The Texas Revolt 1820s-1830s

Mexico’s 1824 Colonization Act Permitted foreign immigration into Southwest Plan intended to populate the region Develop the region economically Link the region with interior Mexico “Mexicanize the region” Buffer against American expansionism

Provisions of the 1824 act Immigrants Must: –Adopt Mexican citizenship –Be or become Catholics –Obey Mexican laws –Respect Mexican culture, customs and authority

Provisions, continued Economic incentives included: –No taxes for up to seven years –Purchase land in the following amounts: 640 acres per male 320 per female 160 per child 80 per slave

Haden Edwards Began a revolt against Mexican authority Proposed calling the new Texas Republic “Freedonia” General Manuel Mier y Teran sent to Texas in response

General Mier y Teran Writes a report on the influence of the Texas immigrants in Texas Warns Mexico against the belligerence of the immigrants Proposed two corrective measures: –1829 decree-abolished slavery in Texas –1830 decree-curtailed further immigration

Tadeo Ortiz de Ayala Mexican official who visited Texas and reported its value to Mexico Texas has important assets for Mexico: land and raw materials Loss of Texas would devastate Mexico’s future

Texas Declaration of Independence 1835 document declaring independence from Mexico Outlines grievances against the Mexican government: lack of free trade, invasion of private property, lack of due process, etc. Highly controversial for Mexico President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna declares war

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Defeats Texans in battles of Goliad, Nacogdoches and San Antonio (Alamo) Captured at San Jacinto Forced to sign the Treaty of Velasco in 1836

The Treaty of Velasco Declares the independence of the Texas region from Mexico Highly controversial treaty due to: –Conditions of its signing –Boundary line at the Rio Grande –Mexico’s refusal to ratify the agreement

The Texas Republic Lone Star Republic Admitted as a state of the United States in 1845 as a slave state Mexico opposed Texas annexation Considered an act of war by Mexico