tension with mexico 1823-1833. tension when the federalists held power in mexico city, the texas...
TRANSCRIPT
TENSION
When the Federalists held power in Mexico City,
the Texas colonists were able to live undisturbed.• Created their own schools• Newspapers• Brought in slaves
When the Centralists came to power in 1829, they
put an end to the independent decision making of
the Texans.
EAST TEXAS
1826, first clash between colonists and Mexican
authorities.
Haden Edwards• Permitted to settle 800 families in the Nacogdoches area• Found families already living there with no title• Edwards allowed the families to get a title for their land
through him or move• The families took their case to Mexican authorities who
sympathized with them• Edwards is told he can not charge them for new land titles
REPUBLIC OF FREDONIA
Benjamin Edwards• Brother to Haden Edwards• Believed the only hope for solving the problem was
to declare the colony independent from Mexico.
With about 25 men, B. Edwards captured the fort
in Nacogdoches.• Raised a red and white flag bearing the words
“Independence,” “Liberty,” and “Justice.”
The brothers asked Austin to help their rebellion.
He refused.• Austin offered the Mexican government assistance
in putting down the rebellion.
When Mexican troops approached Nacogdoches in
January 1827, the Fredonian Revolt collapsed and
most of the rebels fled across the Sabine River into
the United States
MIER Y TERAN INVESTIGATION
Although most colonists refused to support the
Fredonian Rebellion, Mexican authorities were worried it
was part of an American scheme to acquire Texas.
U.S. Ambassador Anthony Butler proposed that Mexico
sell Texas to the United States.• This only reinforced Mexican suspicions
The Mexican government sent General Manuel de Mier y
Teran to investigate Texas.
Mier y Teran observed that Anglos outnumbered
Mexican settlers 5:1 in East Texas.
Concerned, he recommended that if the Mexican
government did not act at once, Texas would be “lost
forever.”
THE LAW OF APRIL 6, 1830
Stopped all immigration from the United States.
Suspended empresario contracts that had not been
completed.
Encouraged immigration of Mexican and European
families to Texas.
Set up new forts.
Placed taxes called “customs duties” on many goods made
in foreign nations.
ANAHUAC
First major conflict.
Port town, site of a small Mexican garrison
established to control commerce into Mexico.• Commanded by John Davis Bradburn
• Believed in strict enforcement of all Mexican laws• Argued with settlers who accused him of taking
supplies, refusing to give up runaway slaves, and customs duties
May 1832, Bradburn arrested and imprisoned two lawyers,
William B. Travis and Patrick C. Jack, for interfering in his efforts
to enforce the laws.
160 settlers marched to Anahuac, demanding Travis’s and
Jack’s release.
A small skirmish broke out between the settlers and Mexican
soldiers.
The settlers made camp at Turtle Bayou.• Some went to Brazoria to get a cannon
TURTLE BAYOU RESOLUTIONS
June 13, 1832
Denied the rebellion was against Mexican
authority
The colonists insisted that they were supporting
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.• Was leading a revolt in Mexico against the Centralist
party in power• Had promised to favor a Texan-favored constitution
The soldiers at Anhuac declared support for Santa
Anna and joined his forces in Mexico.
Bradburn resigned and left Texas.
Travis and Jack released.
BATTLE OF VELASCO
June 26, 1832
John Austin’s gropu had picked up a cannon at
Brazoria.
Mexican soldiers would not let them pass when the
settlers reached the town of Velasco.
Mexican soldiers surrendered when they ran out of
ammunition.
CONVENTION OF 1832
Texans called a convention to discuss changes
needed in Texas.• 58 delegates assembled in San Felipe on October 1,
1832• Stephen F. Austin was elected president of the
convention• Things they wanted:
• Texas to become a separate Mexican state• Immigration from the U.S. be allowed• Exemption from certain customs duties• Improved educational facilities• Better protection from Native Americans• Land titles for settlers in East Texas
CONVENTION OF 1833
The resolutions agreed upon the previous year were never
presented to the Mexican government.
Sam Houston attended the Convention of 1833.
The convention proposed the same resolution as the year
before.
Drafted a constitution for the proposed Mexican state of Texas.
Stephen F. Austin chosen to deliver the resolutions and
constitution to Mexico City.
AUSTIN STALLED
July 1833, Santa Anna was not in Mexico City when Austin arrived.• Santa Anna had just taken over as President of Mexico and his government was
not yet well organized• Cholera epidemic
Austin writes a letter to authorities in San Antonio encouraging Texans to form
their own government.
November 1833, the situation in Mexico City seemed more hopeful and Santa
Anna had returned.
Santa Anna did not grant Texas statehood, but did repeal the law restricting
U.S. immigration.• Also agreed to improve the court and postal system
Austin left the capital on December 10, 1833.
AUSTIN IMPRISONED
January 1834, Austin reaches the city of Saltillo.
Austin is arrested because of the letter he wrote the previous November.• Taken back to Mexico City under guard
Austin remained in prison for one year.
Christmas Day, 1834 – Mexican authorities release Austin, but require
him to stay in Mexico City and wait for a final decision on his case.
July 11, 1835 – Austin was given his complete freedom.
September 1, 1835 – Austin lands in Texas• Austin had been away from his colony for two years and four months