THE HISPANIC SOUTHWEST

MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE

After 10+ years of fighting Mexico won independence from Spain

However, in the following years Mexico experienced political chaos

MAP OF NORTH AMERICA AFTER MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE

NORTHERN TERRITORIES

The far Northern territories of California, New Mexico, and Texas were part of Mexico however, these areas experienced a great deal of political independence…..why?....

THINKING CRITICALLY

Explore the map on the next page Note the location of New Mexico,

California, and Texas Locate the capital Mexico city

Why did these areas of Texas, New Mexico, and California experience a lot of political independence at this time from Mexico?

ANSWER

These areas were located about 1,000 miles from Mexico City making them geographically removed from the government in Mexico

THE NORTHERN TERRITORIES (NM, CA, TX)

Not very populated Native Americans and Hispanic settlers

Mexican Frontier as it was called was threatened in several ways: Settlements in NM and Texas faced Apache,

Comanche, and other Native American attacks

Westward expansion from the U.S.A. Southward expansion from Russians (1780’s

Russia began Colonizing Alaska)

Russian threat to Mexico’s Northern Territories of southward expansion

U.S. threat of westward expansion

SPANISH MISSIONS

The Spanish expanded the territory of New Spain by establishing missions on the northern frontier

Purpose of these state-financed (?) missions was to spread Christianity and Spanish culture to Native Americans

MISSION’S CONTROL

Missions controlled a lot of land These lands contained:

Grazed cattle Sheep Horses

Native Americans tended to these animals and did other work at the missions “under conditions of near slavery”

INFOGRAPHIC PAGE 261

MISSION’S DECLINE

By 1800’s mission system was in decline Little financial support during the struggle for

independence Many Mexicans believed that state –sponsored

religious institutions was inappropriate for a republic

1834-Mexico’s government secularized –transferred power from religious to civil (government)control

Land then went to private owners

The goal of the reformers was to divide mission lands up and give them to Native Americans

However, most lands ended up in the hands of cattle ranchers who relied on Native Americans for labor

FORTS

Frontier presidios (forts) became weak due to labor shortages & reduced funding

This left frontier settlers vulnerable to attack

CALIFORNIA

Secularization of the missions- freed up land for cattle ranching, which became the main money maker

Rancheros or ranchers- owned a lot of land These white Spanish “Dons” and their

families made up 10% of California’s population

However, they controlled California society

MIDDLE CLASS

Beneath these Elites was a class of mestizos

Mestizo- persons of mixed European and Native American ancestry

Some were “vaqueros” (cowboys) Many were skilled craftspeople

THE NATIVE AMERICANS

At the bottom of society Suffered high mortality rates under the

Spanish rule Often exploited by the new class of

rancheros Many escaped to live on the edges of

California’s frontier to live with independent Native Americans

MEN’S ROLE

In California men played a powerful role in the family

Only men could vote or hold elective office

WOMEN’S ROLE

Women, especially upper-class women had some rights and privileges as well

Unlike American women of the era, Hispanic women retained control over their own property after marriage and could seek legal redress from the courts

NEW MEXICO

New Mexico included present day Arizona

Did not change much immediately after Mexico’s independence Remained rural Sheep ranching thrived in dry climate

NEW MEXICO ATTACKED

1820’s Navajo and Apache launched a series of attacks on New Mexico

The Mexican Government was unable to provide protection

This continued a growing dissatisfaction with the national government

1837, Pueblo people and hispanic settlers North of Santa Fe rebelled Killed the unpopular territorial governor 16 other government officials killed

AMERICAN INFLUENCE

After Mexican independence American influence in these territories increased Immigration increased Trade increased

Traders from U.S., Russia and other countries arrived in California ports to exchange manufactured goods for sea otter skins and hides and tallow (?) derived from cattle

TALLOW- A HARD FATTY SUBSTANCE MADE FROM RENDERED ANIMAL FAT, USED IN MAKING CANDLES AND SOAP

SETTLERS

Governor of CA Juan Bautista Alvarado - hoping to attract settlers granted 50,000

acres to John Sutter (A German Immigrant) Sutter built a trading post and cattle ranch

Sutter’s Fort More settlers arrived- differences between

CA and Mexico increased Tension between Mexican National

government and territorial governments Still only 700 Americans at this time (1845)

SANTA FE TRAIL

William Becknell opened this trail Connected Independence , Missouri to

Santa FeAmerican Manufactured goods in exchange silver, mules, and furs

TEXAS

Buffer zone between Mexico and the U.S.

Texas Sparsely (lightly) populated Settlers faced recurring raids from

Comanche and Apache Native Americans

Most of the 2,500 Spanish speaking Tejanos in towns like San Antonio and Goliad

Americans began to flood the territory

REVOLT

Decision by Mexican government to allow Americans to settle their ultimately led to revolt against Mexican rule

Independence for Texas New Mexico and California remained

Mexican territory for 25 years Texas where Americans soon

outnumbered Tejanos broke away after 15 years

INDEPENDENCE FOR TEXAS

Unable to persuade its own citizens to settle their

Mexico continued policy of letting foreigners settle there

1823-1825 Mexico passed three colonization laws –offered cheap land to anyone who came to Texas

Last law gave a 10 year tax exemption but required foreigners to become Mexican citizens,

abide by Mexican law, and convert to Roman Catholicism

EMPRESARIOS & SETTLERS

Empresarios- “agents” &“contractors” National Colonization Act-Mexico gave

26 empresarios large amounts of Texas land In exchange emprasarios promised to fill

the land with a certain number of settlers Empresarios governed these colonies they

established

STEPHEN AUSTIN

Most successful empresario Founded the town Washington-on-the-

Brazos By mid1830’s persuaded 1,500 American

families to immigrate

AMERICANIZING TEXAS

Americans accepted Mexican citizenship at first

However, the Mexican government thought American citizens would adopt Mexican customs and see Mexico as their country –but few did

Many Mexicans distrusted the settlers because of this

BENJAMIN EDWARDS

Brother of empresario Haden Edwards led a rebellion against Mexican authority Disputed regional control over who

controlled the region Mexico or the mepresarios

Edwards declared that the settlements of Americans in Texas now constituted the independent nation of Fredonia

The rebellion dispersed when Mexican troops threatened however

MEXICO’S REACTION

Most settlers ignored Edward’s call for rebellion

However, Mexican government feared it signaled an American plot to acquire Texas Closed their borders to further American

immigration and banned importing slave labor

Also taxed goods on imports from foreign countries

Hoping to discourage trade with the U.S.

SETTLER’S REACTION

Furious! Mexican government making rules for

them Making goods more expensive Saw no need to obey a government they

hardly considered their own

TEXAS GOES TO WAR

Tensions existing- settlers met at 2 conventions in town of San Felipe 1832 & 1833

At first convention settlers chose Stephen Austin convention’s president

1st convention asked Mexico to reopen its borders to American immigrants and loosen taxes on imports

2nd convention recommended separating Texas from Coahuila and creating a new Mexican state

CAUSES OF WAR

Convention sent Stephen Austin to negotiate with the Mexican Government Visited Mexican president Antonio Lopez de

Santa Anna got him to agree to some demands

While returning home he was arrested Taken to Mexico city jailed for treason

President Santa Anna denounced Mexico’s constitution and declared himself Dictator

Austin urged Texans to organize army and they did

EARLY BATTLES

Mexican army serious problems Political instability in Mexico denied the army

sound leadership, training and support Texan army first victory –Mexican force

demanded surrender but had no authority to attack so they retreated rebels (Texans) followed and attacked (Decmeber 1835)

March 2, 1836 Texas declared independence drafted a new constitution derived from U.S. and protected slavery

THE ALAMO

Former governor of Tennessee Sam Houston became Texans military leader

Meantime Santa Anna organized 6,000 men to crush rebels

When Santa Anna’s forced got to San Antonio they found 180+ Texas rebels holed up in an abandoned Catholic mission called the “Alamo” Under command of William B. Travis small force

wanted to delay Santa Anna’s army so Houston’s army could prepare

Called for reinforcements

SAM HOUSTON

WILLIAM B. TRAVIS

ALAMO

Call went largely unanswered- only 32 settlers came from Gonzales

Texans held off Santa Anna’s men for 13 days This was when Texas government official

declared independence (March 6, 1836) When Santa Anna’s men stormed the Alamo

they still fought them off for 6 hours killing 600 of Anna’s men before being overrun

Defenders of the Alamo bought Houston’s men nearly 2 weeks