The first Texas congress first assembled on October 3, 1836Interim prez burnet delivered an addressUrged congress to give land grantsTalked about the debt of 1.5 million dollarsHouston takes presidencyStresses a need for peace treaties with the IndiansConstant vigilance regarding our national enemies like the MexicansWanted to eventually become part of the USRequested the senate confirm his cabinet appointmentsConstitution of 1836Revolutionary documentWritten in hasteProduct of social and economic conditions on the dayConstitutional and legal heritage of TexasAnd the United StatesThe fathers of the Texas rep. modeled this after the Us constitution complete with a bill of rightsFirst wholly Anglo American constitutionHouston’s first AdministrationOrganizing a GovtIncluded things about imprisonment for debtDrafted by 59 delegates that assembled at Washington on the BrazosHappening at the same time that all the different battles were happening over TexasConvention adopted the constitution 15 days laterPeople of the republic ratified it on the first Monday in September of 1836Govt consisting of a executive legislative and judiciaryKey differences from the US constitutionPresidents termCannot serve 2 consecutive termsAfrican American slavery specifically protectedSlaves could not be imported from outside the US, but settlers from the US could bring their slaves with them to TexasAny slave freed without congressional approval had to leave the stateStricter separation of church and stateLand grantsBribed the settlers with land grantsDocument sought to protect the rights of the people not Anglo (Indians already there)Houston’s cabinetMirabeau Lamar - VPStephen F Austin - Secretary of stateHenry Smith - Secretary of TreasuryThomas Jefferson Rusk - Secretary of WarWilliam Wharton - Ambassador to the USJames Henderson - Attorney GeneralCapitals of the Republic of TexasSan FelipeWashington on the BrazosHarrisburgGalvestonVelascoColumbiaHoustonWaterloo (known today as Austin)HoustonAustinBecause of the movement of Santa Anna’s troops, Burnett selected Harrisburg as the temporary capital.As mexican troops moved East after their victory at the Alamo, Texans boarded a steamboat and that’s where the capital was1836 when they boarded the boat remained the capital and then moved to Galveston for a month as the Texas capital.Then moved in late MayOct 1836, today’s West Columbia became the capital of the first elected govt.President Houston Sept 15 1836 ordered the seat of govt to be moved to Houston. April 19 1837, Houston became the capital.1839, the capital commission selected the site of Waterloo as the permanent capital. Confirmed by congress Jan 19 1839. Place was named Austin after SFA and his contribution to TexasPres. Lamar moved there with his cabinet in Oct of 1839, but Mexican troops threatened San Antonio in March of 1842, pres ordered the govt moved to Houston.Some officials moved to Washington on the Brazos, Houston sent men to retrieve the archives from Austin. Austin citizens feared that if the papers were moved, Austin would lose its status permanently.The Archive War, Austin citizens stopped Houston’s men and kept the papers in Austin.Austin returned as the capital in 1844.Controlling the erstwhile combatant armyLots of young men arrived ready to fight Mexico and claim a name for themselvesWanted to avenge the Alamo and the massacre at Goliad and mount an offensive on Mexico instead of defending the new TexasOct 1836 - Sam Houston made Gen Felix Houston a Jr Brigadier Gen in command of the army and temp commander in chiefFelix HoustonMan of volatile temperAnti-MexicanTalked about attacked Matamoros on an offensivePresident Houston replaced him with a much better behaved west point graduate Albert Sidney JohnsonSaw this as an insult (being replaced) and felt compelled to protect his southern honor.Called out Johnson to a duelShot Johnson through the hipWounded Johnson enough that he couldn’t perform his duty that Houston had appointed him.Not replacedHaving won the duel, he remained in charge until 1837Left an army of 2000 from his post in San Antonio and went to the capital to lobby congress to support his attack on MatamorosHouston promptly ordered to demobilize 3 of the 4-army regiments.Houston was already planning on a militia composed of citizen volunteers, ranger companies and troops occasionally called for special duty.Houston goes back to San Antonio and he sends in his resignation.Houston admin made funds for a small navy and local militias and to protect the settlement known as the Texas RangersVolunteered for specific missions and then would return home to their lives afterwardsIn practice and concept, these companies duplicated the strike and precision of Tejano companiesSFA had hired frontiersmen as the Rangers for an expedition against the nativesNov 24 1835 that Texas lawmakers instituted a force known specifically as the Texas RangersOrganization had a complement of 56 men in 3 companies, officered by a Capt. and 2 lts. Still had to answer to army big wigs.According to the law, officers would get the same pay as privates.Also had to provide their own horses, equipment, guns and rationsDidn’t fare all that well at firstRangers served as scouts and couriers and carried out menial tasksHelped to build fortificationsIn the Runaway Scrape, the Rangers job was to retrieve cattle that had gotten away from the TexansThey got to stick around and blow up supplies they had to leave behindAssigned only escort duty at the Battle of San JacintoSaw rather limited action under Houston, Lamar gave them more to do.Albert Sidney JohnsonCommander of the Army - Houston’s superiorWould go on to serve as Secretary of WarDueling in TexasA great Southern practiceProhibited by army regulationsPopular among army officers of the republic of TexasHow they decided to settle disagreementsCustom was cultivatedLaw approved in Dec 31 1836Every person killing another in a duel shall be put to death.Every person who shall be the bearer of any challenge on a duel shall be imprisoned and fined at the discretion of the courtDespite all the laws, high percentage of officers still participated in duelsLaw and Order?The EconomyRevenueFinancial policy posed