The Texas Revolution Ch. 13 sec. 2

Spanish Texas Spanish land called Tejas bordered the US territory of Louisiana – land was rich and desirable forests in the east rich soil grassy plains for grazing animals home to the Plains and Pueblo Native Americans belonged to Spain but had few Spanish settlers

Spanish Texas Spanish officials wanted more settlers to move to Texas to defend against Native Americans and Americans who illegally sneaked into Texas – offered huge tracts of land to empresarios but were unable to attract Spanish settlers – Moses Austin asked for permission to start a colony in Texas Spain gave him a large section of land Austin agreed settlers would follow Spanish laws

Mexican Independence 1821 Mexico gained independence from Spain – Texas now belonged to Mexico Spanish land grant to Austin was worthless Stephen Austin went to Mexico city to get permission to settle – took one year to reach an agreement – settlers must become Mexican citizens and members of the Roman Catholic Church

Austin’s Colony Austin attracted 297 families to go to Texas – ( the “Old Three Hundred”) – demanded household heads were moral, worked hard, and did not drink – very law-abiding and safe community Austin’s success encouraged more land speculators and settlers from the United States to go to Texas – some looking for new life, some to get rich, others to escape the law – by 1830 Americans outnumbered Tejanos 6 to 1

Rising Tensions as more Americans settled in Texas tensions between Americans and Tejanos increased – used to governing themselves, Americans resented following Mexican laws – most Americans did not speak Spanish, all official documents were written in Spanish – slave owners were upset when Mexico outlawed slavery in 1829 Austin persuaded Mexico to allow them to keep their slaves – Tejanos thought the Americans believed they were superior and deserved special privileges – angry that Americans were unwilling to adapt to Mexican laws

Rising Tensions Mexican government began to worry – sent an official to investigate – official warned that Texas could lead to a revolution government cracked down on Texas – closed state to further American immigration – required Texans to pay taxes for the first time – sent troops to Texas to enforce the laws

Texans Revolt Against Mexico Texans were angry about the crackdown and some even talked of breaking away from Mexico Austin went to Mexico City with a petition of reforms supported by Americans and Tejanos asked for Texas to be a self governing state within Mexico initially Santa Anna the Mexican president agreed to most reforms

Texans Revolt Against Mexico Santa Anna then learned of a letter written by Austin saying if the changed weren’t made he’d support rebellion – jailed Austin – sent more troops to Texas to prevent a rebellion Sept failed to take the cannon in the town of Gonzales months later Texans drove Mexican troops out of mission in San Antonio called the Alamo Santa Anna sent 6,000 troops to Texas

Texans Revolt Against Mexico hardly any army – 420 men at Goliad a fort in south Texas – 183 volunteers at the Alamo

Fight for the Alamo Alamo volunteers included some famous people – William Travis headed the force – Davy Crocket – Jim Bowie – Juan Seguin led a band of 25 Tejanos in support of the revolt

The Alamo Feb 23, 1836 Santa Anna’s troops surrounded San Antonio and began a siege of the Alamo the next day Alamo’s defenders held off attack for 12 days on day 13, Santa Anna ordered 1,800 men to storm the Alamo – Texans fired back until they ran out of ammunition all but five of the men were killed (178 of the 183 defenders)– the survivors were executed – a few women and children were not killed and were told to tell the story to discourage more rebellion Texans were shocked by the slaughter at the Alamo

Texas Declares Independence March a meeting was called to determine what to do about the troops decision is made to declare Texas a free and independent republic

Goliad with Santa Anna on the attack Texans fled eastward – Sam Houston ordered the troops at Goliad to retreat the troops were captured by Mexican forces 300 Texans were executed Texans became angry about the massacre at Goliad Houston’s army doubled to 800 as angry Tejanos, American settlers, and volunteers from the US joined his army

Victory at San Jacinto – Texas Gains Independence In April 21, 1836 Santa Anna caught up with Houston near the San Jacinto River – used a sneak attack to get near the Mexican army – raced into Santa Anna’s camp screaming “Remember Goliad!” “Remember the Alamo!” – in 18 minutes the Texans killed more than half of the Mexican army – Santa Anna was forced to sign a treaty giving Texas its independence

Lone Star Republic Texans declared themselves the Lone Star Republic and proclaimed themselves an independent nation elected Sam Houston president

Lone Star Republic many Texans wanted to become part of the United States – in 1836 the Texas government asked Congress to annex Texas to the Union northerners objected that it was an expansion of slavery – would unbalance Congress people feared annexing Texas would lead to a war with Mexico – Congress voted against annexation Texas remained independent for ten years