American Expansion in Texas

Tejas Tejas was on the northern edge of Spanish settlement in Mexico Tejas Tejas was on the northern edge of Spanish settlement in Mexico. The first settlers arrived in the 1680s and established missions as they had done in California and New Mexico. Local Indians were often pressed into forced labor. By the 1820s, the mission system had declined. Most of the early Tejanos lived on ranches and raised horses or cattle. Presidios (forts) protected the missions and ranches from attacks by the Comanche and other tribes. Life in Tejas was difficult and isolated.

In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain after more than ten years of brutal war.

Stephen F. Austin and American settlement in Tejas The new Mexican government was looking for ways to exert more control over its sparsely populated northern provinces and to improve its economy. The Mexicans decided to encourage settlement in Tejas. Huge land grants were given to land agents called empresarios. The most successful of them was an American named Stephen F. Austin. Americans could buy land from Austin for incredibly low prices. In return they would have to become Mexican citizens which meant having to obey Mexican law and convert to Roman Catholicism. Mexico had banned slavery, but many Americans brought slaves when they settled in Texas. The climate and soil in Texas were prefect for growing COTTON.

Motivated by cheap land, low taxes and the prospect of making HUGE profits on cotton, thousands of Americans (mostly Southerners) rushed to buy land in Tejas. Mexican law prohibited slavery, but most Americans brought slaves with them anyway. Within a few years, the Americans outnumbered the Tejanos and the new immigrants showed little respect for Mexican law or government. In 1830, Mexico sealed its borders to keep Americans out. It didn’t work. Between 1830 and 1834, illegal Americans poured into Mexico doubling the “Anglo” population. By 1836, the population of Tejas stood at 30,000 Anglos, 5,000 enslaved Africans and only 4,000 Tejanos. The Tejanos were now a small minority in their own province. The Americans in Tejas wanted more control over their own affairs and more self government. The Mexican government decided it was time to crack down on the unruly Americans.

In 1824, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna suspended the constitution and became the dictator of Mexico. The Americans in Tejas rose in revolt. The Texas Revolution had started. Santa Anna led 4,000 troops into San Antonio to suppress the rebellion. The ALAMO! February-March ,1836. Mexican troops overpower and kill all the defenders inside. During the siege, the Texas rebels declare independence from Mexico.

The Battle of San Jacinto 1836 Sam Houston leads the Texas rebels and they soundly defeat Santa Anna and the Mexican army. Santa is captured and forced to sign a treaty acknowledging the independent REPUBLIC of TEXAS.

Most Texans hope that the U. S. will annex Texas Most Texans hope that the U.S. will annex Texas. The issue becomes complicated. as many congressmen realize that annexing Texas will mean the extension of slavery and war with Mexico.