THE HISPANIC SOUTHWEST

MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE 1821: Mexico gets its independence from Spanish rule -Territories also consist of modern day California, New Mexico and Texas These territories are far from the capital of Mexico City-needs often neglected Gov’t used Missions, or religious institutions, to control large territories in the SW

MISSION RULE By the 1830s, people did not agree on having religious rule, thought it was inappropriate Gov’t secularized, or changed from religious to civil control

Former missions and land were supposed to go to Native Americans-this did not happen Cattle Ranchers ( Rancheros ) get them instead The Mexican gov’t and territories are now independent, but there is much political chaos

CALIFORNIA Economy based around cattle ranching Controlled by “ Spanish Dons ”-less than 10% of the population controlled everything-women had rights Mestizos : Middle class of mixed European and Native American ancestry, were usually cowboys (vaqueros) or craftsmen Native Americans are at the bottom of the social structure-many deaths at the hands of the Spanish, not much improvement under Mexican rule

SOCIAL STRUCTURE Spanish Dons Mestizos Native Americans

NEW MEXICO Largely rural (modern day N.M. and Arizona) Sheep ranching and farming 1820s-Navajo and Apache start attacking, Mexican gov’t couldn’t protect them-people unhappy with gov’t people kill their governor and 16 gov’t officials in rebellion

AMERICANS IN THE TERRITORIES Traders had arrived as early as the 1820s Trails opened up to the SW and many of the Dons/Governors in CA, NM, etc. gave land to Americans to encourage trade-many goods they used were produced by Americans Americans began to flood into the NM and Texas territories, caused revolts and rebellion against Mexican rule

OPENING TEXAS TO THE AMERICANS Americans settling into territories for trade Empresarios : Agents that brought settlers into Mexican territories to live and trade Nation Colonization Act: gave 26 empresarios large tracts of land in Texas to do this Stephen Austin founds Washington-on-the-Brazos, got 1,500 families to move south by the 1830s

AMERICANIZING TEXAS? Mexicans assumed Americans would fully assimilate Many rebelled against Mexican gov’t-asked if Empresarios or Mex Gov’t controlled lands 1830: Mexican gov’t closes Texas borders, taxes imports to discourage US trade Laws infuriate settlers

TEXAS GOES TO WAR Settlers attend conventions to try and convince Mexico to re-open Texas and to eventually create a separate Texan- Mexican state 1833: Negotiations stall-Stephen Austin visits the Mexican President (Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna) Austin arrested on the way home on January 3, 1834-imprisoned for treason WITHOUT a trial

CONFLICT Santa Anna throws out the 1824 Mexican Constitution and declares himself dictator. Austin released in July 1835-urges Texans to organize an army March 2, 1836: Texas declares independence from Mexico-new constitution creates protections for slavery

THE ALAMO Texas rebels had little to no formal training-who would be their leader? -Sam Houston chosen- former Ten. Gov and military leader Santa Anna gets 6k troops to combat the rebellion- arrives in San Antonio in Feb Texas rebels are hiding in a former Catholic Mission- The Alamo-led by William B Travis

These troops wanted to push back, or delay, the SA troops so Houston’s army had time to form Asks Texas and the US for help-only 32 settlers from Gonzales arrive to help They keep SA’s army occupied for 13 days, while formal independence is declared in Texas March 6, 1836: SA’s army storms the Alamo

DEFEAT AT THE ALAMO 600 of SA’s troops are killed/wounded before the Alamo is overrun They are defeated, but it gives Texas army 2 weeks to prepare

GOLIAD SA overruns and executes 300 Texas rebels at the Battle of Goliad The losses at the Alamo and at Goliad devastate the Texans but also unite them

BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO Sam Houston needs more soldiers-his army is in disarray-they retreat SA ordered his troops to burn every town and settlement in their path. He believed that the Texas rebellion was crushed. His armies could finish the task by occupying the towns in central and East Texas April 21, 1836-SA’s and Houston’s men are less than ¾ of a mile from one another on the San Jacinto River

Houston learns that SA’s army is nearby That morning, Houston ordered his scouts to destroy the bridge across Vince’s Bayou to the SW. Destruction of the bridge would cut off a path of retreat. 3:30 that afternoon, General Houston ordered his officers to assemble the troops for immediate attack. The battle line was formed. Houston drew his sword and ordered the troops to advance. With this signal, the Texans moved out of the woods and across the open prairie that separated the two armies.

As the Texans moved across the open prairie, the Mexican camp remained quiet. Many of the soldiers were resting and others were watering their horses in a nearby stream. The Texans were upon the enemy camp before the Mexicans knew an attack was upon them. “ Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” was the battle cry as the Texans opened fire with rifles and cannons. The Mexican officers tried to rally their troops, but it was too late and total confusion resulted and many of the Mexican troops began to flee from the battle. The organized Mexican resistance lasted 18 minutes. The killing continued until dark.

SURRENDER AND INDEPENDENCE Only 10 Texans lost their lives after the battle of San Jacinto. 30 others were wounded including Houston. The Mexican army suffered heavy losses 630 were killed and 730 were taken prisoner. Santa Anna was among the prisoners. Santa Anna disappeared during the fighting and was found the next day dressed as a common soldier. He was not recognized at first. But his own men pointed him out. Houston, who rested under a large oak tree demanded Texas from Santa Anna and Mexico

TREATIES Santa Anna was taken to Velasco to sign two treaties with the Texas government. Both were signed on May One treaty was made public, and the other was kept secret. In the public treaty, the Mexican ruler promised to never again fight against the Texans. He also agreed to order all Mexican forcers out of Texas immediately. In return for his freedom, Santa Anna privately agreed to work for Mexican recognition of Texas independence. Their secret terms called for the Texas government to release Santa Anna immediately and give him an escort back to Mexico. In return, Santa Anna would also agree to work inside Mexico to get the Texas boundary set at the Rio Grande.

REPUBLIC OF TEXAS Sept Sam Houston elected Texas president Vote to be annexed by US is passed, although Northern congressmen did not want another slave state