This essay should be approximately 1 - 2 double-spaced page long. Correct spelling and grammar are important. Despite the well-known history of racism and bigotry in early Texas, ethnic relationships

The United States gave recognition as early as 1837, but it was 1839 before the first European nations extended s uch. England even offered to mediate a peace agreement between Texas and Mexico, but Mexico refused until very late. In 1842, the Catholic Pope granted de facto recognition by assigning a bishop to Texas. MILITARY 5 Immediately following the Texas War for Independence , the regular Texas army became a serious threat to the nation . The soldiers considered attempting a military dictatorship to show their displeasure over Santa Anna ’s release to the United States , instead of his execution . The soldiers , under the leadership of Felix Huston also wanted to attack and plunder Mexico. When Felix Huston traveled to the capital city to ask for permission for the Mexican campaign, Sam Houston dissolved nearly the entire army , even provid ing free passage to New Orleans for any soldier who wanted to return to the United States . Alternatively, he issued 1280 acres of land for each of those who stayed in Texas as civilians . Only 600 remained in the Texas Army, and th is danger from within passed. To offset the reduction of the army, Congress created the Texas Rangers , presumably loyal to Houston and the constitution. Houston typicall y pushed for reductions in the military while Lamar favored expansion of the army. This was typical of their general spending patterns. Each had his way while in office. RELATIONS WITH NATIVE AMERI CANS While many Texans focused on Mexico as the most pressing enemy, Comanches and their Kiowa allies were an equal threat. The warrior tribes had total control of West Texas and frequently raided the frontier , killing the male settlers while often taking women and children as hostages. Houston's policy was very sympathetic toward the Indians, granting them title to the lands upon which they lived. Houston had lived among the Indians for several years, himself, and felt a sincere kinship with them. Consequently --other than the Comanches - -there was little trouble with the tribe s while Houston presided. This policy was consistent with his ambition to cut down public spending. Lamar's aggressive frontier policy was the opposite of Houston's. According to Lama r and his followers, Indians had no rights to the land on which they lived. Whites could take it whenever they desired. Native Americans must allow the takeover, leave Texas, or be exterminated. This led to the bloodiest Indian warfare Texas had ever known.

Cheroke es attempted an anti -Texas alliance with Mexico but were vanquished and the survivors were driven into Oklahoma. Comanches attempted to slow the westward progression of the whites. As we have seen, the Comanches were prolific warriors who used extremely b rutal tactics, but they eventually were pushed into extreme West Texas. Lamar's Indian policy cost $2.5 million and many lives. Some called it unjust, but it was certainly very thorough . East Texas was made secure and the frontier was greatly extended. Eve ntually a series of forts would define the Texas frontier. This uncompromising Indian policy was very popular with West Texans. Only the Alabama and Coushatta Indians were spared this 6 offensive. They had aided Texas during its war for independence from Me xico and were eventually rewarded with some land on the lower Trinity River. One of the most memorable events involving Native Americans occurred in 1840. The Council House (San Antonio) incident was especially brutal . Indian leaders were invited to bring in all their white c aptives in return for an opportunity to discuss a treaty. Unfortunately, they only brought in one captive --a girl who had been tortured, raped, and disfigured. An Indian chief was quite arrogant about it. After informing the whites that if they wanted more captives, they would have to pay more money. His next (and last) utterance was most impolitic, as he stated: "How you like that for an answer?" Enraged Texans began to shoot ; a melee ensued . By the end of the day, 35 Comanches had been killed and another 27 were taken prisoner. Seven Texans died. The Indians felt that their negotiators had been killed by a treacherous ambush. In return, remaining white captives held by the tribes were tortured and killed, and Indian wars resumed with added fury . Upon his election as the third president of the Republic, Houston reversed Lamar’s Indian policy and reestablished a significant measure of peaceful coexistence. His Bureau of Indian affairs created peace and commerce between the nation and the Natives. Notably, the Comanche did not pa rticipate in the treaties. LIFE IN THE REPUBLIC: EDUCATION Most of the groundwork for public education in Texas came under the Lamar administration. He has been dubbed, "The Father of Education in Texas." The Education Act of January 20, 1839, gave each Texas county three leagues of land (later 4) to sell to generate funds for public education. This averaged out to about $1.50 per child initially, and many parents tutored their children and claimed the money for themselves at the end of the year. Few public sc hools emerged at this time, mostly because t he need for child labor in the fields kept many children away from school for months at a time. Also , in such a spread -out rural environment, there w ere few areas densely populated enough to merit a public school. However, the basis for a very generous higher education policy was established --especially for two future colleges that would be endowed with 50 leagues of state land . We know those colleges today as the University of Texas and Texas A &M. TEXAS CHARACTER Texans felt a certain pride and braggadocio about winning the land from Indians and from Mexico and about being an independent nation. The nation attracted many who 7 were unsavory or at best crude frontiersmen. As law and order was irregular, many problems were "solved" privately --often through brawling or dueling. TEJANOS Texans of Hispanic descent attempted to fit into the new system. Unfortunately, many did not know the English language and had little understanding of the U.S. culture and institutions that now pre vailed. Because of the massive immigration from the United States and Europe, Hispanics had become a small minority, often feeling like foreigners in their native land. Many Anglo -Texans hated Mexico because of Santa Anna ’s excesses and took out their animosity on their Hispanic neighbors . Despite a few exceptions, most Hispanics were un able to successfully adapt and accommodate to the new Anglo leadership . RELATIONS WITH MEXICO Mexico never recognized the Treaty of Velasco that granted Texas independence. To Mexico, Texas was merely a Mexican territory temporarily controlled by “a horde of adventurers in rebellion against the laws of the government.” Mexico constantly threatened to retake Texas, but so many new settlers poured in from the United States that the Mexican menace would never be realized. At the very least, Mexico insisted that it was not the Rio Grande that was the border separating the two nations, but the Nueces River , which was about 150 north of the Rio Grande . Mexican patriot s and bandits raided the "Nueces Strip," constantly to try to fo rce Texans out. The strip ultimately became a “no man’s land” — a haven for criminals, renegade Indians, and runaway slaves . Texas constantly sought formal recognition of independence from Mexico, so that the likelihood of Mexican invasion would end . Three age nts went from the Republic to Mexico to negotiate, while Texas simultaneously solicited the aid of the U nited States and England to smooth relations --all to no avail. Houston empowered one agent to offer Mexico $1 million to recognize both independence and the Rio Grande as the border. When this offer was rejected, some Texans under Lamar wanted immediate war to force Mexico to recognize the ir independence. Upon becoming president, Lamar sent an expedition in 1841 into New Mexico to strengthen Texas claims to that western area. Some Texans had dreams of annexing Mexican territory all the way to California. This "Santa Fe Expedition" proved to be a disaster. Suffering numerous hardships on the march west, the entire expedition was captured by Mexican officia ls soon upon their arrival in New Mexico. The survivors were marched to Mexico City for trial and spent some time in a Mexican prison. They were eventually released through friendly intervention by the United States. 8 In response to this “invasion ,” an agg ravated Santa Anna twice sent an army into Texas in 1842, conquering San Antonio, Victoria, Goliad, and other towns. Before the Texans could organize a military counterattack, the invaders returned to Mexico. The biggest result of Santa Anna's attack was a second "runaway scrape" that saw Texans fleeing to the east. An unauthorized, independent counterattack by 300 volunteers next marched into Mexico . This is known as the Mier Expedition . After a bloody battle, the Texans were defeated and captured. As the prisoners marched toward Mexico City, they temporarily escaped, but were quickly recaptured. As punishment, 10% of the Texans were ordered executed. The men drew dry beans from a pot wh ile blindfolded. Those who drew the black beans were executed on the spot. The rest spent time in prison. RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES DURING THE REPUBLIC ERA Where Houston sought annexation to the United States, Lamar sought to compete with the U.S. by becoming a great southwestern empire. The only good to come of the ill -fated Mier excursion was that the expedition reawakened the North American public and Texans to the subject of Texas annexation.

Initially, U.S. President Andrew Jackson had r efused to seek annexation of Texas. He doubted that Texas could sustain its freedom, and he was hesitant to offend Mexico.

Anti -slave northerners strongly opposed an additional slave state. Insulted, Texas withdrew the offer. However, concurrent with his re -election, Sam Houston coyly began to show public enthusiasm toward forming a partnership with England . England would have been happy to secure this “Canada of the South.” Th ese treaties and proposals generated much jealousy in the United States , as Americans did not enjoy the British influence to the north in Canada and certainly did not want it to the sou th as well. By this time (1844), many Americans were caught up in the Manifest Destiny theme, dreaming of a nation that stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In the U.S. presidential election of 1844, James K. Polk campaigned on an expansionist platf orm, and his victory was interpreted as a mandate for the annexation of Texas. On February 28, 1845, lame duck President John Tyler encouraged the Congress to pass a joint resolution providing for incorporating the Republic of Texas into the United States Union. The terms included: Figure 2: James K. Polk, courtesy of the Library of Congress. 9 1. The people of Texas must approve the annexation. 2. All questions of the international border of Texas would be resolved by the United States government. 3. Texas would cede to the U nited States certain property, including its navy, forts, and military grade weapons . 4. Texas would enter the Union as a state, not a territory. It could keep its public lands to apply to the payment of the Republic's debt. 5. With Texan consent, 4 more states could be carved out of Texas. 6. There would be no slavery allowed north of 36'30" if it was judged that the Texas border extended that far. 7. President Polk could withhold this proposal and write his own if he so desired. Please note: Contrary to myth and legend, Texas did not retain the right to leave the United States at will at any time in the future. England and France bitterly opposed annexation and had even convinced Mexico to recognize Texan independence, hoping that this would make maintaining the Republic more attractive to Texans. Howe ver, both the Texas congress and the people spurned the Mexican treaty in favor of annexation. On December 29, 1845, Texas officially became a state. At a special ceremony in 1846, President Anson Jones turned the government over to newly elected governor, J.P. Henderson and said, "The final act in this great drama is now performed; the Republic of Texas is no more." Sam Houston and Thomas Rusk were elected as the first Senators to the U.S. Congress. Someone in the crowed hollered out : "Texas will now lead the United States to greatness." The Republic of Texas' main claim to fame was its endurance. Its settlers, unlike other Americans who had significant military help, cleared a large region of hostile Natives by themselves, established farms and communities, and persevered through extreme economic hardship. Texas had tripled its population in ten years and had won recognition from the United States, several European nations, and the Catholic Pope. Texans never forgot that they were once a free and independent . 10 MEXICAN WAR At the time of its annexation of Texas, the mood in the United States was vigorously expansionist. There was much talk of Manifest Destiny, settling new territories, and adding new states. California , especially, seemed destined to become the next part of the U nited States . San Francisco Bay appeared to be the gateway to trade with the Orient. President James K. Polk had been recently elected on an expansionist platform.

He had even promised to acquire the Oregon Territory from Canada up to the 54'40" paral lel or he would send in the soldiers (54' 40" or Fight). UNITED STATES/ MEXICO RELATIONS An unhappy Mexico recalled its ambassador to the United States shortly after the annexation of Texas.

Within a month, the U.S. recalled its own ambassador, leaving the two nations with no diplomatic relations.

An on -going dispute centered around the Texas -Mexican border. Texans had claimed since the Treaty of Velasco that the Rio Grande separated the two nations. Mexico, while still claiming all of Texas, insisted that the Nueces River should be the dividing line, if one must be drawn. Tradition sided with the Mexican definition, although neither Spain nor Mexico had ever been overly concerned just where Texas began, and the neighboring province ended. It was into this highly charged atmosphere that the U.S. sent agent John Slidell to attempt to purchase from Mexico the New Mexican Territory for $5 million and to purchase California for an additional $25 million. Mexican officials rebuffed Slidell and ordered him to le ave. In obvious aggression, President James Polk sent American soldiers to the borders of California and New Mexico, poised to act. Next, he sent troops into the disputed border 11 region of Texas, knowing Mexico would consider this an INVASION of its territ ory. When Mexican troops attacked (near Brownsville), Polk claimed Mexico had "shed American blood on American soil." His war speech was already written. Simultaneously, the troops outside California under John C. Freemont and troops near New Mexico invade d and conquered those territories. While the U.S. must accept much of the blame for this war, it should be remembered that the Centralists were back in power in Mexico. They hated the Americans and made little effort toward peaceful negotiation of the U.S. / Mexican border. WARFARE OF THE MEXICAN WAR The U nited States quickly pushed below the Rio Grande and captured several Mexican cities, including Monterrey. The United States hoped for a quick settlement, but the Mexicans would not give in to the Americans' d emands. In a highly -irregular development, President Polk paid a considerable sum of money to Santa Anna to come out of retirement (banishment , actually ) and act as America's agent in persuading Mexico to accept the U.S. terms. Santa Anna double -crossed Polk, however, and reinstal led himself in power and prepared to lead the troops in battle, financed partially by the American money he had received from Polk . At Buena Vista , a determined and high -spirited Mexican army, engaged in very bloody fighting with the U.S. troops. As the Mexicans enjoyed a 3 -1 supe riority, all did not go well for the Americans , wh o would have been soundly defeated if not for the timely arrival and bravery of Jefferson Davis and the Mississippi Long -Rifles . These reinforcements deployed their line of men to form a "V" and bring fire upon the Mexicans from three sides . This troop deployment stemm ed the Mexican attack and resulted in a come from behind victory for the Americans, while assur ing the future political career of Davis . The Mexican s pulled out without resuming battle. Th ey were suffering from heavy casualties and had been without supplies for a long time. Men were starving and were exposed to harsh weather without shoes or blankets. This retreat was not well -received by most Mexicans, however, and led to unrest within the Mexican government . Americans quickly went on to capture Vera Cruz and Mexico City. 12 THE TREATY OF GUADALUPE -HIDALGO However, still no Mexican official would submit to the U.S. cease -fire demands. Leaders feared the wrath of their people more than the continued fighting. Finally, the Treaty of GUADALUPE -HIDALGO was signed on February 2, 1848, after an uprising remov ed Santa Ann a. By virtue of this treaty, the United States gained clear title to Texas all the way to the Rio Grande --plus modern -day New Mexico, California, and parts of Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, and Colorado. This amounted to about one -half of all Mexican territory. Soon after the t reaty, the U nited States paid around $20 million for the territorial gains and for the right to claim that the entire venture was a purchase and not a mugging. Hispanics living in the region retained property rights and the option of becoming American citizens. During the war, the Texas Rangers performed bravely, frequently serving as scouts for the U.S. regular military. While second to none in battle, the Rangers refused to wear uniforms or to follow regulations. Their hatred of Mexicans drove them to numerou s abuses --pillaging towns and slaughtering prisoners. They earned the nickname, Los Diablos Tejanos (Texas Devils). THE LEGACY OF THE MEXICAN WAR Northerners called this whole affair a "Southern slave -owners' conspiracy." The U.S. gained over a mill ion square miles. But this new territory would cause a multitude of problems. Would it be slave or free? This issue contribute d heavily to the coming of the Civil War . The Mexican War also served as a training ground for such future notables as Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Stonewall Jackson, William T. Sherman, and Jefferson Davis. In addition , the war left a legacy of mistrust and mutual animosity between the U.S. and Mexico that would not soon dissipate. In many ways, it was the inescapable conclus ion of the Texas Revolution, settling once and for all that Texas would never return to Mexico. Finally, the war helped to further the Texas mystique . Northern soldiers and newspapermen publicized stories of the Tall Texan and the wild frontier land in wh ich he Figure 3: Land ceded by Mexico to the United States in 1848. Courtesy California Historical Society. 13 lived. These stories circulated the globe, stimulating the imagination for even more far - fetched stories. Virtual Reader: Personal Hygiene This is a brief look at the typical level of personal hygiene of Texans during the Era of the Republic --available in audio or as a text file. Engines of Our Ingenuity No. 170: EARLY TEXAS by John H. H. Lienhard (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. Click here for audio of Episod e 170. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. Today, a glance at the tools of a new country. The University of Houston's College of Engineering presents this series about the machines that make our civilization run, and the people whose in genuity created them. The Republic of Texas seceded from Mexico and became a separate nation in 1836.

And a wild, unsettled nation it was! Ellen Murry, at the Star of the Republic Museum at Washington on the Brazos, writes about the early technologies of this rough land. First of all, early Texans were intimate with untimely death as we've never been.

Mourning and memorializing death was a large social activity. Almost morbid attention was paid to the crafts of preparing, displaying, transporting, and bur ying the dead. 14 With death so commonplace, women sustained life by marrying in their mid to latter teens and by raising lots of children. Normally, six or seven kids survived after murderous infant mortality. Texas frontier women -- often managing with the ir husbands gone for long periods -- did the child -raising, educating, and civilizing. These settlers had little access to any developed medical technology. They fought illness by trying to rid the body of whatever ailed it. They embraced the medieval idea of curing by blood -letting, emetics, and laxatives. "Puke and purge" was a saying that began and ended most medical treatment on the Texas frontier. People did recognize that unsifted whole -wheat flour was good for the digestion. A major apostle of that notion was Sylvester Graham -- promoter of the Graham cracker. He also suggested that i t reduced alcoholism and damped the bothersome sex drive. Bathing was also a form of medical treatment. It had little other place in everyday life. In 1840 a writer denounced the bathtub as ... an epicurean innovation from England, designed to corrupt the democratic simplicity of the Republic. Early Texans washed their hands and faces before meals, but it was normal to go a year or more between baths. Tobacco, especially chewing tobacco, was an early Texas fixation. Children were taught to use the stuff. Cuspidors were universal items of furniture. A visitor to the Texas Congress observed, The way the members were chewing Tobacco and squirting was a sin to see. And an Austin church posted the notice, Ye chewers of the noxious weed Which grows in earth' s most cursed sod, Be pleased to clean your filthy mouths Outside the House of God. The Republic of Texas lasted less than a decade. Any way you hold them up to the light, the people who formed it were tough, independent, adaptive, and idiosyncratic.

We g et to know them when we look at their daily means -- their rough -hewn technologies. There was nothing ordinary about people who used these elementary tools to carve freedom -- and the good life we live -- out of a harsh, and seemingly infinite, land. 15 Vir tual Reader: President Mirabeau B. Lamar's Thoughts on Annexation to the U.S. The 2nd President of the Republic of Texas was Mirabeau B. Lamar. Lamar opposed the annexation of Texas into the United States. He preferred Texas to remain the Lone Star State, competing with the United States. He details his position in the speech below: "Notwithstanding the almost undivided voice of my fellow -citizens at one time in favor of the measure," said Mirabeau B. Lamar in his inaugural address in December, 1838, and notwithstanding the decision of the National Congress at its last session, inhibiting the chief magistrate from withdrawing the proposition at the Cabinet of Washington, yet still I have never been able myself to perceive the policy of the desired con nection, or discover in it any advantage, either civil, political, or commercial, which could possibly result to Texas. But, on the contrary, a long train of consequences of the most appalling character and magnitude have never failed to present themselves whenever I have entertained the subject, and forced upon my mind the unwelcome conviction that the step once taken would produce a lasting regret, and ultimately prove as disastrous to our liberty and hopes as the triumphant sword of the enemy. And I say this from no irreverence to the character and institutions of my native country --whose welfare I have ever desired, and do still desire above my individual happiness --but a deep and abiding gratitude to the people of Texas, as well as a fervent devotion to those sacred principles of government whose defense invited me to this country, compel me to say that, however strong may be my attachment to the parent land, the land of my adoption must claim my highest allegiance and affection. When I reflect upon thes e vast and momentous consequences, so fatal to liberty on the one hand, and so fraught with happiness and glory on the other, I cannot regard the annexation of Texas to the American Union in any other light than as the grave of all her hopes of happiness a nd greatness; and if, contrary to the present aspect of affairs, the amalgamation shall ever hereafter take place, I shall feel that the blood of our martyred heroes had been shed in vain — that we had driven the chains of Mexican despotism only to fetter our country with indissoluble bonds and that a young republic just rising into high distinction among the nations of the earth had been swallowed up and lost, like a proud bark in a devouri ng vortex. 16 Virtual Reader: Terms of Annexation Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States Approved March 1, 1845 Related Links Narrative history of An nexation (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. | Narrative history of Secession and Readmission (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. 1. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress doth consent that the territory properly included within and rightfully belonging to the Republic of Texas, may be erected into a new State to be called the State of Texas, with a republican form of government adopted by the people of said Republic, by deputies in convention assembled, with the consent of the existing Government in order that the same may by admitted as one of the States of this Union. 2. And be it further resolved, That the foregoing consent of Congress is given upon the following conditions, to wit: First, said state to be formed, subject to the adjustment by this government of all questions of bou ndary that may arise with other government, -- and the Constitution thereof, with the proper evidence of its adoption by the people of said Republic of Texas, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, to be laid before Congress for its fin al action on, or before the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and forty -six. Second, said state when admitted into the Union, after ceding to the United States all public edifices, fortifications, barracks, ports and harbors, navy and navy y ards, docks, magazines and armaments, and all other means pertaining to the public defense, belonging to the said Republic of Texas, shall retain funds, debts, taxes and dues of every kind which may belong to, or be due and owing to the said Republic; and shall also retain all the vacant and unappropriated lands lying within its limits, to be applied to the payment of the debts and liabilities of said Republic of Texas, and the residue of said lands, after discharging said debts and liabilities, to be dispo sed of as said State may direct; but in no event are said debts and liabilities to become a charge upon the Government of the United States. Third -- New States of convenient size not exceeding four in number, in addition to said State of Texas and having sufficient population, may, hereafter by the consent of said State, be formed out of the territory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission under the provisions of the Federal Constitution ; and such states as may be formed out of the territory lying s outh of thirty -six degrees thirty minutes north latitude, commonly known as the Missouri Compromise Line, shall be admitted into the Union, with or without slavery, as the people of each State, asking admission shall desire; and in such State or States as shall be formed out of said territory, north of said Missouri Compromise Line, slavery, or involuntary servitude (except for crime) shall be prohibited. 3. And be it further resolved, That if the President of the United States shall in his judgment and d iscretion deem it most advisable, instead of proceeding to submit the 17 foregoing resolution of the Republic of Texas, as an overture on the part of the United States for admission, to negotiate with the Republic; then, Be it resolved, That a State, to be f ormed out of the present Republic of Texas, with suitable extent and boundaries, and with two representatives in Congress, until the next appointment of representation, shall be admitted into the Union, by virtue of this act, on an equal footing with the e xisting States, as soon as the terms and conditions of such admission, and the cession of the remaining Texian territory to the United States shall be agreed upon by the governments of Texas and the United States: And that the sum of one hundred thousand d ollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated to defray the expenses of missions and negotiations, to agree upon the terms of said admission and cession, either by treaty to be submitted to the Senate, or by articles to be submitted to the two houses of Congress, as the President may direct. Approved, March 1, 1845. SOURCE: Peters, Richard, ed., The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, v.5, pp. 797 -798, Boston, Chas. C. Little and Jas. Brown, 1850. Practice Questions: 1. Whic h of the following DID NOT serve as a president in the Republic of Texas? a. Sam Houston b. Stephen F. Austin c. Mirabeau B. Lamar d. Anson Jones 2. A major source of conflict between the Republic of Texas and the nation of Mexico involved: a. attempts by Great Britain to goad the two nations into war. b. the border between the two nations. c. unpaid debts Texas citizens owed to Mexican creditors. d. the issue over whether all Alamo defenders died fighting, or if some were executed. e. prisoners of war being held by each side as late as 1848. 3. Concerning relations between Texas and the United States: in general, Mirabeau Lamar sought annexation to the U.S., while Sam Houston sought to compete against the United States. a. True b. False 18 4. Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar is most respected for his contributions to the Republic’s: a. financial security. b. diplomatic relations with Mexico. c. education. d. enlightened Indian policy. e. bipartisan initiatives with t he supporters of Sam Houston. 5. The Treaty of GUADALUPE -HIDALGO transferred about half of Mexican territory to the United States, due to Mexico’s loss in the Mexican war. a. True b. False 6. As president of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston was much more financially responsible that Mirabeau Lamar. a. True b. False 7. President Lamar was much more accepting of Native American rights than was President Houston. a. True b. False 8. Under the terms of annexation, Texas was fr ee to leave the United States at any time for any purpose. a. True b. False For Discussion: Evaluate the effectiveness of the Republic of Texas. Was there much for Texans to take pride in during the era, or was the Lone Star Republic more of a bumbl ing, ineffective joke?