Mexico as an Independent Nation

• Independence from Spain came in 1821 • Mexico invited Americans to settle there and

passed 3 colonization laws, offering cheap land with 10-years tax free.

Empresarios

Mexico hired empresarios as “agents” to bring these new settlers to Texas.

An empresario was a contractor, authorized to give land to people from other areas, including the Americans, to help populate Texas.

In return, the empresario was given land for his own personal use.

Stephen F. Austin

• Stephen F. Austin was an empresario who later became a hero of the Texas Revolution.

• He was very successful and founded a city, Washington-on-the-Brazos.

Tejanos

•When Stephen Austin moved to Texas, it was not a wild and empty territory.

• It was filled with Spanish-speaking inhabitants, called tejanos.

• Tejanos established large cities like San Antonio and Hidalgo.

New Settlers Laws

• New settlers to Texas had to obey certain laws imposed by the Mexican government, which was located in Mexico City.

Question

• Who was the successful empresario who founded Washington-on-the-Brazos?

SOME OF THESE LAWS WERE....

• Become a member of the Catholic Church• Swear allegiance to the Mexican

government• Understand that slavery would not be tolerated in Texas

Mexico Falls

• During this time, Mexico fell into the hands of a powerful dictator named General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who had been elected president.

• As dictator, he had absolute authority & power.

“TEXICANS”

• Americans who immigrated to Texas.• They were mostly Protestant and not

interested in becoming Catholic.• They didn’t care about learning Spanish as a

second language.• They refused to obey the no-slavery laws imposed by Mexico and brought many slaves into Texas.

Question

• In April 1834, President Santa Anna of Mexico denounced Mexico’s Constitution and placed himself into what position?

Santa Anna banned Texas settlement

• Santa Anna responded to this by stopping further settlement into Texas, which angered the new Texan citizens.

• By 1830, about 20,000 Americans had moved into Texas.

First Convention

• The first convention was held in the Texas town of San Felipe in 1832.• 1. Texans asked Mexico to reopen the territory to American immigrants.• 2. They also wanted less taxes on imported goods from foreign countries.

New Texas Government

• On March 2, 1836, Texas formed a new republic.• This government was separate from Mexico. • Texas was modeled after the United States.• And slavery was allowed.

Question

• In 1830, Mexico closed its borders to any further immigration by what group of people?

Leaders of Texas

Delegates to the constitutional convention chose the leaders of Texas.

David Burnet was elected temporary President.

Empresario Lorenzo de Zavalo was elected Vice President.

Sam Houston, a Tennessean, was head of the army of Texas.

The Revolution Begins

• The actual Texas revolution started at the Battle of Gonzales, October 1835, in which the “rebels” were victorious.

SANTA ANNA’S ARMY

• Santa Anna began to assemble a large army at a small, abandoned Catholic mission near San Antonio. It’s name was the Alamo.

• Santa Anna’s 6,000 soldiers surrounded the Alamo, which protected only about 180 Texas soldiers.

All Defenders Killed

• All 180 of the Texas soldiers at the Alamo were killed. Only a few survivors were left to tell the story of their heroic deaths.

Famous Texans who fought on March 6, 1836

Davy CrockettWilliam Travis Jim Bowie Juan Seguin Joe, Travis’

slave whose life was spared

Do not write!

Bowie

Travis

Crockett

Sequin

Goliad Execution

• Following the victory at the Alamo, Santa Anna moved his army to a town called Goliad, where he murdered over 300 Texas soldiers who had surrendered.

Texans Would Never Forget

• All over Texas, people were crying out.....• “Remember the Alamo!”• “Remember Goliad!”

Question

• What was the name of the town in which Santa Anna’s army executed 300 men?

Sam Houston

• During this time, General Sam Houston and his Texan army was avoiding confrontation with Santa Anna until he felt the moment was right to insure victory.

• That time came in the afternoon of April 21, 1836.

Battle of San Jacinto

• The Battle lasted less than 20 minutes.• Santa Anna’s army was completely

destroyed because:• It was divided• Camping at a poor site• Completely surprised by Houston’s army

Santa Anna Captured

• Santa Anna was captured the following day and signed over to General Houston the area of Mexico called Texas.

• Houston was a hero!• He was elected the first

president of Texas.

Texas Annexation

Since declaring their independence from Mexico in 1836, most Texans favored annexation, or permanently acquiring a territory, by the United States.

In 1845, the U.S. annexed the Republic of Texas and admitted it as the 28th state.