Steps Toward Revolution

Distrust between Mexico and U.S U.S. minister, Joel Poinsett, offered to buy Texas from Mexico for $1 million in 1825 Mexico turned down the offer Mexico distrusted the U.S. and believed they were going to try to force Mexico to give up Texas

American Experience U.S. settlers believed in democracy One of their key beliefs was that civilians, not military leaders, should rule the country Believed in separation of church and state – government should not favor any religion People should be free to choose their religion (not just Catholic) Also valued self-government

Mexican Experience Three Centers of Power Army – favored a strong ruler to lead Mexico Catholic Church – was the state church, held power in Mexico and played important role in government and society Leaders of Mexican Revolution (Federalists) – liked the ideas of liberty and equality of the U.S. These 3 groups fought for control of Mexico and the Texas settlers were caught in the middle of this power struggle

Issue of Slavery Mexico did not allow slavery SFA convinced Mexican leaders to allow it so settlers from U.S. with slaves would come to Texas Mexico tried to ban slavery many times but never able to enforce the ban

Settlers Practice “Independence” Settlers had 3 requirements to settle in Texas Settlers did not think of themselves as Mexicans Brought American culture and practices to Texas Spoke English Set-up their own schools Little contact with Mexican government Little evidence that they were living in Mexico so life in Texas looked like life in U.S.

Mexico’s Reaction Leaders worried about U.S. interest in Texas following Haden Edward’s Fredonian Rebellion In 1827, Mexico sent General Mier y Teran to Texas to take a closer look at the situation in Texas and prepare a report Mier y Teran was a patriot from the Mexican Revolution and was disturbed by what he saw in Texas Reports that settlers do not respect Mexican customs and government and warns of a revolt

Mier y Teran’s Recommendations Send more Mexican troops to Texas Send more Mexican and European settlers to Texas to weaken the influence of U.S. settlers Mexico should increase its trade with Texas – bring Texas and Mexico closer together His findings alarmed many Mexican leaders so they took action In 1829, the President of Mexico ended slavery in his country - did not enforce the ban in Texas

Mexico Angers the Settlers Law of April 6, 1830 (Centralists) Canceled all empresario contracts (except SFA and DeWitt) Outlawed bringing slaves to Texas to make Texas more “Mexican” Placed taxes on goods from U.S. to make American goods cost more than Mexican goods Stopped immigration from the U.S. by placing more troops and setting up garrisons in Texas

Unrest Among the Texas Settlers The actions of Mexico angered the Texans Mexico was not following its own constitution Until they did, the settlers were not going to obey the Law of April 6, 1830 Captain Bradburn arrived in Texas to set-up a garrison and tax collection station at Anahuac Bradburn forced settlers to give him supplies for his fort and took some of their slaves

Trouble at Anahuac William Travis and Patrick Jack, lawyers, were thrown in prison while trying to get slaves back Settlers felt Bradburn was abusing his power since he did not charge them with a crime 160 settlers marched towards Bradburn’s garrison They tried to negotiate the release of Travis and Jack but were not successful One group decided to assemble more firepower and find cannons

Turtle Bayou Resolutions While waiting for the group finding the cannons, the settlers wrote the Turtle Bayou Resolutions to state the causes of the revolt at Anahuac Texans stated Bradburn ignored the Constitution of 1824 which granted each state the right to run its own affairs Texans pledged loyalty to Santa Anna (Federalist who supported the state of Texas) This was the FIRST organized written protest against Mexico

Avoiding the Crisis Colonel Piedras, leader at the Nacogdoches garrison, traveled to Anahuac to look into the problem Texans were preparing for battle so Piedras talked and listened to their concerns Piedras replaced Bradburn as commander and released Travis and Jack from prison The armed Texans disbanded and no serious fighting occurred

Bloodshed at Velasco The group assembling more firepower for the attack on Anahuac were sending cannons down the Brazos River by ship The ship was ordered to stop at Fort Velasco by a Mexican colonel The Texans refused and fired on the fort from the ship and from the ground The Mexican soldiers surrendered Texans had not given up on Mexico but wanted reform

Political Fighting in Mexico Federalist Party wanted a federal system of government Separate states form a national government Individual states hold most of the power Texans sided with Federalists Centralist Party favored a strong central government National government would hold most of the power States would have little power Centralists passed Law of April 6, 1830

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna The leader of the Federalist Party was General Santa Anna Texas settlers had pledged their loyalty to him in the Turtle Bayou Resolutions Santa Anna tried to overthrow the Centralist government in 1832 This led to a civil war in Mexico Many Mexican soldiers left Texas This left control of Texas in the hands of the settlers

The Convention of 1832 Texas settlers hoped Santa Anna would win as a Federalist government would be more responsive to their needs The Convention of 1832 at San Felipe was held to discuss their problems At a convention, delegates discuss ideas and decide a course of action Stephen F Austin was chosen as the leader

The Convention of 1832 Stephen F Austin demanded that immigration from the U.S. resume They also asked that Texas become a separate Mexican state (currently part of a larger state called Coahuila y Tejas) Mexican governor of Texas, Musquiz, supported the delegates’ concerns Under Mexican law, the Convention of 1832 was not a legal meeting so it failed – governor refused to send their requests to the government

The Convention of 1833 Santa Anna won the civil war in Mexico and became president of the country Federalists now held power News of the victory led to the Convention of 1833 in April William Wharton chosen as the leader Delegates at this convention were firmer than those who attended the first one

The Convention of 1833 Delegates asked for: An end to the ban against immigration Texas to become a separate Mexican state Better mail service Improved defense against Native American raids Reform of the courts The right to use English in business and law More money for schools

The Convention of 1833 SFA took active role in convention and explained why it took place David Burnet wrote about why the settlers wanted statehood Population was now large enough to be its own state Texas suffered as part of Coahuila y Tejas since capital was 700 miles away Sam Houston drafted a state constitution for Texas SFA would deliver the demands and new constitution to Mexico City

Austin in Mexico City SFA arrived in Mexico City in July to present the work of the convention to the Mexican government His job was to convince the new Federalist government to make Texas a separate Mexican state He found a confusing situation: Santa Anna had resigned his position as president due to poor health (not even in the capital) Vice-president Farias now controlled the government

Austin and Farias SFA met with Farias in October to present the requests of the Convention of 1833 No action was taken by the Mexican government for weeks SFA warned Farias that the Texans would take action if Mexico failed to act on the proposal Farias felt threatened and ended the meeting in anger SFA sent letter to the ayuntamiento at San Antonio without waiting for approval Begin work to set-up a state government for Texas

Austin and Santa Anna SFA met with Santa Anna in November who had returned to Mexico City Santa Anna welcomed most of the SFA’s suggestions: Ended the ban on immigration from the U.S. Empresario contracts were extended Given a greater sense of self-government Santa Anna refused to support separate statehood for Texas SFA left in December to return to San Felipe

Austin Imprisoned SFA stopped in Saltillo on his way home and was arrested by the Mexican leaders in January They learned of the angry letter he sent to San Antonio They did not charge him with a crime but he was marched back to Mexico City and thrown in prison Farias sent Colonel Almonte to Texas to check on the settlers who were calm The calm was the result of a greater sense of self-government by the settlers

Santa Anna Changes Sides To increase power, Santa Anna sided with the Catholic Church and the Army He seized the government from Farias He abolished the Constitution of 1824 (states’ rights to govern) He reversed the policies of the Federalists He dissolved each state legislature He placed the states under the rule of the Army Santa Anna created a Centralist Mexico (dictator)

Reaction in Texas/Anahuac Settlers not pleased with Santa Anna’s actions Local settlers got into another dispute in Anahuac over taxes General Cos (Santa Anna’s brother-in-law) arrives at Anahuac to break up the state government Decides he needs more troops at the garrison Settlers learn of Cos’ plan and a small group led by William Travis capture Anahuac Cos had Travis and others arrested Cos sends more troops to Texas – war on the way!

Relations with Mexico Worsen Matters came to a head in summer 1835 Settlers began to organize They created the committees of safety and correspondence Word spread of a meeting in October – the Consultation at Washington-on-the-Brazos Ended up meeting at San Felipe in November Before Consultation, SFA was released from prison after 1 ½ years Texas lost all hope for peace and would go to war!