1. Chapter 9: Life in Early Texas Section 4: Government and Society

2. Bellwork
Define “republic”

3. Texas under Mexican Rule
1824: Mexico became a republic and adopted a constitution.

4. Texas under Mexican Rule
Stephen F. Austin: had advised the officials who had written the constitution
Erasmo Seguin: represented Texas at the constitutional assembly and helped write the document

5. Texas under Mexican Rule
Most Texans supported the Constitution of 1824.

6. Texas under Mexican Rule
Similarities to U.S. Constitution:
gave limited powers to the central government and broad local authority to the states

7. Texas under Mexican Rule
Federalism—decentralized form of government

8. Texas under Mexican Rule
Similarities to U.S. Constitution:
Three branches of government
President served as head of state

9. Texas under Mexican Rule
Differences to U.S. Constitution:
State lawmakers, not citizens, elected the president
No separation of church and state or freedom of religion
Roman Catholicism was the official religion of Mexico under the Constitution of 1824.

11. Texas under Mexican Rule
Constitution of 1824 united the provinces of Texas and Coahuila into a single state.

12. Texas under Mexican Rule
Most Texans disliked the united of Texas and Coahuila:
They feared not having enough local control
The state’s capital, Saltillo, was far away

13. Texas under Mexican Rule
Most U.S. settlers wanted local control over rights and freedoms--used to U.S. political tradition.
U.S. settlers often ignored or changed laws they disagreed with.

14. Texas under Mexican Rule
Mexican official often paid no attention when U.S. settlers ignored their laws.
Local government became a mixture of Mexican and U.S. practices.

15. The Issue of Slavery
Slavery divided U.S. settlers and the Mexican government
1820s: Mexican & Coahuila y Texas governments passed laws restricting slavery

16. The Issue of Slavery
Stephen F. Austin was in favor of bringing slaves to Texas.
Some slaveholders who wanted to emigrate to Texas in the 1820s were worried that Mexico might make slavery illegal.

17. The Issue of Slavery 1827: State constitution outlawed slavery
Jose Antonio Navarro helped pass a law allowing for contract labor—helped people get around the ban on slavery.
Tensions over slavery continued to increase as U.S. settlement increased.

18. Mexican Constitution of 1824
Formed the state of Coahuila y Texas
Gave states strong local control
Roman Catholicism official religion
Effects
Effects
Effects