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Austin Establishes a Colony
Age of Empresarios Austin Establishes a Colony
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Moses Austin Paves the Way
1st Anglo-American to get permission from Spain to bring Americans to Texas Went to San Antonio with slave (Richmond) Turned down first – Baron de Bastrop (friend) convinced Gov. Antonio Martinez to allow 300 families Got ill – had to send son (Stephen F.) to carry out his plans
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Stephen Continues Father’s Work
“Father of Texas” – founded 1st Anglo American colony in Texas 27 – took over Moses’ work Went to San Antonio with Erasmo Seguín
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Austin Sets Colony Boundaries
Region between Colorado and Brazos Rivers Many pluses Fertile soil Abundant water Natural resources Mild climate No other settlements
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Advertising for Colonists
Southern states due to similarities “No drunkard, no gambler, no profane swearer, no idler” Man – 640 acres Wife – 320 acres Child – 160 acres Slave – 80 acres 12 ½ cents per acre Requirements Oath to Spain/Mexico Catholic Good moral character
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Good Land & Low Prices Some came by boat (The Lively); others by land
1st here – Andrew Robinson (set up ferry crossing at Washington-on-the- Brazos) Wealthiest – Jared E. Groce Set backs The Lively wrecked Mexico gained independence Colony contract cancelled
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Austin Impresses Mexico
Mexican Law of 1823 Family – 4,605 acres Austin received 100,000 acres as an empresario (land agent who brings in new settlers) Mexican leaders impressed with Austin’s honesty and sincerity (he learns customs and Spanish)
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Problems Develop in Colony
Drought Land not surveyed Disagreements over ownership Karankawa/Tonkawa attacks Militia (temporary army) established
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The Colonies Grow Chapter 7 – Section 2
Stephen F. Austin Green DeWitt Martin de Leon Age of Empresarios James Power and James Hewetson John McMullen and James McGloin The Colonies Grow Chapter 7 – Section 2 Lorenzo de Zavala Haden Edwards David G. Burnet
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The Constitution of 1824 1823 – Mexican emperor Agustín de Iturbide overthrown Federalists – sharing power between states and national government Centralists – power should be concentrated in the national (central) government Mexico divided into 19 states and 4 territories Coahuila and Texas united as one Mexican state – Coahuila y Tejas If Texas’ population grew then it could become a separate state Baron de Bastrop chosen as the 1st representative from Texas
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Mexico Passes Colonization Law of 1824
Certain restrictions No one could receive more than 48, 708 acres of land No colony could be established within 30 miles of the coast or 60 miles from an international boundary without permission Only those who intended to live permanently in Texas could receive land contracts
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How State Colonization Law Worked
Foreigners invited to immigrate After $30 payment – family receives as much as 4,428 acres Would not have to pay general taxes for a set number of years Single men receive 1,107 acres but given the rest upon marriage If a man married a Mexican woman, he would receive an additional 1,107 acres Colonists had to show evidence of good moral character and a Roman Catholic Too few priests for Mexican authorities to check out colonists Use of empresarios – best land and spoke Spanish Empresario contracts cancelled after 6 years if failure of getting 100 families to settle
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The Most Successful Empresario
S. Austin’s most successful Received additional contracts 500 more families added to Old 300 100 families to “Little Colony” – Bastrop 300 families along the coast 800 families with Samuel Williams northwest of original colony
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Why Austin’s Colonies Succeeded
Demonstrated ability to deal successfully with Mexican authorities Colonists had little difficulty getting titles to land and making improvements Native Americans became less of a threat Contracts included most fertile lands Well watered, plentiful timber, & roads and rivers provided transportation
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Green DeWitt’s Success
2nd most successful 400 families settled west of Austin’s original colony Gonzales – headquarters Native American raids slowed early growth
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Martín de León Empresario
Native to Mexico, expert horseman/rancher Settled families along Guadalupe River near the coast Wife (Patricia de la Garza de León) helped establish the town of Victoria Gave $ for first church in Victoria Later sided with Texans during war with Mexico Forced to flee after Texas Revolution Native American raids troubled colony
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Other Contracts James Power and James Hewetson
Settled Irish immigrants along Gulf Coast (Refugio) John McMullen and James McGloin 2nd colony of Irish at San Patricio Haden Edwards, David G. Burnet, Joseph Vehlein, Arthur Wavell, Lorenzo de Zavala Some became active in Texas Revolution Noah and Nancy Tevis No help from empresario Settled along Neches River After Noah’s death, Nancy founded Beaumont
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Various Nationalities Settle in Texas
Americans Southern states (Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas) Farmers Looking for new start with cheap land African Americans (enslaved) Imperial Colonization Law recognized slavery but outlawed slave trading ↑ 2000 enslaved – mainly on plantations Mexican government opposed, but Americans argue that slave labor was necessary to clear land; cultivate cotton, corn, and sugarcane; and to make a profit African Americans (free) Greenbury Logan, Samuel H. Hardin, Lewis B. Jones, William Goyens, Hendrick Arnold
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Women Play Important Roles
Mary Austin Holley Cousin of Stephen Austin Wrote a series of letters about her visit to Texas María Calvillo Became sole owner of father’s ranch Expanded and improved ranch through courage, organizational skills, and talents Jane McManus – German empresario with brother Tamar Morgan Came to Texas as a slave Purchased her freedom Became successful landowner with husband Samuel H. Hardin Life Worked along side the men building houses, tending livestock, and defending their land Had few rights – could not vote, hold public office, or serve on a jury Slave women – labored long hours without pay, with no prospect of freedom (families often split up because of slave sales)
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Education in the Colonies
Lack of $ prevented Mexican government from providing public education Job of educating children left to colonists Wealthy colonists – some hired private teachers while others sent children to U.S. schools Thomas J. Pilgrim – opened 1st school in San Felipe de Austin (1829) Frances Trask – opened one of first girls schools in Texas (mid- 1830s) By 1830s – almost every town had at least one teacher (reading, writing, and arithmetic)
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