Sam Houston Research Paper

The valiant man who would shape the history of Texas and greatly impact our nation was born on March 2, 1793. Samuel (Sam) Houston was born to Samuel Sr. and Elizabeth Houston in Rockbridge County, Virginia. At the age of 14, after his father’s death in 1807, Sam moved to Blount County, Tennessee with his family. As a rebellious youngster, he left home when his older brother tried to make him work at the family store as a shop keeper when he was 16 years old. During this time, Sam lived with the Cherokees who he started to recognize as his family. The Indians gave him the name of “Colonneh,” meaning “the Raven.” This began Sam’s life-long sympathy for the Indians. On March 24, 1813, Houston joined the U.S. Army and fought in the War of 1812. During the battle of Horseshoe Bend, Sam fought heroically and was nearly killed after getting shot three times. Henceforward, Houston’s commander, General …show more content…
Then, in 1827, Sam became governor of Tennessee at only the age of 34. But, following an unfortunate divorce with his wife that left him heartbroken, in 1829 Houston unanticipatedly resigned as Governor and again left to live with the Cherokees in Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma). On December 2, 1832, Sam went south to Texas, which was controlled by Mexico at the time. He moved to Nacogdoches, where he practiced law. Houston immediately got involved in the politics of Anglo-Texan rebellion. In 1835, he made public his belief that there must be a war between Texas and the Mexican government. Houston was made the major general of the Texas army in 1836. After massing troops in Gonzales, Houston retreated to the East with his army while the Mexican army, commanded by General Santa Anna, pursued him across Texas. But, the strategy worked. In a surprise attack on April 21, 1836, the Texas army defeated the unsuspecting Mexican troops. After capturing Santa Anna, a peace treaty was signed that recognized the independence of