1. SFA Establishes a Colony Chapter 8
Unit 3 Notes
SFA Establishes a Colony Chapter 8
Main Idea: Stephen F. Austin faced challenges and opportunities while establishing his colony in Texas.

2. Who was Moses Austin?
First Anglo American to secure permission from the Spanish authorities to bring American settlers to Texas.
After his business failed in the depression of 1819, he traveled from his home in Connecticut to San Antonio to make money.

3. How did he pave the way for Anglos to colonize Texas?
His request of Spanish authorities to bring 300 American families to Texas was turned down at first.
In 1821, Austin’s friend Baron de Bastrop influenced the Spanish governor to give Austin the permission he sought.

4. What happened to Moses Austin?
On June 10, 1821 Moses Austin died. He wanted his son to carry out his plan.
Stephen F. Austin went to San Antonio in August 1821 to carry out his father’s plan.

5. Where did SFA decide to start a colony?
Austin decided that the region between the Colorado and Brazos rivers would make a good colony.
Austin also requested land along the coast to land the settlers and supplies.

7. How did he advertise for colonists?
Austin promised 640 acres for each man, 320 acres for each woman, 160 acres for each child, and 80 acres for each slave.
The land would cost 12.5 cents per acre.

8. What were the requirements of SFA’s colonists?
Settlers had to:
Become Spanish citizens
Take an oath of allegiance to Spain (later Mexico)
Become Catholic
Be of good moral character
Be willing to work hard
Be loyal to the government

10. What was the result of SFA’s requirements?
Austin’s advertisements attracted many people.
Most early colonists came from Southern U.S.
They owned small farms and a few cows and horses.

11. What occurred in March 1822? How did this event affect SFA?
Austin learned that Mexico had won independence from Spain the previous year.
The new government did not recognize Austin’s right to colonize Texas.

12. How did SFA impress Mexican leaders?
He traveled to Mexico City to get approval for his settlement from the new Mexican government.
In 1823, the Mexican government was impressed by Austin’s honesty and sincerity and passed a general colonization law, giving him the contract.
Agustin de Iturbide, Mexican Emperor,

13. What problems developed in SFA’s colony?
When Austin returned to the colony, he found that many colonists had left because of drought.
Others were waiting for the land to be surveyed.
Disagreement arose over ownership of some lands.
Karankawas and Tonkawas raided settlements and stole livestock along the coast.

14. How did SFA solve the problems?
Austin and Baron de Bastrop settled claims and recorded deeds to the land.
Austin created a militia to protect the colony from Native Americans.
The militia would later become the Texas Rangers, seen in the picture above.

15. Who were “The Old 300”?
The 297 families that originally settled in Austin’s colony became known as the Old 300.
Many chose lands along the Brazos, Colorado, and San Jacinto rivers, as well as smaller streams, creeks and bayous.
Many had already been in Texas before Austin arrived.

16. What was the colony’s capital?
Austin gave the colony a capital to serve as a government center.
The capital was named San Felipe de Austin.