EMPRESARIO CD COVER Create a CD or iTunes playlist about the Empresarios (draw and make up songs/artists) Include: - Artwork -10 song titles and artist 1.“Missing My Dad” by Stephen F. Austin Due Friday!!

Moses Austin Moses Austin was an Anglo American who lived in USA. As an economic depression swept the United States, Moses Austin lost his job. A depression is a time in which money loses value and people lose jobs. He decided he would apply for a land grant from Spain to bring settlers to Texas. The land was cheap and he could make money if he convinced others to move to Texas. Moses Austin traveled to Texas to meet with the Spanish governor, who initially turned down his request for a land grant. He finally convinced Spain to approve his land grant and shortly after he became seriously ill with pneumonia. As a deathbed request, Moses asked his son Stephen F. Austin if he would carry out his plans.

Stephen F. Austin Stephen F. Austin, who was 27 years old, was a legislator, judge, banker, and newspaper editor in New Orleans when his father, Moses Austin, got sick. His father asked him to carry out his plans to settle families in Texas. He traveled to San Antonio to meet with the governor of Spain. This is when he found out Spain no longer controlled Texas and Mexico did. He had to go to Mexico to ask the new government for land. He brought the first 300 families, known as the “Old 300” to Texas. His chose his colony to be between the Colorado and Brazos rivers. It was fertile land with abundant water, natural resources and a mild climate. It was also far from most Native Americans. He called it “San Felipe de Austin”. He was the most successful empresario and is known as the “Father of Texas.” Austin looked for settlers who had good character. He prevented those who did not have such good character from settling in his colony. If settlers acted badly, he expelled them. He also lent money to settlers when they needed it. The people trusted him and looked to him as leader. He worked closely with Mexican authorities.

Martin de Leon Martin De Leon was born in Mexico. He came from a wealthy family. He had experience in business and as a military officer. In 1805, De Leon started a cattle ranch in Texas and became a successful businessman. He later secured a land grant along the lower Guadalupe River. The land was very good for ranching and for farming. He settled between 100 and 200 families. De Leon was skilled in handling relations with Native Americans. The town of Victoria was part of the colony, which became an important trading post between Texas and Mexico.

Erasmo Seguin Erasmo Seguin was a Mexican born in Texas. He was a successful rancher who acted as a government leader of San Antonio. He helped Moses Austin and then Stephen F. Austin in getting empresario grants from the Spanish government. He also worked to support the interests of Texas Anglo-American settlers. He helped write the Mexican Constitution of 1824 and made sure the Texas settlers were granted certain rights.

Green DeWitt Green DeWitt was born in USA. DeWitt received an empresario grant in His land was south of Austin’s and north of De Leon’s. The land was well watered by the Guadalupe River and other rivers. The land was good for farming and ranching. He brought 400 families to Texas. DeWitt built the town of Gonzales as the center of his colony. It was west of Austin’s first colony and south of San Antonio Road. The town was a military base for Texas. He requested a small cannon from Mexico for protection against Indian attacks. He then convinced the Karankawas to sign a peace treaty. (You will hear about this cannon again)