Chapter 9 Lesson 1 The Road To Revolution Difficulties With Mexico Change Creates Tension Guiding Question: What caused tensions between the Anglo-American settlers in Texas and the Mexican government? The period of the empresarios (when Spain and then Mexcio opened Texas to settlement in the early 1820’s) had tremendous impact on the region. Attracted by cheap land, thousands of Anglo-Americans moved to the area.. Within 10 years new towns arose and trade grew.

Centralists Bring Changes During most of the 1820’s, the Federalists held power in Mexico. True to their idea of sharing power with the states, they largely left settlers in Texas alone. In 1829, however, the Centralists gained control of the Mexican government. They ended the relative freedom Texans had enjoyed. The centralists issued regulations to bring the states and provinces of Mexico, including Texas, more closely under the authority of the national government.

These changes prompted protests from the Anglo-American in Texas, creating additional tensions between settlers and the government of Mexico. However, tensions had existed even before the Centralists came to power. The first conflict between the settlers and the Mexican government came in 1826, and it involved the Nacogdoches land grant.

The Nacogdoches Land Grant In 1825 the Mexican government awarded a vast tract of land in East Texas to an empresario named Haden Edwards (a wealthy land speculator). The land grant allowed Edwards to settle 800 families in the Nacogdoches area. Edwards announced that all settlers had to show him clear titles to the land. Edwards found many people already lived on land within his grant, which complicated matters. The contract required Edwards to recognize the rights of any settlers with legal titles to the land, but many of these settlers did not have documents to prove their rights. If they could not, they would have to buy it from him.

This angered many of the early settlers, especially those who had no proof of clear title and felt threatened with losing their land. A disputed election for mayor of Nacogdoches increased tensions even more. One candidate, Samuel Norris, agreed with the views of the early Settlers who lived in the area before the Edwards grant. The other candidate was Christopher Chaplin, who was married to Edwards daughter and sided with the new settlers. After the vote, Edwards declared Chaplin the winner.

Saucedo declared Norris the winner. Norris and his supporters took the issue to Mexican official Jose Antonio Saucedo. Saucedo declared Norris the winner. Edwards was unwilling to accept Saucedo’s decision. Troubles with the colony continued, and settlers complained to officials. While Edwards was away from his colony he left his brother Benjamin in charge. His brother annoyed Mexican officials with a number of angry letters. Finally government officials decided to cancel Edward’s land grant, which angered the empresario.

The Fredonian Rebellion and Aftermath Guiding Question: What were the causes and effects of the Fredonian rebellion? Late in 1826, the unrest in the area took a new turn. Their short lived revolt only further increased tensions between Texans and the Mexican government. Supporters of Edwards took a bold action and rebelled against the Mexican authority.

The Republic of Fredonia In November a few dozen of followers of Edwards seized Edwards himself, Norris, and others, and charged them with crimes. Historians believed Edwards allowed himself to be taken so it would seem he was not involved in the plot. The rebels replaced him with a new mayor. They had no legal authority for any of these actions. That’s when Benjamin Edwards (Haden’s brother) decided to take bold action. When Mexican officials in San Antonio heard of this, they sent troops to Nacogdoches Enlisting the support of Richard Fields (a Cherokee Chief) Benjamin and a small band of followers proclaimed the creation of a new independent state. They called it the Republic of Fredonia and signed a Declaration of Independence on December 21, 1826.

The Edwards brothers asked for help from Austin’s colony They raised a red and white flag bearing the words “Independence, Liberty, Justice” and prepared to defend themselves in a building called the Old Stone fort. The Edwards brothers asked for help from Austin’s colony and from the United States, but they received no assistance. Stephen F. Austin even helped the Mexican government put down the revolt.

When Mexican troops from San Antonio approached Nacogdoches in January 1827, the Fredonian Rebellion collapsed. Some of the Fredonians were captured, but most Fled across the Sabine River into the United States. The Mier y Teran Report The Fredonian Rebellion was a minor incident, and the rebels had little support among Anglo-Americans. Nevertheless it worried Mexican officials. They thought it was a part of an American scheme to acquire Texas. In fact, the United States had offered to buy Texas in 1827 and 1829.

After touring Texas for about 2 months, Mier y Teran wrote his report. Concerned about the region, Mexican officials sent an inspection party to Texas, led by General Manuel de Mier y Teran. After touring Texas for about 2 months, Mier y Teran wrote his report. Mier y Teran made it clear that prompt action was essential. He expressed concern about the growing American influence in Texas. He recommended several steps. 1. More troops needed around the settlements. 2. Mexican government should work to attract more Mexican and European settlers. 3. Develop more trade between Texas and Mexico.

The Slavery Issue While Mexican officials considered Mier y Teran’s report, Anglo Americans worried that the government would abolish (or end) slavery. Texans had long argued against such action, with Austin and Erasmo Seguin taking major roles in convincing the government of Mexico to allow slavery.

Those efforts seemed to be undone in 1829. That year the president of Mexico issued a decree (order) abolishing slavery. President Vincente Ramon Guerrero This order was never actually enforced in Texas. Even so, it worried Anglo American slaveholders who believed that it was only a matter of time before slavery became illegal.

The Law of April 6, 1830 Guiding Question: How did settlers in Texas react to the Law of April 6, 1830? On April 6, 1830, the government of Mexico issued a law based on many of Mier y Teran’s recommendations. What became known as the Law of April 6, 1830, had a significant impact on Texas.

Provisions of the Law The government used the law to encourage the immigration of Mexican and European families to Texas with generation land grants and financial assistance. A key part of the law was Article II, which stopped immigration from the United States into Texas. It also suspended most empresario contracts that had not been fulfilled. This part of the law read as follows: “It is prohibited that emigrants from nations bordering on this Republic shall settle in the states or territories adjacent to their own nation. Consequently, all contracts not already completed and not in harmony with this law are suspended”. The Law of April 6, 1830 also set up new forts. Soldiers in the forts would prevent smuggling, the introduction of additional enslaved people, and illegal land speculation. Mexico discouraged trade between foreign nations and Texas by placing taxes called “duties” on goods made in foreign nations. The government took this step to try to increase trade between Texas and Mexico.

Anglo settlers were alarmed by the Law of April 6, 1830. Reaction in Texas Anglo settlers were alarmed by the Law of April 6, 1830. The success of many settlers depended upon the continued growth of trade with the United States. Many also had friends and relatives who wanted to come to Texas. The ban on bringing in enslaved people revived Fears that slavery would be outlawed in Texas. The Law of April 6, 1830 was an early turning point in relations between the colonists and the Mexican government. Each side began to distrust the other. Stephen F. Austin tried to negotiate with Mexican leaders. He soon realized that serious damage had already been done to relations between Texans and the Mexican government.