Texas History Test Communication & Stakeholder Relations 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The 'War Party' and 'Peace Party' divisions among Texas colonists in the early 1830s represented disagreements over what fundamental communication choice?
- Whether to publish newspapers in Spanish or English
- Whether to negotiate with Mexico or pursue outright independence (Correct answer)
- Whether to sign treaties with Native tribes
- Whether to invite European immigrants to Texas
Correct answer: Whether to negotiate with Mexico or pursue outright independence
The War Party, led by William Barret Travis, pushed for immediate conflict, while the Peace Party, led by Austin, favored continued dialogue with Mexico.
Question 2: David G. Burnet, as provisional president in 1836, communicated the outcome of San Jacinto to the world partly through which significant action?
- Publishing a declaration in European newspapers
- Signing the Treaties of Velasco with captured Santa Anna (Correct answer)
- Sending an ambassador to Washington immediately
- Broadcasting via telegraph to New Orleans
Correct answer: Signing the Treaties of Velasco with captured Santa Anna
The Treaties of Velasco, signed by Santa Anna under capture, formally ended hostilities and communicated Texas's independence claim to international audiences.
Question 3: Mary Austin Holley's 1833 book 'Texas' served what communication function for the Republic's stakeholder recruitment?
- It warned Americans about dangers of settling in Texas
- It promoted Texas to potential American settlers as a land of opportunity (Correct answer)
- It reported military battles to European governments
- It documented Native American languages for missionaries
Correct answer: It promoted Texas to potential American settlers as a land of opportunity
Holley's glowing account of Texas's climate, land, and prospects was widely read in the United States and functioned as promotional literature encouraging emigration.
Question 4: The 1844 U.S. Senate rejection of a Texas annexation treaty was primarily due to which stakeholder group's opposition?
- Northern senators opposed to expanding slavery into Texas (Correct answer)
- Texas citizens who preferred independence
- Mexican diplomats who lobbied against it
- British merchants who feared losing Texas trade
Correct answer: Northern senators opposed to expanding slavery into Texas
Northern Whig senators blocked annexation largely because they opposed adding another large slaveholding state to the Union.
Question 5: In diplomatic negotiations, the Republic of Texas used the threat of alliance with Britain as leverage against which stakeholder?
- Mexico, to force recognition of Texas independence
- The United States, to accelerate annexation offers (Correct answer)
- France, to gain trade concessions
- Native tribes, to discourage raids
Correct answer: The United States, to accelerate annexation offers
Texas president Anson Jones hinted at deepening ties with Britain, knowing U.S. fear of British influence in Texas would push Congress to finally approve annexation.
Question 6: The Texan Santa Fe Expedition of 1841 was partly meant to open what type of communication and economic link?
- A telegraph line between Austin and New Orleans
- A trade route connecting Texas to New Mexico's commerce (Correct answer)
- A postal road to the Pacific coast
- A diplomatic channel to the Apache nation
Correct answer: A trade route connecting Texas to New Mexico's commerce
President Lamar sent the expedition to assert Texas's claim to Santa Fe and capture the lucrative overland trade between Missouri and New Mexico.
Question 7: Which communication medium spread news of the Battle of San Jacinto (April 21, 1836) most rapidly to the United States?
- Postal riders carrying official dispatches
- Newspaper accounts published in New Orleans then reprinted nationally (Correct answer)
- Telegraph messages sent from Houston
- Diplomatic couriers sent to Washington
Correct answer: Newspaper accounts published in New Orleans then reprinted nationally
New Orleans newspapers received reports from travelers and ships first, then printed accounts that spread across the U.S., since the telegraph did not yet reach Texas.
Texas History Test Communication & Stakeholder Relations 4
The 'War Party' and 'Peace Party' divisions among Texas colonists in the early 1830s represented disagreements over what fundamental communication choice?