Mexican Colonization and the Empresario System

1. Mexican Colonization and the Empresario System

2. Important DatesMake a Timeline • 1820– Moses Austin gets permission from Spanish authorities to colonize Texas with Americans but dies before he can complete his plans • 1821– Mexico gains independence from Spain. • 1821 – Stephen F. Austin continues his father’s dream by settling 300 families from the United States.

3. Important Dates • 1823-1825-National Colonization Laws • 1824 - Mexican Constitution of 1824 • 1825-1830 -30 Empresario contracts are signed

4. United States Spain (until 1821) and Mexico

5. People from the United States begin “eyeing” lands across the Mississippi River….which alarms SPAIN! • They fear Anglos will outnumber the Spaniards. • Anglo Americans - people whose ancestors moved from many European countries to the U.S. who share common culture/language • 1st attempt for Spain to control immigration – Immigrants had to (1) pledge loyalty to Spain and (2) become Catholic

6. Revolutionaries, Pirates, and Filibusters….Oh My! • the filibusters threatened Spanish rule! • What is a filibuster? • Spanish authorities suspected them of plotting to seize control of Texas. Many of them were executed by the Spanish.

7. Philip Nolan • A filibuster from the United States • sent to Texas with Spanish approval but Spain suspected him of plotting to claim land in Texas for the United States.

8. Gutierrez-Magee Expedition • Gutierrez (follower of Father Hidalgo) and Magee (former U.S. soldier) • organized the Republic of the north and proclaimed Texas independent of Spain but was defeated. • However, it encouraged others to free Texas and Mexico from Spanish rule

9. Galveston Pirates • Jean Lafitte and other pirates attacked Spanish ships

10. Long Expedition • Dr. James Long led a group from Mississippi to Nacogdoches in 1822where he declared Texas independent from Spain. • While looking for military support, he was captured, taken to Mexico City and executed. • Was Long a filibuster? • Why? Long’s Flag

11. Erasmo Seguin • A successful Tejano rancher • Represented Texas at the Mexican Constitutional Convention • Located land for Moses Austin’s colony • Later supported Texas independence

12. Filibusters SUCCESS – • Encouraged many Americans to move to Texas • Encouraged Mexico’s independence from Spain FAILURE – • Did not make any part of TX free from Spain

13. The Drive for Independence

14. 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 Gutierrez-Magee Expedition was defeated but it encouraged others to participate

15. Mexican Federal Constitution of 1824 • The constitution was written after Mexico became independent of Spain in 1821 • The republic took the name of the United Mexican States, and was defined as a representative federal republic, with Catholicism as the official religion. Every citizen had to be Catholic. • Created the state of Coahuila y Tejas merging the two provinces (Texas and Coahuila) However, this caused political tensions that divided the region • Texas was not organized as a state due to its small population

16. United States Mexico

17. State Colonization Law of 1825 • set up guidelines to the colonization of Coahuila y Tejas • Allowed empresarios to receive land grants in Texas • Most Texas land grants were located in east and central Texas because the Mexican officials wanted to settle areas closest to the U.S.

18. Slavery in TexasAs a result of empresariosMake a Timeline • 1821-Colonists could bring slaves to “Texas and buy land depending on the number of slave bought • 1823-The sale or purchase of slaves was forbidden in Texas and required that the children of slaves be freed by age fourteen • 1827 -The legislature of Coahuila y Tejas outlawed the introduction of additional slaves and granted freedom at birth to all children born to a slave

19. Slavery Continued • 1829- Mexico abolished Slavery, but it granted an exemption to Texas • 1830- Importation of Slaves was illegal in Texas

20. JUMP STARTIn your INB, imagine that you are a U.S. citizen. You dream of moving out West. If you decided to move, you must agree to become a Catholic citizen. Would you give up your American citizenship or stay where you are? Why? WRITE IN YOUR NOTEBOOK!

21. Stephen F. Austin (The Father of Texas) and the Empresarios

22. Towns already in Texas when Moses Austin showed up • San Antonio • Goliad • Nacogdoches • Saltillo (captial of CyT) Why didn’t Mexico have the Mexicans move into Texas? Why did they bring in Americans? • They would have been too far from Mexico City and “civilization” • The Natives were hostile… it was safer to stay home Nacogdoches San Antonio Goliad Saltillo

23. Empresarios – The Beginning A person who was in charge of dividing up Mexican land and selling it to American settlers Ok Dad… I’ll carry out your plans for settling Texas. Moses Austin (Stephen F. Austin’s Father) Stephen F. Austin • Moses Austin - The first Anglo American to get permission from Spain to bring American settlers to Texas • Lived in Missouri until a depression hit the U.S. and he lost all his money • Went to Texas to ask the Spanish government if he could have a contract to bring Americans to settle Texas • The Spanish were suspicious that Austin was really there to grab land until Baron de Bastrop convinced the Spanish officials otherwise • Then… Moses Austin died

24. How It Worked… Stephen F. Austin was the first to get his contract approved by the Spanish (and then the Mexican) government… so he was the first empresario (he was also the most successful) He founded the first large Anglo Colony in Texas Each empresario would sign a contract with the government of Mexico whereby they promised to settle a certain number of families (in Austin’s first contract he was supposed to settle 300 families) REQUIREMENTS FOR SETTLING IN TEXAS: • You had to become a citizen of your new country (Spain and then Mexico) • You had to become Catholic • You had to be of good moral character

25. Austin interviewed the settlers and chose the people he thought would be the best for a settlement. If you had an especially useful job (merchant, doctor, mill and ferry operator) you would get extra land. Each settler paid Austin $0.12 an acre

26. After securing his contract with Mexico, Austin traveled around Texas and found what he thought was the best land for settling What are some things that make land good for settling?

27. The deal that Stephen F. Austin worked out with Spanish (and then Mexican) officials included the following: • Every man who came to Austin for land would receive 640 acres for himself • 320 acres for his wife • 160 acres for each child • 80 acres for each slave • Settlers who were farmers received 177 acres. • Those who raised cattle received one sitio or 4,428 acres. • Many received BOTH.

28. JUMP START • In your INB, list 2 challenges that you think the colonists might have faced in their first year.

29. Austin’s First Colony Austin’s choice for his first colony was between the Colorado and the Brazos Rivers. Austin’s colony included a port because he knew he would need it to get settlers and supplies to the colony. Everything went mostly well until : Austin’s ship The Lively Shipwrecked and Austin lost a lot of supplies and colonists

30. Population BEFORE Empresarios: 7,000 Population AFTER Empresarios: 22,000 Towns established after the Americans came • San Felipe • Gonzales • Victoria • Refugio • Galveston • Bastrop • San Patricio • And many more… Nacogdoches San Felipe de Austin Gonzales San Antonio Goliad Saltillo

31. While you could come to Texas without the help of an empresario, most families didn’t. Why not? • Most settlers could not speak Spanish and needed the empresarios help getting the title to their land • Most of the desirable land was held by the empresarios After Austin opened the door… many more men came to Texas to make money as an empresario… these men brought hundreds of American families to Texas… Population of Texas in 1821 (When Stephen F. Austin started): 7,000 Population of Texas in 1833 (around the end of empresarios) 20,000 HOW DO YOU THINK THIS CHANGE IN POPULATION AFFECTED THE HISTORY OF TEXAS? Write your answer in your INB.

32. Major Empresario Grants Empresario Location Capital Problems Successes Stephen F. Austin (Father of Texas) Between the Colorado and Brazos Rivers San Felipe de Austin Drought Tonkawa & Karankawa Lively shipwrecked Disputes over boundaries Convinced Mexican gov’t to let him settle Father of TX – 1st to colonize Americans Settled nearly 300 families (The Old 300) Green DeWitt West of Austin’s first Colony Gonzales Native American Raids Settled 166 families 2nd in number to Austin Did a lot to promote the cattle industry in Texas Victoria important center for trade between Mexico and Texas A Mexican Empresario who settled 200 Mexican families in South Texas Martin De Leon South of DeWitt along the Guadalupe-Near the coast Victoria Native American Raids Forced to leave TX because of anti-Mexican sentiments

33. In which Region of Texas were most successful land grants located?

35. Purposes for and Methods of Settlement • Make 3 Columns in your INB Spanish Mexican Anglo Purpose 1. Secure Spanish 1. Economic opportunities 1. Economic Control in the New of large ranches and small 2. Cheap land to farm World and grow cash crops 2. Acquire Gold, Silver, 2. Increase the population of 3. Small businesses and resources Mexico 4. Increase the population of Texas 5. New start 6. Escape debt Method Created missions, presidios, 1.Empresario Grants 1. Empresariocontracts and civil settlements 2. Civil Settlements Method What They Wanted How They Did It

36. G.T.T. – “Gone to Texas” • People wrote this above their abandoned cabins to let others know where to find them.

37. Settlers came to Texas for many reasons: • Seeking adventure • Escaping problems in the U.S. • Attracted by plenty of cheap land ($1.25 vs. 12-25 cents)

38. Colonists came on horseback, covered wagons, boats, and even on foot! (Limited supplies) • Early Texas colonists were mostly from MEXICO and EUROPE by way of the U.S. • African American population grew as settlers brought slaves.Even though Mexico made slavery illegal in 1829, it was not enforced. • Mexican law did protect free African Americans….which would come back to haunt them!

39. Diet Many resources available Some brought staples w/them Very unbalanced diets due to growing seasons Corn*** Homes Land offered various materials Cabins with a central breezeway Dirt floors, later elevated due to snakes Handmade furniture Colonial Life

40. Religion/Education Had to agree or become Catholic for land grants, but very few priests in TX, so they can worship as they please No real system of education as they got started, most taught at home by parents. Colonial Life cont.

41. It wasn’t all FUN & GAMES! • DISEASE – far from doctors w/out medical training. Opted for homemade remedies. • CONFLICT WITH INDIANS – some treaties were formed but fear drove Austin to create a militia to fight off raids (Texas Rangers) • TENSIONS WITH MEXICO – related to people not giving 100% efforts to the requirements