Sam Houston

Even with the high risks of annexing Texas James Polk the president at that time decided that the benefits were more important than the rising concerns and

Throughout the late 1830s and early 1840s, political controversy broke out over the annexation of Texas into the United States claiming that it was the destiny of the country to expand through the Manifest Destiny. Many Americans saw the potential addition of Texas as an essential component in Westward expansion, however, war with Mexico was an unavoidable risk and would create even more problems with slavery. Northern and Western regions of the Unites States opposed annexation because while the South wanted to add Texas into the Union to expand the slave industry. Annexation of Texas was also seen as revenge for the vast amount of American deaths during the Alamo and Goliad. Politicians battled back and forth on whether or not Texas should be in American control or not. I believe that the annexation of of

The book explores a life story of Sam Houston from this beginning in Tennessee to joining school, then the military, up to when he became a political leader. The book also focuses on expressing ideas that present his impact on Texas, since he had become an influential person. The book explains that he managed to establish a War against Mexico. The book focuses on characterizing Sam’s influence on Texas, through a focus on the political environment in the region during the early days as a Republic.

Sam Houston played a monumental role in sparking the Texas revolution. He believed that independence from Mexico was necessary saying that “war inevitable” and “urging volunteers to come to the aid of their Anglo brethren” (p. 60). Also, Houston’s role as commander-in-chief of the army was very important in winning the war for Texas Independence. After the capture of Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, many of the soldiers in the Texas Army wanted to execute him on the spot. But because of Sam Houston’s level head, he knew that “his prisoner was the key to removing all Mexicans soldiers from Texas without further bloodshed”, and “Jacinto became his password to Texas heroism forever” (p. 85-87). Furthermore, Houston’s leadership as the president of the Republic of Texas “kept the republic alive until it became a part of his mother country” (p. 198).

As a military and political figure, Houston’s decisions were not popular at times. Elected as commander in chief of the Texas Army, while most preferred a direct confrontation with Santa Anna’s army, Houston knowing the limited size, funding and lack of training of the Texas Army, preferred what seemed to be a plan of retreat on the surface but actually was a plan of patience and timing for the right place and the right time to attack. Small victories by Santa Anna’s army inflamed Anglo Texans who began questioning Houston’s technique to the point even President David Burnet began questioning as well. However, victory was Houston’s as the opportunity presented itself for a prepared Texas Army to strike an

In the 1830’s, Texas fought for their independence from Mexico. This sparked the Mexican revolution. There were three main reasons why Texans wanted independence: Mexico outlawed slavery, high taxes, and the Mexicans wanted everyone to join the Catholic Church. One of the major players in Texas was Stephen Austin. He had 300 land grants which he gave to the Texans. After some time, Stephen Austin went all the way to Mexico to present petitions for a greater self-governing government for Texas. Even though Stephen Austin was known as the father of Texas, the President of Mexico harshly denied his request.

Texans voted in favor of annexation to the United States in the first election following independence in 1836. However, throughout the Republic period (1836-1845) no treaty of annexation negotiated between the Republic and the United States was ratified by both nations.

Sam Houston has made many decisions when he was in Texas. They included becoming friends with the indians, voting against slavery, and voting against seceding from the Union.

The annexation of Texas was a path that many Texans wanted. Nearly ninety percent of Texans wanted to become part of the United States. “People hadn’t come to Texas to become part of the British Empire; most were particularly incensed by the British insistence on emancipation of the slaves; responding to public sentiment, the Texas Senate demanded that President Houston give them a full accounting of his dealings with Great Britain”. Before annexation, The Republic of Texas was a sovereign nation that existed for nearly ten years. The annexation process was proposed by John Tyler. Unfortunately, President Martin Van Buren struck down the annexation of Texas out of fear that this would expand slave territory and ensue war with Mexico. The Treaty of Annexation, Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexican-American War and Joint Resolution of Congress all impacted the annexation process.

Contrary to the typical stereotypes of Texans, Sam Houston was much more than a drunkard and an excellent gunslinger. Although, he possessed these traits as well, Houston displayed a certain level of maturity, honor, and critical thinking that most men, or even women, at the time did not own. To assume Sam Houston was a one trick pony, or only skilled in one aspect merely because of his heritage and place of birth would be an understatement, as his father was a major . The tall, handsome troublemaker did not fit in with the standard expected of boys or men during his time, however, he is one of the most revered political figures not only in Texas’s history, but also the history of the nation as a whole. Houston held numerous political

Houston, a Democrat, Southerner, veteran of the Mexican-American War, and hero of San Jacinto reigned unmatched and indefatigable in the Senate at his time, able to stimulate his colleagues even after it appeared as if they lost all faith. Before holding his position as the first Senator from Texas, Houston held the role of Commander in Chief during times of hardship during the Mexican-American War, undermining his disadvantageous amount of Texan recruits by achieving a victory against the entirety of the Mexican Army and claiming its independence. Afterwards, he held plenty of roles in the growing republic, elected as the first president of the Independent Republic of Texas, a member of its Congress, and for another term of presidency before the territory amalgamated with the United States. There, he rose to position as a Congressman from Tennessee, who, in 1820, supported the ratification of the Missouri Compromise, and later on in the Senate as a representative of Texas, eventually stated that he did not support the abandoning of the Compromise of 1850 regardless of his political party’s views. The democrats were outraged, accusing him of traitorous

Sam Houston was born in Rockbridge, Virginia in 1793 and died in Huntsville, Texas in 1863. He lead an adventurous life that involved the Creek Indian War and the War for Texas Independence. During his lifetime he was a Congressman and a Governor for the state of Tennessee. He lived among the Cherokee Indians and became a lifelong advocate for Native American rights. He was twice elected the President of Texas and later, after its annexation to the United States, he was elected twice as its Senator and its Governor. Although he demonstrated great leadership as a politician in Tennessee, his greatest influences were in Texas and the American Southwest. In this way, he helped to shape the future of two states and the destiny of the United States.

The Annexation of Texas was one of the most debatable events in American history. The question at hand would deeply impact the United States for generations to come. There was on one side a long list of reasons for why to not allow annexation, but there was the same kind of list on the other side for reasons to push forward for annexation. Some of these reasons of both sides were slaves, war, manifest destiny, politics , and constitutional rights. Also the way Texas began in a way said that they should be apart of the United States In the end there were more important reasons for annex Texas into the union, than to leave Texas the was she was.

Moses Austin would not live to see it come to fruition as he was attacked my highway men and died shortly thereafter. That would fall on his son, Stephen F. Austin, who is often referred to as the “Father of Texas”. Austin and the other settlers were drawn to the territory by grants and deferred taxation provided by the Spanish government; however, in 1821 Mexico declared independence from Spain. Austin was concerned that the new independent Mexican government would not recognize the previous arrangements made with his father. He would have to travel all the way to Mexico City to make his case, and in 1823 the Mexican Congress confirmed Austin’s grant.

Many problems had occurred with the state of Texas. Texans thought it would be best to interest security and economic stability to petition to the United States for annexation. In 1837 at the time President Martin Van Buren was against the idea of having Texas annexed because of concerns that it would become another slave state in the United States. Another reason why he did not want to annex Texas was because he did not want to start any problems with Mexico. Things changed in 1843 when President James Tyler examined the annexation issue again. A treaty was sent to Senate but because of anti-expansionist the treaty was denied. When Polk became president he too was in favor of having Texas annexed