon started an inquiry into his behavior towards the Indians. Offended, Houston resigned in 1818.
Now we shall leap forward fourteen years, to 1832. Houston has been forced to flee from the States, as a result of a civil lawsuit which had destroyed his reputation. He decided to make his way to Mexican Tejas, where he bought a small plantation. He was immediately swept up in Texian politics, and soon became a leading figure among the Tejanos. In March 1836, he was declared Commander-in-Chief by the Convention of 1836. Early in the war, he suffered two large setbacks; first, he was forced to retreat in the face of a superior Mexican force at Gonzales on March 6th, leading directly to the Massacre at the Alamo. Second, James Fanning, one of Houston's most talented commanders, was executed by Santa Anna at Goliad on March 10th. However, on April 12th, Houston decisively defeated the Mexican army at San Jacinto, forcing the defeated Santa Anna to sign the Treaty of Velasco, granting Texas independence.
Texas was free.
The Lamar Presidency
Two year later, Mirabeau Lamar is elected as President, while Sam Houston, despised by most Texas nationalists, returns to his plantation, and obscurity. Immediately, the Nationalist Lamar launches a genocidal war against the natives in Texas. Within weeks, the Cherokee are driven south, into Mexico. Lamar's approval rates skyrocket, as even non-Nationalist Texians are impressed by his victories. Next, Lamar drives west, into Comanche territory...and into the greatest struggle of his Presidency.
In 1839, the year of Lamar's campaign against the Comanche, the Republic of Texas had an army of 30,000, and a tiny navy. The Cherokee, who had been easily beaten, had numbered only 2,000 in all, and were relatively non-violent. However, the Comanche were a completely different story. Numbering almost 32,000 in all, they were well-supplied with firearms and food by the Mexicans to the south, eager to crush the fledgling Republic. However, Lamar had taken precautions to prevent the defeat of Texas. In late 1838, Lamar had visited Martin Van Buren, President of America, and convinced him to loan 10,000 American troops to Texas, in the interest of keeping Mexico down. He also convinced Van Buren to supply the Texian Army with weapons and other supplies. Finally, in 1839, Lamar was ready, and on May 13th, Texian troops forcibly "evicted" several thousand Comanches and Kiowas from the Republic. Angered by this, the Comanche launched a strike toward Austin. Leaping on this opportunity, Lamar declared war on the Comanches and, having taken personal command of the army, crushed the Comanche forces in the republic and crossed the border into Comancheria, burning and looting.
Armed with superior American weapons and advised by American veterans, Lamar swept aside Comanche resistance in what would become western Texas, slowly pushing the Comanches north. By January 1840, the Comanches were asking for a treaty. Lamar demanded all of southern Comancheria, and further said that the Comanches must move north, into the Oklahoma territory. Reluctantly, knowing they could not continue fighting, the Comanche chiefs complied, and victory was declared in the Texian-Comanche War. Now, Lamar was free to concentrate on expansion, towards the Pacific.
Tune in next time for another episode of Texas the Great!
