Unit 4 - Mexican National Era: Mexican Colonization and Empresario System
Adams-Onis Treaty
(1819) Spain gave Florida to the United States and gave up its claims to the Neutral Ground. The US gave up its claims to Texas. The treaty settled the border dispute.
Slavery In 1820's Texas
1820 - Colonists could bring slaves to Texas and buy land depending on the number of slaves they brought. Slavery was not protected by the Constitution of 1824.
Gone to Texas
A phrase used by Americans immigrating to Texas often to escape debt incurred during the Panic of 1819; Moving to Texas popular among debtors from the South to the West; you could find the phrase often written on the doors of abandoned houses.
Anglo-American Settlement
After the independence from Spain, the Mexican Government encouraged Anglo- Americans to come to Texas. Anglos came seeking cheap or free land, bringing with them their culture and lifestyle.
Texian
American resident in Texas
Anglo colonization of Texas
Anglo settlers followed empresarios with land grants. This led to a higher percentage of Americans in Texas than Mexicans in Texas. Americans helped shape the government closer to that of the United States.
State Colonization Law of 1825
Coahuila y Tejas encouraged settlement of both Mexicans and Anglo-Americans to settle and farm (agriculture) to Increase population of Texas to make it harder for other countries to take over the territory. Anglo's had to agree to take an oath to obey federal and state constitutions, practice the Catholic faith, and behave with high morals. It also included restrictions on Americans emigrating to Texas to preserve Mexican culture.
Adaptation of the Texas Environment
Early pioneer settlers would settle near fresh water sources and began to modify their environment by using the natural resources of Texas to build their homes, furniture.
Moses Austin (1820)
First Anglo American to receive permission from Spain to bring American settlers into Texas but died before he was able to accomplish that goal
Battle of Medina
Fought August 18, 1813, along the Medina River south of San Antonio between the republican forces of the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition and the Spanish royalist army. The Republican army lost miserably, Spanish gained control over the colony, but it eventually encouraged others to participate in the revolution.
Guitierrez de Lara
Gutierrez - 1812 - Organized the Republic of North Texas and help fight for the Mexican's independence from Spain
Tejano
Mexican resident in Texas
Sept. 16, 1810
Mexico begins fighting for Independence from Spain. Father Hidalgo pushed for war in his famous speech "El Grito (the cry) of Dolores." That encouraged Mexican peasants and natives to rise up and overthrow Spanish colonial government
1821
Mexico gains independence from Spain
Empresario system
Mexico hoped to populate Texas by making Americans Mexican citizens
Stephen F. Austin
Most successful Empresario who established the first Anglo-American colony in Texas known as the "Old 300". His nickname is "The Father of Texas" because he was committed to settling Texas; had a good relationship with the Mexican government
Coastal Plains
Most successful land grants in Texas were located this region
Cheap land
Motivating factor in colonist moving to Texas
Cultural Influence on Texas
People immigrating to Texas attempt to maintain their cultural heritage while adapting to larger Texas culture. i.e. language, religion, food, clothing etc.
filibusters
Philip Nolan, James Long, Augustus Magee are all considered filibusters. These people made Spain and Mexico more nervous about a U.S. invasion
Filibuster
Spain feared losing control of Texas by this group of adventurers who would engage in a private rebellious activities
empresario
Spanish word for a land agent whose job was to bring in new settlers to an area
Erasmo Seguin
Successful Tejano rancher represented Texas at the Mexican Constitutional Convention, located land for the first Austin colony, and eventually supported Texas independence
Impact of Colonization on Texas
Texas offered immigrants and Mexicans an opportunity to claim land.
freedom of religion
The Mexican Government did not support this freedom. It required settlers to practice the Catholic religion to preserve Mexican culture in Texas
The Old Three Hundred
The first Anglo families brought to Austin's colony.
Father Miguel Hidalgo
The instigator of the Mexican Fight for Independence was a priest
Missions
These were built by Spain in the 1700s as a place to convert Native Americans to Christianity and teach them how to be "Spanish".
Constitution of 1824
Took the name of United Mexican States, defined as a representative federal republic, Catholicism was protected official state religion. Written with the assistance of the American Empresario, Stephen F. Austin
James Long Expedition
Upset that Texas was not included in the Louisiana Purchase, James Long and his rebels invaded Nacogdoches and declared Texas free from Spain. He was captured and surrendered.
Land grants
large tracts of land given to empresarios for Anglo settlement of Texas
Agriculture
was the common factor for both Mexican and Anglo-American settlement in Texas.