Austin Establishes a Colony Chapter 7 Austin Establishes a Colony

Moses Austin Paves the Way Baron de Bastrop Moses Austin was the first Anglo American to secure permission from Spain to bring American settlers into Texas Bastrop was a personal friend of the Spanish governor and an old friend of Austin’s Baron de Bastrop helped Austin convince the Spanish governor that his plan was not an excuse for Americans to take Spanish land

Stephen F. Austin Continues his Father’s Work Stephen F. Austin Background Erasmo Seguin Background: Grown up on the frontier Transylvania University in Kentucky Missouri territorial legislature Circuit judge in Arkansas Austin was determined to carry out his fathers plan Citizen from San Antonio that went with Austin to see the Spanish Governor to discuss the plans for settlement

Austin Sets Colonies Boundaries Where and why did he choose the location he chose? Austin spent Sept 1821 exploring Texas Decided the region between the Brazos and Colorado River would be the best place for the colony Abundant water and natural resources Fertile soil Mild climate No other settlements

Advertising for Colonists Survey Ways to pay? Requirements of settlers Austin surveyed, measured, the land to determine grant sizes and boundaries so settlers could get legal rights to property 12.5 cents per acre Austin was willing to extend credit to new settlers, allowing them to pay over time Requirements: Become citizens of their new country Take an oath of allegiance to Spain (later Mexico) Become catholic Be of good moral character

Good Land and Low Prices Attract Settlers Attraction to colony? March 1822 Prospect of gaining good farm land for low prices Went to San Antonio to report to the Spanish Governor, but realized Mexico had won its independence from Spain Austin’s settlement was not recognized his right to colonize Austin goes to Mexico City to try to get the new government’s approval

Austin Impresses Mexican Leaders Austin’s stay in Mexico Empresario In Mexico city, Austin found confusion and problems with the new government Mexican Law 1823: New government law about settlement Austin could now give people, including himself, more land and settle 300 families

Problems Develop in the Colony List problems in the colony   Militia Drought Disagreements over ownership of land Karankawas and Tonkawas raided settlements and stole horses and cattle Austin raised a militia, temporary army unit, to protect the colony against the raids

Men and Women of The Old 300 The Old 300 San Felipe de Austin 300 families that came from Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Missouri who were the first to settle in the new area New capital in Austin’s colony located on the west bank of the Brazos

The Constitution of 1824 Augustin de Iturbide – Mexican Emperor overthrown by Federalists in 1823 Federalists- Group of people who formed the new government (believed in sharing power between the states and the national government Centralists- believed that power should be concentrated in the federal government of Mexico city Federalists Constitution of 1824- Written by Feds, divided Mexico into 19 states with 4 main territories Coahuila y Tejas is formed

Mexico passes Colonization Law! Restriction of colonization- passed in 1824 by Congress: 3 important new laws 1.) no one could receive more than 48,708 acres of land 2.) no colony could be established within 10 leagues of the coast nor within 20 leagues of international boundary without Mexican permission 3.) if you bought land contract, you must PERMANENTLY stay

How the laws worked After a payment of $30, family received as much as 4,428 acres Single men – up to 1,107 acres When they married – additional 3,321 acres If they married a Mexican women – bonus of 1,107 acres Shortage of friars, meaning religion laws were not a scrict

The Most Successful Stephen F. Austin- By 1828, he had received 4 additional contracts under the new colonization law (500 new families) In 1827 established the town of Bastrop – “Little Colony” Final land contract – 1831 – With the help of Samuel M. Williams – land Northwest of original colony (This caused a big debate over land with Nashville Immigrants lead by Sterling C. Robertson!)

Why Austin was so successful Learned to speak Spanish Dealt well with Mexican authorities With help of militia, Indians became less of a threat Most fertile soil in all of Texas

Green DeWitt Second most successful Empresario Brought 400 families (Anglo) into Texas in 1825 Founded the town of Gonzales, became colonies Headquarters Native American raids!!

Martin de Leon Successful Mexican Empresario Expert rancher and horseman who brough 100 to 200 families MEXICAN into Texas and settled along the Guadalupe River Wife, Patricia de la Garza de Leon, had family values through DOWRY aka valuable goods Founded the town of Victoria

Women in the colonies Majority of immigrants to Texas were women Worked alongside men and farmed, hunted, defended land, tended livestock Could not vote, hold public office, or serve on jury Women like, Jane McManus, even became Empresarios – brought German colonists