1. Gone to Texas Start of Anglo Settlements
Chapter 8 Section 2, 3, 4

2. Moses Austin
His vision was to bring 300 families to Texas to start a colony (11/1820)
Wanted to charge fees to settle to regain his wealth
Met with Mexican officials to pledge loyalty, become a Spanish citizen and vow to protect Texas

3. Erasmo Seguin Was a rancher and the alcalde of San Antonio de Bexar
Served as the Texas representative in the Mexican government
Helped write the Mexican Constitution of 1824

4. Stephen F. Austin
Met with Mexican officials and Seguin to carry out his father’s wishes, needed a new contract
Chose the land between Lavaca and San Jacinto Rivers for his colony
Recruited 300 families in 1821
Each household would get 640 acres (more if you provided services or tools)
Have to pay a fee of 12.5 cents per acre (rates were $1.25 per acre in U.S.)

5. Problems Arise Needed a contract from the Mexican government Drought
Karankawa and Tonkawa were raiding
Patience is Key!
His contract was approved and he set up a government, as well as a militia

6. Old 300 First 300 families recruited by Austin
Comprised of farmers and ranchers, some were well educated and some were slaveholders
Most famous? Jane Long! The “Mother of TX” was a landholder in Austin’s colony
Created the first ANGLO colony in Texas!!!

7. Location, Location, Location!
Between the Lavaca and San Jacinto Rivers
Along the Colorado River
11 million acres on Gulf Coast Plain, mild climate
Game was plentiful, settlers and supplies could arrive by ship
San Felipe became the capital in 1824

8. Reasons and Requirements
Reasons for Moving to Texas
Chance to own land for their family
Offered a fresh start in a new place
Requirements for Living in Mexico
Had to have good character (hardworking and law-abiding)
Had to agree to become Catholic
Had to become a Mexican citizen

9. Mexican Federal Constitution of 1824
Was a result of Mexican Independence in 1821
Established a State’s Rights (a Republic) government
Set up a national government that shared with 4 state governments, headed by a president
Placed Texas within the Coahuila y Texas Mexican state
Erasmo Seguin was our representative. He fought hard against being a state, fearing that our rights would be overlooked!

10. State Colonization Law of 1825
Before U.S. immigrants could NOT establish colonies -- was to protect Mexico
Wanted protection from Natives, increase in land values and new markets
Awarded land grants of 67,000 acres to Austin and other Empresarios
SPARKED mass immigration to Texas!

11. Slavery
Of the first 1,790 settlers in Austin’s colony 440 were enslaved African Americans
Starting to become a major point of conflict! Success of the cotton industry depending on it, but Tejano leaders didn’t want to introduce slave to the Texas economy
As immigration from the U.S. continued, unfortunately so did the increase in slavery

12. Empresarios Green DeWitt
2nd most important Empresario in Texas (behind Stephen F. Austin)
Founded a colony southwest of Austin’s in Gonzales, TX
Was allowed to bring 400 families, but only settled 166 successfully (had 525 people thriving by 1831)
Martin DeLeon
Settled 200 families between the Lavaca and Guadalupe Rivers
Founded the town of Victoria
Heavily influenced the cattle and ranching industry
His colony was the only one made up of primarily Mexican settlers

13. 1834 = 24, 700 Settlers
Empresario Success!!!