Texas State Government Pre-AP OrganizerKEY
- What state’s constitution is the new constitution of Texas modeled after?
Louisiana
- When was it written?
July 1845
List the 5 Major Provisions of the Texas Constitution provided
The Texas State Constitution of 1845 / 3.A governor to be elected for a 2 year term.
4.
A legislature made up of 2 houses.
5.
Members of the House elected for 2 years.
6.
Members of the Senate elected for 4 years.
7.
A Supreme Court and district and county courts.
8. What was the purpose of the amendment to the constitution?
To provide for election of all judges. It shifted some power from political leaders to voters.
The New Constitution- Protectedthe system of slavery.
First Government Officials
Governor of Texas / 11. J. Pinckney Henderson
U.S. Senators / 12.Sam Houston
13.Thomas J. Rusk
U.S. Representatives / 14.David Kaufman
15.Timothy Pillsbury
16. What are the Democrats’ political beliefs?
Favored Texas annexation
17. Why would most Texans support them (the Democrats)? Who did they represent?
They were strong in the South and favored Texas annexation. They represented farmers and laborers.
18. What are the Whigs’ political beliefs?
Opposed Texas annexation
19. Why did few Texans support them (the Whigs)?
Opposed to annexation and/orexpanding slavery to nation’s new territories
20. What are the American/Know-Nothings political beliefs?
They tried to keep immigrants from voting or holding public office.
21. What specific influence did they have on the Texas Democratic Party?
They influenced Texas Democrats to adopt the practice of nominating candidates at political meetings called conventions.
22. What 3 key parts of government were created by the Constitution of 1845?
The governor, the legislative, and the courts
23. What were the two houses of the legislature established by the Constitution?
The Senate and the House of Representatives
24. According to the Constitution of 1845, how were judges of the state courts chosen?
Judges were appointed by the governor
25. What were Frederick Olmsted’s impressions of the Texas General Assembly?
Olmsted considered the legislators eloquent, dignified, and trustworthy; business was carried out quickly. He was impressed.
26. List 2 significant facts about Francis Cox Henderson.
First woman lawyer in Texas, spoke 18 languages, skilled at math, talented musician, wrote and translated short stories, helped found churches in East TX cities, supporter of woman suffrage, wrote a book about an African American woman living on a plantation.
27. How did free African Americans protect their freedom during this time in Texas?
By petitioning the legislature and the courts
28. Why did the U.S. government place Native Americans on reservations?
To stop conflicts between settlers and Native Americans
29. What were some of the reasons why the U.S. government’s reservation system was not successful?
Because Native Americans were not given enough land, and some refused to adopt the restricted way of life
30. How did the government try to resolve the raids in northern and central Texas?
In 1859, the government decided to move Native Americans into the Indian Territory, north of the Red River.