Unit 3 Mexican Colonization and the Empresario System

Unit 3 Mexican Colonization and the Empresario System 1821 -1836

Changes in Spanish Texas �Marques De Rubi- report on the missions ◦ 1. Spain should abandon all missions and presidios except those at La Bahia and San Antonio. ◦ 2. San Antonio should replace Los Adaes as the capital of Texas ◦ 3. Population in East Texas should be moved to San Antonio ◦ 4. Spanish should befriend the Comanche and seek help fighting the Apache

Changes in Texas Policies �Tejanos- a person of Mexican decent living in Texas.

Lousiana Purchase �France sold territory for $15 million which doubled the US in size

Border disputes in Texas �New Spain now shared a border with the United States �Boundary was not clearly defined.

Philip Nolan Expeditions �Came to Texas in 1800 without permision. �Was arrested, resisted and killed. �Filibusters- an adventurer who engages in a private rebellious activity in a foreign county.

Adams-Onis Treaty � 1819 - signed by Spain and U. S. and set the boundary between the territory. �U. S. gave up claims to Texas in exchange for the Neutral Ground and Florida

The Call for Mexican Independence �In 1807 Napolean conquered Spain. �There was a power struggle between classes- peninsulares and creoles �In 1808 - Peninsulares overthrew viceroycreole groups got upset

September 16, 1810 �Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla led a passionate cry “Grito de Dolores”

Gutierrez-Magee Expedition �Jose Gutierrez de Lara-went to the US to gain support for the rebels �Augustus William Magee- cocomander of de Lara’s force �Named their army Republican Army of the North

�Proclaimed Texas independent of Spain, but were defeated. �It encouraged others to free Texas and Mexico from Spanish rule

Battle of Medina �Fought August 18, 1813 between the forces of the Gutierrez-Magee expedition and the Spanish royalist army. �Republican army lost.

Galveston Pirates �Henry Perry, Francisco Xavier Mina, and Louis Michel Aury worked together to invade Mexico �French pirate Jean La. Fitte had a base in Galveston and raided Spanish ships as well.

Long Expedition • Dr. James Long – perhaps one of the best known filibusters • Led a group from Mississippi to Nacogdoches where he declared Texas independent from Spain • Captured, taken to Mexico City and shot.

Mexico Wins Independence �Jose Maria Morelos, wanted to break away from the Spanish monarchy and establish a republic.

1820 �A new group arose in Spain �Loyalists v. Revolutionist

Agustin de Inturbide � 1. Mexico would be free from Spain � 2. All people in Mexico would be equal � 3. Roman Catholic Church would be Mexico’s official religion.

�Mexico, including Texas won independence in 1821.

The Revolution’s Effects �One of the greatest costs of the war was the loss of people. �By 1821, only 3, 000 tejanos remained in Texas.

�Among those living, two men in San Antonio, Erasmo Seguin and Jose Antonio Navarro, would play key roles in Texas History.

�About 500 people living in La Bahia �La Bahia was renamed “Goliad” after Father Hidalgo, minus the silent “h”

New Policies Towards Texas �Miguel Ramos Arizpe wanted people to move to Texas �Why do you think he wanted more Mexicans to move to Texas?

The Search for More Texans � Texas served as a buffer, or zone of protection between Mexico and northern regions. � Afraid the U. S. and American Indians will attack.

� Officials encouraged people from other parts of Mexico to move to Texas �Thought the land was too harsh and too dangerous

�Turned to the United States for settlers. �Mexican government agreed to give land to American farmers if they bring settlers to Texas. �Referred to them as Anglos.

�The Anglos were drawn to Texas for economic reasons (rich land, cattle, ranching) �They established farms, ranches, and built ports to ship goods back to the U. S.

Moses Austin �Developed a plan to establish a colony of American families in Texas. �Met with Spanish governor, but was denied

�Met Baron de Bastrop, who agreed to help him �They both spoke to the Spanish governor. �Spring 1821, the Spanish approved of hi plan.

Stephen F. Austin �Moses Austin became ill and died and his son, Stephen F. Austin took over.

Stephen F. Austin Takes Over �Stephen F. Austin was 27 when he took over his father’s plan. �Erasmo Seguin led Austin to the Mexican governor

Empresario System �Empresario- agent who makes all arrangement to bring settlers to a colony.

�Picked rich farmland in the area of the Brazos and Colorado River Valleys �Had a mild climate, fertile soil, water, plenty of timber for building, and a lot wild game. �Located on the coast

�Each settler would receive 640 acres of land �Those who provided extra services (cotton gins) would receive extra land �Settlers would pay 12. 5 cents per acre for his services.

�Austin was careful when it came to picking settlers. �They needed to be: ◦ ◦ Hard Working Law Abiding Mexican citizen Convert to Catholic

Recruiting People �Austin went to New Orleans, Louisiana to recruit people. �Used Advertisements to attract settlers

Early Settlement of Austin’s Colony �First settlers arrived in 1821 and by 1822 150 people had settled along the Brazos and Colorado Rivers.

The Old Three Hundred �The grant allowed Austin to Bring 300 families in to Texas.

�Moses Austin made his contract with the Spanish governor, but Spain no longer ruled Mexico. �Austin needed the Mexican government’s support

�January 1823 The mexican government passed the Imperial Colonization Law �Farmers would receive 177 acres �Ranching families would receive 4, 428 acres

Early Problems in Austin’s Colony � 1. Settlers were discouraged. � 2. Drought destroyed the crops � 3. American Indians raided the colonies.

�Austin established a government and created rules to guide the colony. �Blended Mexican and U. S. laws �Population increased. eventually

�Austin is known as “The Father of Texas”

A New Constitution for Mexico �Mexico called a constitution convention �Erasmo Seguin represented Texas

�On October 24, 1824 the assembly official adopted the Federal Constitution of 1824. �Mexico became a republic ◦ A government in which people elect their leaders.

�Texas was united with the territory of Coahuila into the new state of Coahuila y Texas. �Many Texans were unhappy with the new state.

Mexico’s New Colonization Laws �Law created limits on immigration �State Colonization Law of 1825 further opened Texas to settlement and immigrants. �More people became Empresarios.

The Empresario Colonies �Green De. Witt – an American empresario who settled 166 families in the area near present-day Gonzales.

�Martin De Leon- a Mexican empresario who settled 200 Mexican families in South Texas. �Founded Victoria, Texas