Presidents & Policies
Which president of the Republic of Texas favored annexation by the United States and served as both the first and third president?
Sam Houston
What year did Texas officially become a U.S. state?
1845
Who was a famous Texas Ranger leader mentioned in the unit?
Jack Coffee Hays
What is the term for adding land to an existing territory or nation?
Annexation
Which immigrant group settled heavily in Central Texas and the Hill Country during the mid-1800s?
Germans
Which Republic of Texas president favored aggressive policies toward Native Americans and sought to expand public education, causing tension with Houston?
Mirabeau B. Lamar
What was the main goal of the Santa Fe Expedition (1841)?
To try to control trade and land in Santa Fe and extend Texas claims to the west
What happened as a result of the Battle of the Neches in 1839?
Chief Bowles was killed and Cherokee were forced to leave Texas
What major national conflict followed annexation and was tied to disputes over the Texas border?
The U.S.-Mexican War
Give one reason immigrant groups came to Texas in the 19th century.
Economic opportunity (land, farming), political freedom, or escape from unrest in Europe.
Name one role of the Texas Rangers during the Republic era.
To protect settlers and enforce laws
What was the Council House Fight?
A violent meeting between Texas officials and Comanche leaders in San Antonio that led to deaths and increased conflict
Who was the free Black businessman in Texas who helped negotiate with Native American groups?
William Goyens
As part of the Compromise of 1850, what financial benefit did Texas receive?
$10 million to pay off Republic debts
Name two ways Texas culture shows the influence of other cultures.
Place names, vocabulary (Spanish words), architecture, food, religion, and arts
Explain one major financial problem the Republic of Texas faced and why it mattered for policy decisions.
Massive public debt—made it difficult to fund government, defense, and encouraged seeking annexation for financial security.
Name the treaty that ended the U.S.-Mexican War and describe one major result for Mexico.
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo — Mexico lost nearly half its territory
Who was José Antonio Navarro and why is he important in Texas history?
A Tejano leader and politician who supported Texas independence and worked for Tejano rights
Explain how the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo.
The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1848) established the Rio Grande as the southern border after the U.S.-Mexican War.
Describe one way people from various racial, ethnic, or religious groups worked to maintain cultural heritage while adapting to Texas culture.
Examples: holding cultural festivals, speaking native languages at home, forming churches and mutual aid societies, continuing traditional foods and arts while participating in broader Texas civic life
Compare and contrast Houston’s and Lamar’s approaches to relations with Native American groups.
Houston preferred peaceful relations and negotiation (e.g., seeking diplomacy), while Lamar pursued removal and military action (e.g., policies leading to battles like the Battle of the Neches which resulted in Chief Bowles’ death and Cherokee removal).
Give two causes that pushed Texas toward annexation by the United States.
Security concerns (threat from Mexico and need for U.S. protection) and massive public debt from the Republic era
Describe the Córdova Rebellion
An 1838 uprising led by Vicente Córdova against the Republic of Texas, involving Tejanos and Native Americans.
Why did some Americans oppose annexation of Texas? Give one reason.
Concerns about adding another slave state and public debt.
Analyze how immigration and migration shaped Texas’ economy and society during the 19th century. Provide at least two specific influences.
Immigrants brought farming skills and crops (e.g., Germans and other Europeans diversified agriculture), increased settlement patterns (filling central and hill country), contributed to growth of towns and trade, and added cultural practices that influenced food, architecture, and place names