Samuel Houston: Early Life and Ancestry

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Questions and Answers

What role did Anson Jones hold before becoming president?

Secretary of State (correct)

Governor of Texas

Minister to Mexico

Chairman of the Senate

Which strategy earned Anson Jones the nickname 'the architect of annexation'?

His political strategy to annex Texas into the US (correct)

His efforts to gain foreign recognition for Texas

His participation in military campaigns

His diplomatic relations with Mexico

What was a significant consequence of Anson Jones's leadership during his presidency?

His successful negotiations for independence

His inactivity leading to criticism (correct)

A successful military campaign against Mexico

Establishing Texas as a republic

What did Anson Jones do after retiring from politics?

Became a successful farmer Signup and view all the answers

Who assisted Anson Jones in the successful annexation of Texas?

James K. Polk Signup and view all the answers

What significant name did the Cherokee tribe give to Samuel Houston?

Raven Signup and view all the answers

Which event marked a turning point in Samuel Houston's life?

His participation in the War of 1812 Signup and view all the answers

Which role did Samuel Houston serve during the War of 1812?

Lieutenant in the 39th Infantry Regiment Signup and view all the answers

What was Houston's relationship with formal schooling during his youth?

He resisted formal schooling Signup and view all the answers

What action did Houston take regarding the Cherokee tribes after the War of 1812?

He helped relocate them Signup and view all the answers

In what year did Samuel Houston leave home to join the Cherokee tribe?

1809 Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the reasons for the Houston family's move to Tennessee?

To find cheaper land and better opportunities Signup and view all the answers

What type of education did Houston pursue after his time with the Cherokee tribe?

Law degree Signup and view all the answers

What was one of Sam Houston's major actions during his first presidency of Texas?

He prioritized paying off Texas' war debt. Signup and view all the answers

Which policy was primarily associated with Mirabeau B.Lamar during his presidency?

Pro-slavery and anti-Indian policies. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge did Houston face after the Indian Removal Act?

Criticism for his efforts to assist the Cherokee. Signup and view all the answers

What significant military event did Sam Houston lead in 1836?

The Battle of San Jacinto. Signup and view all the answers

What was one result of the Santa Fe Expedition during Lamar's presidency?

Increased tensions leading to a Mexican invasion. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was an outcome of the Battle of Salado Creek?

Decisive victory for the Texan Rangers. Signup and view all the answers

What critical step did Houston take concerning the Texan archives?

He ordered their evacuation to avoid Mexican seizure. Signup and view all the answers

What was Lamar's approach to Native American policy?

He expelled Native Americans from their lands. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes Lamar’s financial management during his presidency?

He printed currency that became worthless. Signup and view all the answers

Which role did Houston assume after leaving the presidency the first time?

Major General of the Texan Army. Signup and view all the answers

What connection exists between Stephen Austin and the Texas Revolution?

His arrest escalated tensions between settlers and Mexico. Signup and view all the answers

During his second term, what trend did Houston continue in Texas governance?

Striving for friendly relations with Native Americans. Signup and view all the answers

Which key figure led the Texan Navy during its contentious existence?

Captain Edwin Moore. Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the key initiatives during Houston's presidency regarding annexation?

Pursuing annexation by the United States. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Early Life and Ancestry

Samuel Houston was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia on March 2, 1793.
His father, also named Samuel Houston, was his namesake.
His mother was Elizabeth Paxton.
The Houston family had nine children, facing financial hardship.
They initially planned to move to Tennessee for better economic prospects.
The family sold their Virginia land and sought cheaper land in Tennessee.
Elizabeth Houston established a small farm near Maryville, Tennessee.
The Houston children ran a small store in Maryville.

Young Samuel's Outcast Identity

Samuel Houston was perceived as an outcast during his youth.
He explored the frontiers alone, interacting with the Cherokee tribes.
He rejected his family's Presbyterian Christianity.
Houston resisted formal schooling, preferring self-education.
He read books from his father's library, including Jedediah Morse's works.
Jedediah Morse was a renowned American geographer.
Samuel's exploration of the frontiers reflected his father's geographical interests.

Time with the Cherokee Tribe

At age 16, Houston left home in 1809.
He joined a Cherokee tribe on Hiawassee Island, where the Tennessee and Hiwassee rivers meet.
The Cherokee tribe adopted Houston, giving him the name "Raven".
Houston learned the Cherokee language and integrated fully into the tribe.
He lived with the Cherokee for three years, until 1812.
Houston returned to Maryville, Tennessee, a more experienced and hardened individual.

Education and Religion

Houston's views on education and religion changed after his time with the Cherokee.
He attended the Western Theological Seminary, founded by Isaac Anderson.

War of 1812

Houston's adventurous spirit led him to participate in the War of 1812.
The year 1812 marked a turning point in Houston's life.

Sam Houston

Sam Houston served as a Lieutenant in the 39th Infantry Regiment under General Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812.
Houston was wounded at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814.
Following the war, Houston was tasked by General Jackson to remove Cherokee tribes from Eastern Tennessee.
Houston was reprimanded by Secretary of War John C. Calhoun for being too sympathetic to the Cherokee.
Houston resigned from the army and helped relocated Cherokee settle in Arkansas in 1818..
Houston attended law school in Nashville, Tennessee, graduating in under a year.
Houston served as a District Attorney and Major General of the Tennessee Militia.
Houston was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1823, and spoke in favor of Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Houston was elected Governor of Tennessee in 1827.
He supported infrastructure development, connecting rivers with canals.
Houston married Eliza Ann in January 1829, but the marriage lasted only three months, ending in divorce.
Houston left Tennessee in 1829, feeling disillusioned with politics and his divorce settlement, and went to live with the Cherokee in Arkansas.
He became involved in the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which forced the relocation of Native American tribes across the country, including the Cherokee.
Houston attempted to aid the Cherokee by procuring food rations for their journey west, but his efforts were unsuccessful, and many Cherokee perished on the Trail of Tears.
Houston was accused of collusion with the Jackson administration in 1832.
After being acquitted in a trial, Houston left Tennessee and moved to Texas in 1832, joining American settlers seeking independence from Mexico.
Houston was elected to the Texan Convention in 1833, advocating for Texas statehood within Mexico.
Following the arrest of Texan leader Stephen Austin in 1834, tensions between American settlers and the Mexican government sparked the Texas Revolution.
Houston was appointed Major General of the Texan Army in 1835.
After the siege and defeat of the Alamo in 1836, Houston led the Texan army to victory against General Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, securing Texan independence.
Houston was elected as the first president of the Republic of Texas in 1836.
He prioritized paying off Texas' war debt and sought annexation by the United States, but was largely unsuccessful.
Houston worked with the Cherokee, attempting to secure favorable treaties.
He sought to end slavery in Texas but faced significant opposition.
Houston resigned from the presidency in 1838, and was replaced by Mirabeau B. Lamar.

Mirabeau B. Lamar

Mirabeau B. Lamar was born in Georgia in 1798.
Self-educated, he declined college admission offers.
He held various unsuccessful jobs before becoming the private secretary for the Governor of Georgia, where he met and married his wife Tabitha Jordan in 1826.
After Tabitha's death in 1830, Lamar became a lawyer and was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1833.
Lamar visited Texas in 1834, and returned after hearing about the Texan Revolution.
Lamar joined the Texan army and distinguished himself during the Battle of San Jacinto, particularly for his bravery and horsemanship.
This earned him the respect of Sam Houston, who appointed him as his Vice President.
In 1838, Lamar ran for and won the presidency of Texas.
Lamar's presidency featured pro-slavery, anti-Indian, and anti-annexation policies.
Despite limited formal education, Lamar strongly championed education and established the University of Texas and Texas A&M University.
He sought to expand Texas' territory by forcefully removing Native Americans from the region, including the Cherokee and Comanche.
He initiated the Texan Santa Fe Expedition in 1839, resulting in the capture and imprisonment of Texas soldiers.
He pursued aggressive military expansionism and attempted to start a war with Mexico.
Lamar printed his own currency, which quickly became worthless.
He significantly increased Texas' debt from $1.4 million to $7 million during his presidency.
Lamar left office in 1841 and lived as a private citizen. He fought in the Mexican-American War before his death in 1859.

Lamar's Presidency

Lamar served as the ambassador to Nicaragua and Costa Rica from 1857 until 1859.
Lamar's political views aligned with those of radical Confederates.
Lamar's presidency saw the implementation of policies that led to the near bankruptcy of Texas.

Sam Houston's Second Term

Sam Houston served as the second and fourth president of Texas.
Houston's second term saw him enact similar policies to his first, including friendly relations with Native Americans and cuts to government spending.
Houston also focused on securing the annexation of Texas by the United States.
Sam Houston ordered a military expedition to remove the remaining Mexican soldiers from Southern Texas. This resulted in a battle that resulted in the deaths and imprisonment of many Texan soldiers.

The Texan Navy

The Texan Navy was created during Lamar's presidency.
The crew of the Navy, led by Captain Edwin Moore, refused to disband the Navy to avoid losing their jobs.
Initially declared pirates by Houston due to their refusal to disband, the crew eventually returned to Texas.
The citizens of Galveston rejected Houston's attempt to sell the ships and instead supported the Navy's continued existence.

The Santa Fe Expedition

The Santa Fe Expedition was a military expedition led by President Lamar that ultimately failed.
The expedition's failure contributed to tensions between Texas and Mexico, ultimately leading to a Mexican invasion of Texas.

The Texan Archives

Houston ordered the evacuation of the Texan archives from Austin, fearing a Mexican attack.
The Texan rangers, tasked with the evacuation, were fired upon by the citizens of Austin.

The Battle of Salado Creek

The Battle of Salado Creek involved 220 Texan Rangers and a combined force of the Mexican army and Cherokee warriors.
The Rangers, outnumbered seven to one, secured a decisive victory through an ambushed led by John Coffey Hays.

The Annexation of Texas

Anson Jones served as the fourth president of Texas.
Jones's presidency focused on securing the annexation of Texas into the United States.
Jones's efforts for the annexation of Texas were ultimately successful, albeit with the aid of James K. Polk, the US president at the time.
After the annexation, Jones retired from politics and became a successful farmer.

Anson Jones's Political Career

Jones attended Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia and served as both a doctor and pharmacist.
Jones moved to Texas in 1833 and found success practicing medicine.
Jones was actively involved in Texas politics, holding various roles including the chairman of foreign relations and the Minister to the US.
President Sam Houston appointed Jones as his Secretary of State in 1841.
Jones was nicknamed "the architect of annexation" for his political strategy to annex Texas into the US.
Jones faced criticism due to his inactivity as president during the 90-day period preceding annexation.
Jones's political career ended because of his inactivity and the perceived political weakness of his leadership.

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Explore the early life and ancestry of Samuel Houston, from his birth in Virginia to his family's move to Tennessee. This quiz delves into his upbringing, family dynamics, and his identity as a perceived outcast during his youth. It also highlights his connections with the Cherokee tribes and his pursuit of self-education.