Ch. 9 Part 1Ch. 9 Part 1

American colonists in American colonists in Texas had to adapt to a Texas had to adapt to a different culture and different culture and government in Mexican government in Mexican Texas.Texas.

Many refused to adapt. Many refused to adapt. They wanted to live like They wanted to live like they had in the U.S. So they had in the U.S. So they started their own they started their own churches, newspapers, churches, newspapers, and schoolsand schools

American Settlers in a Mexican American Settlers in a Mexican NationNation

Protestant church were common in the American colonies

In 1825 Haden Edwards In 1825 Haden Edwards received an empresario received an empresario grant in east Texas near the grant in east Texas near the U.S. border. (Louisiana)U.S. border. (Louisiana)

He found that there were He found that there were many people already living many people already living on the land including on the land including squatters.squatters.

Haden EdwardsHaden Edwards

A squatter is A squatter is someone who someone who settles on land settles on land without title or the without title or the right to do so. right to do so.

Edwards was angry about the people on Edwards was angry about the people on the land his grants claimed.the land his grants claimed.

He posted notices saying that people He posted notices saying that people need to produce legal documents for need to produce legal documents for their land or they had to leave. They their land or they had to leave. They could stay on their land if they paid could stay on their land if they paid Edwards a fee.Edwards a fee.

S.F. Austin wrote Edwards: “You despise S.F. Austin wrote Edwards: “You despise the class of people who were now the class of people who were now settlers in the country, and only wanted settlers in the country, and only wanted rich men, and would drive away the poor rich men, and would drive away the poor devils who has been the first to settle, devils who has been the first to settle, unless they paid your price”unless they paid your price”

Some settlers who Some settlers who had lived there for had lived there for years had no years had no documents and could documents and could not afford to pay not afford to pay Edwards.Edwards.

The settlers wrote the The settlers wrote the Mexican government Mexican government and were told they and were told they could stay on the could stay on the land.land.

Edwards, as empresario of the area, Edwards, as empresario of the area, also got involved with a disputed also got involved with a disputed election for alcalde in Nacogdoches.election for alcalde in Nacogdoches.

Samuel Norris won the election but Samuel Norris won the election but Edward’s son-in-law, a Mr. Chaplin Edward’s son-in-law, a Mr. Chaplin claimed the office as well.claimed the office as well.

Edwards overturned the election and Edwards overturned the election and put his son-in-law in the position. put his son-in-law in the position.

Mexican Governor Blanco reversed the Mexican Governor Blanco reversed the election decision and took away Edward’s election decision and took away Edward’s land grant.land grant.

Edwards was furious and complained he Edwards was furious and complained he lost $50,000 on this land grant.lost $50,000 on this land grant.

In December of 1826 Edwards, angry at the Mexican In December of 1826 Edwards, angry at the Mexican Government for taking away their land grants, Government for taking away their land grants, recruited some soldiers and captured the Old Stone recruited some soldiers and captured the Old Stone Fort in Nacogdoches.Fort in Nacogdoches.

They claimed Nacogdoches and the surrounding They claimed Nacogdoches and the surrounding area was independent and was now a new country, area was independent and was now a new country, The Republic of Fredonia.The Republic of Fredonia.

The Republic of Fredonia Flag The Old Stone Fort in Nacogdoches

Stephen F. Austin was upset Stephen F. Austin was upset by Edwards’ actions. by Edwards’ actions.

He wrote Edwards and He wrote Edwards and criticized him for his actions criticized him for his actions ““The affair will be highly The affair will be highly injuriousinjurious (hurtful) (hurtful) to the future to the future prospects of emigration, and prospects of emigration, and of general detriment of general detriment (damage) (damage) to the whole country. The to the whole country. The subject has caused me great subject has caused me great unhappiness” 1826unhappiness” 1826

In early 1827 In early 1827 Mexican soldiers and Mexican soldiers and militia from Austin’s militia from Austin’s Colony arrived and Colony arrived and Edwards gave up and Edwards gave up and fled to Louisiana.fled to Louisiana.

This confirmed the This confirmed the fear of Mexican fear of Mexican officials that officials that Americans were Americans were trying to take Texas.trying to take Texas.

The same year as the The same year as the Fredonian Rebellion in 1826, Fredonian Rebellion in 1826, President John Quincy Adams President John Quincy Adams of the United States offered to of the United States offered to buy Texas for $1 million.buy Texas for $1 million.

Mexico was offended that Mexico was offended that anyone would think they would anyone would think they would want to sell part of their own want to sell part of their own country and was now very country and was now very concerned about losing Texas concerned about losing Texas to the US.to the US.

President John Quincy Adams

The Mier y Teran ReportThe Mier y Teran ReportIn 1828, Mexico sent General In 1828, Mexico sent General Manuel Mier y Teran to Manuel Mier y Teran to Texas to investigate the Texas to investigate the state.state.

When he returned to Mexico When he returned to Mexico he said there were too many he said there were too many Americans in Texas. He said Americans in Texas. He said that Texas was more like the that Texas was more like the US than Mexico.US than Mexico.

Finally he said if something Finally he said if something was not done that Mexico was not done that Mexico would lose Texas.would lose Texas. Manuel Mier y Teran