1. Americans Settle in Texas: The Empresarios
Wayne Davidson M.Ed
Da Vinci School for Science and the Arts

2. How did Austin’s colony affect immigration to Texas?
Bellwork
How did Austin’s colony affect immigration to Texas?

4. Mexico’s New Colonization Laws
Colonization Law of 1824
Allowed each Mexican state to set up its own policies.
Restricted new U.S. immigrants from settling near the nation’s borders or along the coast.

5. Mexico’s New Colonization Laws
In 1824 the Mexican State of Coahuila y Tejas is formed.
Coahuila y Tejas Flag

6. Mexico’s New Colonization Laws
Tejanos wanted to see Tejas grow.
Settlers would improve the economy.
Provide extra defense against the Indians.

7. Mexico’s New Colonization Laws
Tejanos wanted to see Tejas grow.
New settlements would raise land values.
New markets for Tejano merchants.

8. Mexico’s New Colonization Laws
1825: State Colonization Law of enacted, which opened Tejas up to more immigration.
Empresarios - business people who promoted migration to Texas colonies.

9. Mexico’s New Colonization Laws
The empresarios made promises of cheap lands in order to attract settlers to Texas.

10. To which modern day occupation could the empresarios be compared?
Real Estate Agents

11. Mexico’s New Colonization Laws
State Colonization Law
Empresarios received 67,000 acres of land for every 200 families they brought to Texas. (Stephen F. Austin, acres)
The head of each household could receive 4,428 acres for $30.
No taxes for 10 years.

12. The Dewitt and de León Colonies
Green Dewitt’s colony:
1825: Receives grant to settle 400 families in Texas.
Located colony within the Gulf Coast Plain and the Post Oak Belt.

13. The Dewitt and de León Colonies
Green Dewitt: Made Gonzales the capital of his colony.
Green Dewitt

14. The Dewitt and de León Colonies
Martin de León’s colony:
1824: received permission to establish a colony along the lower Guadalupe River.
Main town was Victoria.
1834: 300+ families in settlement.

15. The Dewitt and de León Colonies
Martin de León: brought primarily Mexican settlers to Texas.
Martin de León

16. Austin’s Contributions to Texas
Mexican government granted 40+ empresario contracts.
1834: 21,000+ settlers lived in Texas.

17. Austin’s Contributions to Texas
Austin: Most important of the empresarios.
Brought more than 1,500 families to Texas.

18. Austin’s Contributions to Texas
Stephen F. Austin: Known today as “The Father of Texas.”
Stephen F. Austin