Mexican Texas Age of Empresarios

Austin Establishes a Colony Moses Austin received permission from Spain to bring American settlers into Texas. He was familiar with Spanish laws and regulations. Moses died of pneumonia before the task was carried out. Stephen Fuller Austin was determined to follow out his fathers plan.

Austin Sets Colony Boundaries Austin explored Texas and determined the region between the Colorado River and the Brazos was a good place for a colony. It had fertile soil, water, natural resources, a mild climate, and no other settlements. Austin wrote a request for the land to the governor and asked for additional land along the coast for trade.

Advertising for Colonists Austin began advertising for colonists to move to Texas. Every man would receive 640 acres for himself, 320 for his wife, 160 for each child, 80 for each slave. Austin surveyed, or measured, the land himself. Settlers paid 12.5 cents per acre. New settlers were required to pledge an oath of allegiance to the Spanish government. New settlers had to become Catholic and of good moral character.

Austin Impresses Mexico Leaders There was confusion In Mexico City over land grants. The new government had many problems and could give only limited attention to Texas. Austin was finally given a land grant under new a new colonization law. Austin received 100,000 acres of land for his services as empresario, a land agent whose job it was to bring in new settlers to an area.

Austin Impresses Mexico Leaders While in Mexico, Austin learned much about Mexican customs and institutions. Austin impressed the leaders with his honesty and sincerity.

Men and Women of the “Old Three Hundred” Austin's settlers became known as the “Old Three Hundred.” Being the first people to settle in the new area, they had the opportunity to select the best land. Most chose land near rivers or streams.

Age of Empresario The Colonies Grow

The Constitution of 1824 In 1823, Mexican emperor Augustin de Iturbide was overthrown. Federalists, people who believe in sharing power between the states and national government, formed a new government. Their opponents, Centralists, believed that power should be concentrated in the national government of Mexico City. The Federalists wrote a constitution that divided the nation into 19 states and 4 territories. Coahuila y Tejas became one democratic state.

How State Colonization Laws Worked In 1825 a law stating foreigners were invited to immigrate to Texas. Colonists had to show evidence of good moral character. They must be Roman Catholic, however the Mexican authorities did not bother settlers who practiced other religions because there was a shortage of Catholic priests.

How State Colonization Laws Worked Most settlers came to Texas as part of an empresario contract for 2 reasons: 1. Most settlers could not speak Spanish and therefore had trouble getting title to their land without an empresario’s help. 2. Most desirable lands were held by an empresario.

Why Austin’s Colonies Succeeded Stephen F. Austin was the most successful empresario because: He dealt successfully with Mexican authorities. Austin’s contract included land with fertile soil for growing cotton He made it easy to get land

Why Come to Texas? Cheap land Fresh land for cotton growing—land in the east was worn out Land was well watered Lumber for homes and fuel Roads and rivers provided transportation Allowed slavery, but not slave trading

The Difficulties Begin Growing Tensions The Difficulties Begin

Differences Create Tension While Federalists held power in Mexico, the colonists were left alone. When the Centralist Party came to power in 1829, it issued regulations to bring the sates and provinces of Mexico more under the authority of the national government. Most Anglo-American colonists considered these regulations to be unnecessary and unfair. These clashes eventually led to a revolution.

Trouble Begins in East Texas The first clash between colonists and Mexican authorities came in 1826. Haden Edwards was awarded land, but when he arrived people were already living on his lands. Edwards forced all settlers to show their title or get one from him. Political Chief Justice Jose Antonio Saucedo told Edwards that he could not charge them for new land title.

The Republic of Fredonia Haden’s brother, Benjamin Edwards, believed the only hope for solving the problem was to declare the colony independent form Mexico. He made an alliance with a Cherokee Indian chief, Richard Fields, and prepared for action. In 1826, Edwards with about 30 armed settlers claimed the colony the Republic of Fredonia. U.S. and Austin's colony refused to help Edwards. January 1827, the Fredonian Revolt collapsed.

Miler y Teran Investigates The revolt had Mexican authorities worried; they thought the revolt was part of an American scheme to acquire Texas. 200 soldiers under Colonel Jose de las Piedras were sent to Nacogdoches to prevent an uprising. Anthony Butler, a U.S. ambassador, proposed that Mexico sell Texas to the U.S; this only fueled their suspicion that the U.S. wanted Texas. General Manuel de Mier y Teran was sent to investigate.

Mier y Teran Investigates He observed that the Anglo-American influence was strong and they outnumbered Mexican settlers by at least 5:1. He made it clear that if the Mexican government did not act at once, Texas would be lost forever. In 1829 the Mexican president issued a decree, or order, abolishing slavery. Texans attempted to persuade the government to exempt, or excuse, Texas from the decree. The decree was never put into affect, but Texas slave holders believed it was only a matter of time before it would apply to them.

The Law of April 6, 1830 On April 6, 1830, the Mexican government issued several new laws: It stopped immigration from the U.S. It suspended most empresario contracts that had not been completed. The government encouraged the immigration of Mexican and European families to Texas. It set up new forts. These soldiers would prevent smuggling, The introduction of slaves, Illegal land speculation.

The Law of April 6, 1830 Mexico discouraged trade between foreign nations and Texas by placing taxes called customs duties on goods made in foreign nations. Most colonists considered these unfair. Each side began to distrust the other. Stephen F. Austin tried to negotiate with Mexican leaders, but realized that serious damage had already occurred.

Growing Tensions Rebellions

Settlers Protest at Anahuac The first serious conflict over Mexico’s actions occurred at the port town of Anahuac, the site of a small Mexican garrison established to control commerce, or the movement of goods. John (Juan) Davis Bradburn commanded the town. Bradburn quarreled with the colonists over several things.

Settlers Protest at Anahuac Merchants were mad about customs duties on imported goods because would have to travel long distances to process the paperwork. The last blow occurred when Bradburn arrested and imprisoned two lawyers, William B.Travis and Patrick C. Jack, for interfering in this efforts to enforce the laws. About 160 settlers marched to Anahuac demanding their release.

Settlers Protest at Anahuac After a small skirmish, or fight, between the colonists and Bradburn, he agreed to release the prisoners if the colonists retreated from Anahuac. Not all the settlers withdrew so Bradburn refused to release the prisoners and called for extra forces to strengthen his position. After another skirmish, the colonists made camp at Turtle Bayou. John Austin went to Brazoria to bring back a cannon.

Colonists Adopt the Turtle Bayou Resolutions On June 13, 1832 the colonists adopted a number of statements known as the Turtle Bayou Resolutions. In the resolutions, formal statements, the colonists: Declared their loyalty to Mexico. Denied they were rebelling against against Mexican authority. Insisted they were supporting Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, leader of a revolt against the Centralist president.

Colonists Adopt the Turtle Bayou Resolutions The Centralist President, Anastasio Bustamante was unpopular with the colonists because he ignored the federal Mexican Constitution of 1824. Santa Anna promised to support the Texan-favored constitution. Commander of Mexican garrison at Nacogdoches, Colonel Jose de las Piedras, arrived at Anahuac and promised Bradburn would be removed from command.

Conventions of 1832 and 1833 Texans called a convention to discuss changes needed in Texas. 58 delegates assembled in San Felipe on October 1, 1832. Stephen F. Austin was elected president of the convention. The convention resolved that: Texas be made a separate Mexican state U.S. immigration be allowed again.

Conventions of 1832 and 1833 The delegates also asked for: An exemption from some import taxes Improved educational facilities Better protection against Native Americans Land titles for settlers in East Texas. For various reasons these resolutions were never presented to officials in Mexico.

Conventions of 1832 and 1833 On April 1, 1833, another convention was called at San Felipe. This became known as the Convention of 1833. Sam Houston attended this meeting. The convention adopted resolutions and a constitution for the proposed Mexican state of Texas. Stephen F. Austin carried the resolutions to Mexico City.