Stephen F. Austin & the Empresarios of Texas

People came to Texas

- to make a better life - inexpensive land - religious freedom (to an extent)

Spain

In 1821, Mexico gained independence from ______________, and Austin negotiated a contract with the new Mexican government that allowed him to lead some 300 families to the Brazos River.

Austin's Colony

Between the Colorado and Brazos Rivers; 1st contract, he was suppose to settle 300 families called the Old 300.

Requirements for settling in Texas

Catholic, Mexican citizen, good moral character

empresario

a person who was in charge of dividing up Mexican land and selling it to American settlers for the Mexcian government (in Texas during the 1800s)

Empresario

To settle Texas, Mexico gave land to ________________________, so they could do the following: Attracted American settlers, who eagerly bought cheap land in return for a pledge to obey Mexican laws and observe the official religion of Roman Catholicism.

Spanish missions

churches set up by the Spanish in hopes of converting Native Americans to Christianity. The 1st European settlements in Texas.

Population of Texas in 1833

22,000

Population of Texas in 1821

7,000 (when Stephen F. Austin started his settlements)

Empresario System

Each empresario would sign a CONTRACT with the Mexican government whereby they promised to SETTLE a certain number of families.

Moses Austin

First America to receive Spanish land grant in Mexico, later Texas. He died and passed land to his son.

The Old Three Hundred

Stephen Austin's first group of settlers

The Father of Texas

Stephen F. Austin is commonly referred to by this title for settling Texas with families.

Stephen F. Austin

The first man to bring Anglo settlers to Texas. Father of Texas because he was the 1st to get his contract approved by the MEXICAN government. He was the 1st successful Empresario.