American Filibusters come to Texas Write anything in Red

1800-Spain still in control of Texas Americans moved west for land and adventure. Sometimes settling into Spanish territory illegally. The Spanish attempted to control the illegal immigration of Americans

Threats to Spanish Control In 1800, war in Europe gave territory of Louisiana back to France In 1803, France sold Louisiana Territory to US In 1810, a revolt shook Mexico lasting 10+ years These factors attracted fortune seekers from US – filibuster era had begun

NEUTRAL GROUND AGREEMENT The exact western boundary between American Louisiana and Spanish Texas was unclear and both countries agreed to a neutral area that would stop arguments over the border. This “neutral ground” became a lawless area. When U.S. bought Louisiana there was controversy between the U.S. & Spanish about the boundary between Spanish TX and Louisiana

FILIBUSTERS Americans would often cross into Spanish territory and cause trouble. These rebellious adventures are called Filibusters. Filibuster: a person who wages unofficial war on a country Act for their own benefit; not part of gov’t An adventurer who engages in a private rebellious activity in a foreign country Caused Spanish to worry about increased interest in the area by the Americans Used unsettled conditions to further their own interest Filibusters would often side with the Mexican Revolution started by Father Miguel Hidalgo

Philip Nolan First filibuster Horse trader in late 1700’s Claimed he came to Texas to capture and trade mustangs for Spanish gov’t but sold to US Good friends with US General James Wilkinson Killed near present-day Waco in 1800 by Spanish A filibuster from the U.S. that was sent to Texas w/Spanish Approval, but Spain was suspicious of the U.S. taking control of TX

GUTIERREZ – MAGEE EXPEDITION Augustus Magee (former U.S. soldier) & Spanish-Texan Jose Benardo Gutierrez (a Mexican revolutionary, follower of Father Hidalgo) organized the Republic of the north & declared Texas independent from Spain US Army sent Magee to remove outlaws from neutral zone (hiding place) In 1813 a former U.S. Army Lieutenant Augustus Magee resigned from the Army and became a filibuster in Texas. Left army and teamed up with rebel Gutierrez in Nacogdoches to invade TX

Jose Gutierrez de Lara Leader of Mexican Republican Army of the North Opposed Spanish Rule Supported filibuster expeditions 1st Governor of TX

Gutierrez and Magee raised a small army of around 1,500 men made up of Mexican and American soldiers. In February the “Republicans” defeated a Spanish force at the Battle of Rosillo Creek and took control of San Antonio.

The expedition was defeated by Spanish forces After the battle Gutierrez ordered 15 Spanish officers executed which caused some of the Americans to leave in disgust. The expedition was defeated by Spanish forces It encouraged others to free Texas & Mexico from Spanish Rule In August the expedition was defeated by Spanish forces near Medina Creek. The filibuster survivors of the battle were executed. Although the expedition ended in failure it would inspire other filibusters in the future.

Galveston Pirates Jean Lafitte used his base to attack Spanish ships in the Gulf of Mexico. He also used his base to smuggle slaves into the United States. The U.S. banned the slave trade in 1808. (No new slaves into the U.S. but slavery itself was still legal) Pirates Pirates and various revolutionaries slowly began to take up arms against Spain, sometimes for freedom and other times simply for money. Jean Lafitte Was a French pirate who set up a camp on Galveston (Galveston) and built a pirate village named Campeachy on the island in 1817.

ADAMS-ONIS TREATY In 1817, U.S. General Andrew Jackson attacked Native Americans in Florida and eventually began to take over much of the territory. The Spanish government was angry, but in 1819, the Adams-Onis Treaty was agreed upon. The negotiator of the treaty (and future President himself) John Quincy Adams, was the son of the 2nd President John Adams.

Treaty set border between US and Spanish Texas along Sabine River ADAMS-ONIS TREATY Treaty set border between US and Spanish Texas along Sabine River US agreed that Spain owned Texas In return, Spain gave Florida to the US The treaty angered Dr. James Long so he organized a filibustering trip The U.S. would gain control of Florida & agreed to the Sabine River as the border of TX

The Long Expedition Dr. James Long led a small group into Nacogdoches where he declared TX free from Spain. He was angry about the Adams-Onis treaty as he and other Americans believed that Texas was part of the Louisiana Purchase Wanted to work w/French pirate Jean Lafitte but he refused

Was captured & sent to Mexico City where he was shot in a prison. He is considered the last of the major filibusters into Texas. After an attempt to win La Bahia, he was captured and killed by a soldier while in jail