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.