Independence for Texas Chapter 7 Section 3

Main Idea Mexico invited Americans to settle Texas In return, Americans had to adopt Mexican customs, obey Mexican law, and become Catholic

Empresarios and Settlers Empresario – Spanish word meaning “agent” or “contractor” Under National Colonization Act, Mexico gave 26 empresarios large grants of Texas land In exchange they had to fill with settlers Stephen F. Austin most successful empresario

Main Idea #2 When Mexico tried to enforce laws, American settlers rebelled, established independent state

Texas Goes to War Sam Houston, former governor of Tennessee, took command of military 180 Texas rebels held up in abandoned Spanish mission called Alamo Santa Anna’s forces overran rebels and were defeated at Alamo

The Republic of Texas Sam Houston elected first president of Texas Texans voted in favor of annexation, becoming part of U.S. Northern members of Congress rejected idea, opposed admitting Texas as slave state President Jackson did not want to annex, but he recognized Texas as independent nation