People, Places & Events - Causes of the Texas Revolution

Consultation of 1835

- Concerned Texans called for a meeting (Consultation) at Washington-on-the-Brazos to consult with each other on the issues with the Mexican government. - Texas divide into two groups War and Peace Parties. - Austin returns from Mexico City in September and announces Santa Anna is becoming a dictator and "War is our only recourse."

Stephen F. Austin

- During the time period of the causes of the Texas Revolution, Austin sides with the Mexican government during the Fredonian Rebellion. - He wanted peace for the most part during this time period (causes). - Ultimately, after his arrest, he changed viewpoints and said, "War is our only recourse!"

General Martin Perfecto de Cos

- During the time period of the causes of the Texas Revolution, he was a Mexican general in charge of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas. - He was also Santa Anna's brother-in-law.

William B. Travis

- During the time period of the causes of the Texas Revolution, he was a lawyer. - Mexican Col. John Bradburn arrested him and Patrick Jack for interfering with Bradburn's efforts to enforce laws. (The 1st conflict at Anahuac).

What was the Guerrero Decree (1829)?

Abolished slavery in Mexico; Law not enforced in Texas, but Anglos feared it might be enforced in the future. Slavery slow to grow in Texas because of Guerrero Decree.

General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

During the time period of the causes of the Texas Revolution, he was the general of the entire Mexican army; At first, he was a constitutional president and made many promises to Anglos, but as time went on he became a ruthless dictator in Mexico.

Battle of Velasco

- A skirmish that occurred in June of 1832. - It was the first true military conflict between Mexico and settlers in Texas. - It began when Texans returning from Brazoria with a cannon were stopped by Mexican Col. Ugartechea (pronounced you-gar-tech-ee-uh). - A skirmish ensued at Fort Velasco. - There was loss of life on both sides, but Ugartechea was out of ammo and surrendered.

Why did Mexican officials arrest Stephen F. Austin?

- Arrested in Saltillo for writing a letter to the delegates in Texas asking them to set up a provisional state government. - Mexican government looked unfavorably on this and he was sent back to Mexico City where he spent one year in prison before being release to house arrest. - Austin remained in Mexico City six more months and then he was released. - He sailed from Veracruz to Texas with a changed attitude towards the Mexican Government.

What happened at the Conventions of 1832 and 1833?

- At the 1832 Convention, resolutions were written that included: resuming/allowing U.S. immigration, being exempt from duties for 3 years, and allow Texas (Tejas) to become a separate state from Coahuila. - At the 1833 Convention, Texians wrote a new state constitution for the proposed new Mexican state of Tejas. - Stephen Austin traveled to Mexico City to discuss resolutions with Santa Anna the new Federalist President of Mexico.

What was the Fredonian Rebellion?

- Benjamin and Haden Edwards declare their colony independent from Mexico when they go to Old Stone Fort in Nacogdoches. - They raise a flag saying Independence, Liberty and Justice. - Revolt collapses when 200 Mexican soldiers advance to Nacogdoches.

Cause and effect of the Turtle Bayou Resolutions

- Cause: 1st conflict at Anahuac. - Effect: Santa Anna wins his revolution against Bustamante, who was Mexico's president at the time, and becomes a federalist president of Mexico; Clash at Velasco.

Cause and effect of the 2nd Conflict at Anahuac

- Cause: A merchant, Briscoe, was upset with the unfair collection of duties because they were not being collected in all ports. He tricked Mexican Captain Tenorio by loading a ship with bricks and pretended to move them without paying taxes. Tenorio arrested Briscoe. - Effect: Gen. Cos orders the arrest of Texas officials and wants them turned over for military trial. Concerned Texans called for a meeting (Consultation) to consult with each other on the issues with the Mexican government. Texas divide into two groups War and Peace Parties. Austin returns from Mexico City in September and announces Santa Anna is becoming a dictator and "War is our only recourse."

Cause and effect of the 1st Conflict at Anahuac

- Cause: Colonist complained that Mexican Colonel John Bradburn was not returning runaway slaves and his convict soldiers were stealing supplies from the colonist. Ship Captains also complained that duties were being collected unfairly because they had to dock their ship and travel long distances to pay the taxes because Mexico did not have a tax collector at all ports. - Effect: Texans write Turtle Bayou Resolutions and send John Austin to get a cannon in Brazoria. Battle of Velasco happened due to Texans sailing down the Brazos River with a cannon making them look like rebels. Mexican Commander Ugartechea would not let them pass through Velasco and shots were fired. Texas won and sailed onto Anahuac but cannon was not needed.

Cause and effect of the Mier y Teran Report

- Cause: Fredonian Revolt small incident and not supported by Texas Anglos, however Mexico thinks it is a scheme for the U.S. to acquire Texas. U.S. attempt to buy Texas to buy Texas from Mexico in 1827 and 1829. - Effect: Mexico afraid of losing Texas and increases Mexican control over Anglo settlements.

Cause and effect of the Guerrero Decree

- Cause: Mexico didn't like slavery to begin with, but they also needed to limit Anglo influence in the area. - Effect: Because Mexico didn't enforce it in Texas, many Anglos continued bringing slaves from the U.S., but the decree limited it to some degree.

Cause and effect of the Law of April 6, 1830

- Cause: Mier y Teran report recommending increased Mexican involvement in Anglo settlements. - Effect: Anglos rebel against unfair collection of taxation at Anahuac and new immigration laws.

Cause and effect of the Conventions of 1832 and 1833

- Cause: New Federalist Government in control and the promises made by Santa Anna the new president. - Effect: Santa Anna grants immigration, not statehood; Austin arrested in Saltillo.

Cause and effect of the Fredonian Rebellion

- Cause: Settlers on land due to Spanish settlements /No support from Mexico or other empresarios. - Effect: Mexican government becomes fearful of Anglo influence and send Mier y Teran to investigate.

Cause and effect of the arrest of Stephen F. Austin

- Cause: Unorganized and absent Mexican government delays approval of resolutions. Stephen F. Austin writes letter recommending organizing new state government without official approval of Texas statehood. Letter is intercepted in Saltillo and is considered treason by Mexican Government. - Effect: Santa Anna enacts some of the resolutions which caused a period of peaceful interaction. Reform started - English was recognized as official language for business transactions, immigration from U.S. started again, improved court and postal system and granted religious tolerance. Texas was also divided into 3 departments and now had three representatives in Saltillo. Almonte inspects Texas, all quiet reform should continue, recommends Austin's release; request ignored.

What was the Law of April 6, 1830?

- Ended immigration from the U.S. to Texas. - Mexicans and Europeans encouraged to move to Texas and received large land grants with supplies to get started free for one year. - Empresario contracts not completed were suspended. - Forts were built & soldiers sent to prevent smuggling, the introduction of additional enslaved people, and illegal land speculation. However Mexico used convict-soldiers to build forts and when their sentences were complete they were given land to settle and supplies needed for one year, their families received free transportation to Texas if they wished to come. - Duties (taxes) were placed on import goods to discourage trade with foreign nations.

Haden Edwards and Benjamin Edwards

- Haden Edwards received his empresarial grant to settle as many as 800 families in a broad area around Nacogdoches in eastern Texas, which wasn't a favorable area at the time. - Edwards HAS to recognize the rights of those with titles (most didn't have titles) & announced that ALL settlers must show title, move, or buy title from him. This upset many! - Benjamin Edwards (Haden's bro.) declares colony independent from Mex. and declares the area the Republic of Fredonia.

Lorenzo de Zavala

- He was a co-signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and served as the Republic's first vice president. - During the time period of the causes of the Texas Revolution, he was an ally to Santa Anna and even helped write the Mexican Constitution of 1824. - However, after Santa Anna established a centralized regime suppressing Mexican Federalism, he began to bring about the Texas Revolution.

What happened during 2nd Conflict at Anahuac?

- William B. Travis goes to Anahuac to get Briscoe released from jail. - He causes Tenorio and his soldiers to leave Texas. - This upset many Texans and they wrote an apology letter General Martin De Cos, Mexican Commander in charge of Coahuila.

What happened at the 1st Conflict at Anahuac?

- William Travis and Patrick Jack try to talk to Bradburn about issues in Anahuac, but were arrested for interfering with Bradburn's efforts to enforce Mexican tax laws. - 200 settlers went to Anahuac to get prisoners released, two small skirmishes broke out before the settlers retreated to Turtle Bayou in hopes that Travis and Jack would be released. - Colonel Piedras from Nacogdoches feared the Texans outnumbered his troops when he arrived, so he released Bradburn from command and put a Federalist commander in charge.

Mier y Teran

-During the time period of the causes of the Texas Revolution, wrote a report stating Anglo American influence was growing in East Texas. - Stated there was strong American influence and Mexico must act at once or Texas is "lost forever". - Anglo-Americans outnumber Mexicans 5 to 1.

What were the Turtle Bayou Resolutions?

-It was a list of resolutions to convince Mexico that the events at Anahuac was not a rebellion and they were defending their rights and the Constitution of 1824. - The Texans at the meeting pledged to be loyal citizens of Mexico, but were not big fans of the current Mexican government under Bustamente. - However, they support Santa Anna as Federalist President of Mexico.

What was in the Mier y Teran Report?

Urged Mexican government to place troops in Texas, encourage Mexican and European settlement and increase trade between Texas and Mexico.