1. Expansion in Texas

2. The Impact of Mexican Independence 1.Newly free Mexico worked to increase trade with the northern provinces and the US. 2.Mexico found it difficult to maintain their large land holdings. 3.Native American groups such as the Apache and Comanche continued to threaten Mexico’s scattered settlements in New Mexico and Texas. 4.They began to look for ways to strengthen ties between Mexico City (the Mexican capital) and the northern provinces.

3. Mexico Invites US Settlers 1.To protect the territory in Texas, Mexico encouraged American farmers to settle there. 2.In 1821, 1823, and 1824 Mexico offered land grants to agents called Empresarios, who attracted American settlers with promises of cheap land. 3.These settlers also had to pledge to obey Mexican laws and to observe Roman Catholicism. 4.Americans and Mexican’s jumped at the chance to move to Texas. 5.Anglos soon surpassed the Tejanos in Texas.

4. Austin in Texas 1.The most successful empresario, Stephen F. Austin, established a colony between the Brazos and Colorado rivers. 2.It flourished as many moved for the inexpensive land. 3.By 1825, Austin had issued 297 land grants, and each family received 177 acres of farmland or 4,428 of grazing land. 4.Americans then began to want to expand into the prosperous land of Texas and presidents even tried to buy Texas from Mexico. 5.Mexico refused and began to regret being so kind to Anglo immigrants.

5. Stephen F. Austin

6. Tensions Rise in Texas 1.As more Anglos move into Texas, they begin to clash with Mexico. 2.They increasingly spoke English instead of Spanish, and kept their Protestant beliefs. 3.The largest issue was over slavery as many of the Anglos were farmers who brought their slaves with them. 4.Mexico had abolished slavery in 1824 and called for Texas to free their slaves.

7. “Come to Texas” 1.In 1830 Mexico sealed its borders and cut out trade with the US. 2.They lacked the manpower to police the border and more and more Anglos poured into Texas, especially when Austin got the prohibition on immigration lifted in 1834. 3.By 1836 there was 3, 500 Tejanos, 12, 000 Native Americans, 45,000 Anglos, and 5,000 African Americans.

8. Issues for Mexico 1.Mexican politics became increasingly unstable. 2.Austin petitioned Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. 3.Santa Anna suspended the 1824 Mexican constitution and had Austin imprisoned for inciting a revolution. 4.After Santa Anna revoked local powers in Texas and other Mexican states, rebellions began to erupt, including what would be known as the Texas Revolution.

9. Santa Anna

10. “Remember the Alamo” 1.To force Texas to obey laws he had established, Santa Anna marched to Austin at the head of an army. 2.Austin then called for Texans to take up arms to defend themselves. 3.In 1835 the Texans pushed back Mexican forces from the Alamo, a small mission-turned-fort. 4.Santa Anna then attacked the Alamo, killing all 187 defenders, including famous figures Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett. Hundreds of Mexicans also perished.

11. The Alamo

12. The Lone Star Republic 1.Later in March 1836, Santa Anna executed 300 rebels at Goliad. 2.6 weeks after the Alamo Texans struck back under the leadership of Sam Houston. 3.They defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. They killed 630 of his men and captured him in 18 minutes. 4.They set Santa Anna free after he signed the Treaty of Velasco, which granted independence to Texas. 5.Sam Houston was made president of the Republic of Texas in 1836.

13. Sam Houston

14. Texas Joins the Union 1.Texas modeled their constitution on America’s. 2.In 1838, Houston offered the US the chance to annex, or incorporate, Texas into the US. 3.Most in Texas wanted to join the US. 4.Americans however were worried about the issue of slavery in Texas. Would they disrupt the delicate balance of slave and free states in the Union? 5.They also feared it might prompt war with Mexico.

15. Texas Joins the Union cont… 6.In 1844 the presidential election featured a debate on westward expansion. 7.The man would win the presidency, James K. Polk, was a slaveholder and believed in the annexation of Texas. 8.On Dec. 29, 1845, Texas became the 28 th state in the Union. 9.Mexico was furious and recalled its ambassador from Washington. 10.It seemed war with Mexico was on the horizon.

16. Expansion of Texas Illustrated Timeline  Fold a piece of white paper into 6 squares.  Illustrate the events that took place that lead Texas to joining the United States, from Mexican territory to US State.  You may use the following 6 titles as a guide to help you. 1.Mexico Invites US Settlers 2.Tensions rise in Texas 3.“Remember the Alamo”  Drawings must be colored 4.The Lone Start Republic 5.Texas Joins the Union 6.Texas joins the Union