Events Leading To The Texas Revolution

 Opening Texas to settlement resulted in expanded trade, population growth, and conflict between Mexican officials and Anglo American settlers  During most of the 1820’s colonists were left to develop their own way of life.  They could even bring slaves, despite Mexican governments disapproval

 Empresario Haden Edwards arrived in 1825, there were already people living on his land but couldn’t produce titles for the land  Mexican Government wouldn’t let Edwards charge the settlers for new land titles

 Edwards and his brother declared the colony independent for Mexico, naming it the Republic of Fredonia  Austin refused to help the revolutionaries  Mexican troops for San Antonio crushed the revolt

 Mexican officials feared more revolts and sent troops to Nacogdoches  Manuel Mier y Teran, concluded that the Anglo American influence was too strong  Mier y Teran urged the Mexican Government to act at once or lose Texas

 Mexico’s Government issued a law stopping all immigration from the United States and suspended empresario contracts  Mexico’s Government encouraged Mexican and European families to immigrate to Texas.  The Mexican Government also set up forts with soldiers to prevent smuggling of more slaves into Texas

 Colonists at Anahuac accused John Davis Bradburn of taking supplies and refusing to give up runaway slaves.  Merchants objected to customs duties Bradburn imposed on imported goods  Bradburn imprisioned to lawyers, William B. Travis and Patrick C. Jack, for interfering in his efforts to enforce laws.

 Colonists adopted statements known as the Turtle Bayou Resolutions  The people declared their loyalty to Mexico and denied that they were rebelling against Mexican Authority  Santa Anna promised to support a Mexican Constitution that favored Texans

 John Austin and other colonists fought Mexican troops at Velasco  After bitter fighting and death on both sides, the Mexicans surrendered  In 1833 General Santa Anna was elected president of Mexico  Most Texas colonist were pleased, they thought Santa Anna would be a Federalist and support Texas

 A convention of 58 delegates assembled at San Felipe discussed changes needed in Texas  Stephen F. Austin was elected convention president

 Delegates asked that  1. Texas be a separate state  2. no import taxes  3. Improved educational facilities  4. better protection for Native Americans  5. Land titles for settlers in East Texas Austin journeyed to Mexico City to present the proposals

 Austin traveled to Mexico City in 1833, but Santa Anna was out of town  Thousands of people were dying from cholera

 Santa Anna returned to Mexico City in November 1833  He did not grant Texas separate statehood but agreed to repeal laws restricting immigration from the United States  He also agreed to improve the court and mail systems

 Austin left to return to San Felipe, pleased with his accomplishment  He was arrested at Saltillo because of the letter he sent to authorities in San Antonio.  He was in jail for one year

 Reforms included:  1. Recognizing English as the official language of Texas  Allowing immigration from the United States  Improving court systems  Promoting religious tolerance In 1834 Colonel Almonte, on an inspection tour of Texas, reported that all was well and reforms should continue

 William B. Travis and a group of colonists from San Felipe marched on Anahuac in protest of custom duties and forced the garrison release of Briscoe  Several towns disapproved of Travis’ action and apologized to General Cos

 General Cos wanted Travis and the others arrested  Cos, on the orders of Santa Anna, arrested Lorenzo de Zavala  Zavala was critical of Santa Anna so he moved to Texas for safety

 Texans were unwilling to turn in their friends, they called for a consultation, seeking independence  One group known as the Peace Party wanted friendly relations with Mexico  Another group the War Party, led by Travis and William H. Wharton, favored the Consultation