Empresarios

Empresario (1) Spanish word for “contractor”, a person who puts together business deals. In this period they were land agents. Most Empresarios did not come from Mexico

Mexico in Ruins (2) Many farms and homes were destroyed after the Mexican War for Independence in 1821 Only 2,500 Mexicans lived in all of Texas (This includes soldiers) Many people moved to towns for safety Native Americans dominated the lands (Mostly in the Great Plains/North Central Plains Regions) Despite this, Texas seen as a land of opportunity

Opportunity In Texas (3) Many Mexicans preferred ranching and farming Texas was perfect for that! Mexico was also worried about its neighbor the U.S.!

Colonization Laws (4) To promote “Mexican Settlement” in Texas, Mexico passes colonization laws to get people to Texas They wanted Anglo settlers to act as a “buffer” between the Spanish and Comanche's

Mexican Colonization Laws (5) Under these laws settlers could: Get large amounts of land at a low price Not pay taxes for six years Settlers from other countries (U.S.) had to become Mexican citizens Empresarios were contracted to settle Texas and make sure settlers followed the rules

Texas Provides Opportunity (6) Texas offered many people in both the U.S. and Mexico a second chance at building a new life

Moses Austin (7) Born in Connecticut and later moved west and made a fortune in Retail, Mining and Banking Lost his fortune during the Panic of 1819 (Recession) Contracted by Spanish to settle 300 Anglo settlers in Texas Moses Austin dies on June 10, 1821

Stephen F. Austin (8) Takes over for his dead father (Moses) at age 27. Chose the site that is now San Felipe, Texas to serve as the center of his colony Had to ask for permission to keep colony once Mexico won its Independence

Old Three-Hundred (9) Moses and Stephen F. Austin’s first group of settlers who established the Austin Colony Most came from the southern United States (Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and other southern states)

Southern U.S. States

Austin’s Colony

Texas Land Grants What inferences can you draw from this map regarding the land grants of the Texas region? What inferences can be made about the above map?

Martin De Leon (10) Mexican Empresario Colony was located along the Guadalupe River Main town in his colony became the city of Victoria, Texas 162 families eventually settled there Most of those families were from Mexico Very successful Empresario

Green DeWitt (11) Born in Kentucky Settled 400 families along Lavaca, San Marcos, and Guadalupe Rivers His land grant accidently included some of Martin De Leon’s territory Mexican officials ruled in favor of De Leon and pushed DeWitt further west DeWitt founded the town of Gonzales, Texas Like De Leon, he was also a very successful land agent

Haden Edwards (12) Contracted to settle 800 families near Nacogdoches (East Texas) Was told by Mexico to settle elsewhere because people already lived in the area Defied Mexico and settled in the area anyway Told people already living there that they had to show proof of ownership or pay him

Haden Edwards(13) Mexico cancels Edwards contract Edwards had a bad reputation and was greedy Edwards got mad and declared Texas free Called his new country The Republic of Fredonia Soldiers from Mexico with the help of Stephen F. Austin’s militia crushed Edwards and his revolt