Battle of San Jacinto & Republic of Texas

Study Notes

The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, resulted in Texan victory and the capture of Mexican General Santa Anna.
The Treaty of Velasco, signed afterward, stipulated a Mexican army withdrawal south of the Rio Grande, and Mexican recognition of Texas independence. Santa Anna pledged to lobby for this recognition in Mexico.
Despite the treaty, many Texian soldiers favored executing Santa Anna. Sam Houston opted for a diplomatic approach.

Texas initially lacked a formal government, capital, and treasury following independence.
The Washington-on-the-Brazos Convention drafted a constitution and established an interim government on March 17, 1836.
David G. Burnet served as interim President, and Lorenzo de Zavala as Vice-President. Their powers included negotiating treaties, developing a navy, and raising an army.
The interim government faced a significant debt ($1.25 million) and struggled to pay officials and soldiers. They resorted to raising taxes and printing paper money.

Sam Houston became President in October 1836, with Mirabeau B. Lamar as Vice-President. Other key figures included Stephen F. Austin (Secretary of State) and Thomas J. Rusk (Secretary of War).
The Republic faced ongoing border disputes with Mexico and financial instability. It struggled to maintain control over its army and pay debts. To alleviate this, it furloughed most of its soldiers, except 600.
The fledgling government also struggled with internal issues, including managing and funding conflicts with Native American tribes.

Mirabeau B. Lamar opposed Houston's policies and became president after Houston’s term.
Lamar's administration pursued aggressive policies toward Native Americans, launching costly campaigns.
Unsuccessful efforts were made by Lamar's administration in securing Mexican recognition of Texan independence, and securing a large loan. He attempted to address this with increased taxation.
His administration was marked by fiscal challenges and limited success in foreign relations. The Santa Fe Expedition (1841) ended in failure. Further, the Republic's attempts to secure recognition from Mexico proved unsuccessful.
Several military expeditions, including the Santa Fe Expedition and Mier Expedition, resulted in Texan prisoners of war in Mexico. The Mier Expedition ended with some Texans being executed by the Mexican government. This angered Texans and intensified the desire for annexation to the United States.

The annexation of Texas to the United States in 1845 addressed Texas’s ongoing security and financial concerns.
Annexation was driven by various factors, including Manifest Destiny, expanding slavery, and British influence.
Texas became the 28th state on December 29, 1845. The annexation resulted in Texas ceding certain territories to the United States and receiving assistance resolving the public debt.
Disagreements persisted between Mexico and Texas concerning the border, particularly focusing on the Nueces River and the Rio Grande. This disagreement became a key issue that ultimately led to the Mexican-American War.