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.