Controversies

Sam Houston, a key figure in the history of Texas and the broader American West, was surrounded by various controversies throughout his political career. One of the most notable was his steadfast opposition to secession from the Union, a stance which made him a divisive figure in Texas on the eve of the American Civil War. Despite being a slave owner himself, Houston believed secession would lead to disastrous war and the potential ruin of the South. When Texas seceded from the Union in 1861, Houston refused to pledge allegiance to the Confederacy. His resistance to the popular sentiment resulted in him being ousted from the governorship and marked a controversial end to his political career.

Earlier in his career, Houston’s personal life was also a source of contention and controversy. In 1829, Houston’s first marriage to Eliza Allen abruptly ended under mysterious circumstances. The details were never publicly clarified, but the resulting scandal tainted Houston’s reputation, and he resigned his governorship of Tennessee. Following this, Houston lived with the Cherokee tribe for several years, marrying a Cherokee woman named Tiana Rogers. This was a controversial move in the context of white-Indian relations at the time, and it resulted in lingering suspicion and criticism in some quarters. Throughout his life, Houston’s marriages, drinking habits, and his often brusque and confrontational personal style made him a subject of ongoing debate and controversy.