tx history-ch-15.2

Chapter 15: Texas Joins the UnionSection 2: Forming a Government

Bellwork

Imagine you are forming a new club…what are

some actions you would take?

The Convention of 1845

•Anson Jones: “The Republic of Texas is no more.”

The Convention of 1845

•James Pinckney Henderson—first governor of the state of Texas

James Pinckney Henderson

The Convention of 1845• State constitution

written at Convention of 1845

• Thomas J. Rusk—president of Convention of 1845

Thomas J. Rusk

The Convention of 1845

•José Antonio Navarro—only native Texan in the Convention of 1824

José Antonio Navarro

The Convention of 1845

•Modeled after:

–U.S. Constitution

–Republic of Texas Constitution

–Louisiana Constitution

•Approved by a wide margin

The Constitution of 1845

•Executive Branch

–Led by governor

–2 year termTexas Governor’s Mansion

The Constitution of 1845

•Legislative Branch

–House—2 years

–Senate—4 years Texas Senate Chamber

The Constitution of 1845

•Legislature meets biennially

•Biennial—every two yearsTexas House Chamber

The Constitution of 1845

• Judicial Branch

– Judges appointed by governor until 1850

– Judges elected after 1850 Old Supreme Court

Chamber

The Constitution of 1845

•“Imperfections”:

–Only white men over 21 could vote or hold office

–Protected slavery

The Constitution of 1845

•Protections:

–Homesteads up to 200 acres

–Certain business practices

The Constitution of 1845

•Prohibited the creation of banks

•Corporations could only operate with permission from the legislature

The Constitution of 1845

• Protections:

– Women’s property rights

•Husband could not sell homestead without permission of wife

•Married women could own property separate from husband

•Stemmed from Spanish laws

The Constitution of 1845

• Prohibited those who took part in a duel from holding any state office

The First State Election

• Dec. 1845: Held elections

• James Pinckney Henderson elected governor

• Feb. 19, 1846: Government operations transferred from the Republic to the state

The First State ElectionTexas’ First U.S. Senators

Sam Houston Thomas J. Rusk

TEXAS CONSTITUTION OF 1845

Branches of Government

Economy

Voting & Holding Office

Protections