Fredonian Rebellion
The third attempt at independence from Mexico was known has the Fredonian
Rebellion led by Haden Edwards. Mexico gave Edwards a contract to settle 800
families in the Nacogdoches area. When he arrived in the area, he found that the land
was already settled by Native Americans (Caddos) and Mexican descendants who had
been there several generations. Problems with the Mexican government arose over
conflicting claims over the land. Edwards, like other empresarios, was required to
honor any land grants previously given to a settler. Edwards posted notices stating that
people who held land grants should come forward with proof of ownership. Many of
these settlers did not have this proof and were angered by Edwards demands. Settlers
were also angered by Edwards demand that any settlers that could not prove ownership
of their lands would be asked to leave. These events even alarmed Stephen F. Austin,
who wrote a letter of warning to Edwards. The Mexican officials sided with the settlers.
Another problem arose when Edwards reversed an election of the alcalde (mayor) of
Nacogdoches. Most of the settlers voted for Samuel Norris, a resident since 1820.
Edwards decided that his son-in-law, Chester Chaplin had won. Edwards actions
stirred even more complaints. Governor Blanco had enough of Edwards and issued
and order that took away his land grant and ordered Edwards and his family to leave.
These tensions in Texas finally resulted in the clash between the Texas colonists and
the Mexican government. Edwards and his men gathered in the Stone Fort and
declared themselves Fredonians (freedom seekers). On December 16, 1826 the rebels
rode into Nacogdoches and raised a flag of independence (reported to be red and white
and having the words “Independence, Liberty and Justice” written on it). The group
took over a building known as the Old Stone Fort, removed the alcalde, and declared it
the capitol of Fredonia. On December 21, 1826, Edwards signed a document declaring
the Republic of Fredonia, which would comprise land from the Sabine River to the Rio
Grande. The conflict ended quickly in January of 1827 when the Fredonians
surrendered before the Mexican forces and Stephen F. Austin’s militia. Although this
was a minor event, it attracted a lot attention in the U. S. newspapers, and caused the
Mexican government to become even more concerned about what was happening in
Texas.
LAW OF APRIL 6, 1830
After the Fredonian fiasco, Mexico sent General Mier y Teran to investigate the
situation in east Texas. As Mier y Teran traveled through Texas, he discovered that as
he traveled further east Texas became more American and less Mexican. The Law of
April 6, 1830, was initiated by Lucas Alamán y Escalada, Mexican minister of foreign
relations, and was designed to stop the flood of immigration from the United States to
Texas. The law came as a result of the warning and reports of Manuel de Mier y Terán,
who made fourteen recommendations directed toward encouraging countercolonization of Texas by Mexicans and Europeans, stopping immigration from the U.
S., encouraging military occupation, and encouraging coastal trade (between Tejas and
Mexico).
The law, reasonable from the Mexican point of view, authorized loans to finance the
cost of transporting colonists to Texas, opened the coastal trade to foreigners for four
years (not including the U. S.), provided for a federal official of colonization to
supervise empresario contracts, outlawed the further introduction of slaves into
Mexico, and suspended existing empresario contracts. Article 11, the one most
objectionable from the Texan viewpoint, was intended to prohibit or limit immigration
from the United States. Texas colonists were greatly disturbed by news of the law, as
many settlers still had families in the U. S. that were coming to Texas.
Austin, however, secured exemption from the operation of the law for his contract and
for that of Green DeWitt, but the measure shook his belief in the good will of the
Mexican government. Application of the law slowed immigration, voided contracts that
had been awarded but not carried toward fulfillment, and suspended two active
enterprises: the Nashville or Robertson's colony and the Galveston Bay and Texas Land
Company.
ANAHUAC DISTURBANCE
Mexican Colonel Juan Davis Bradburn and 40 officers and men landed at the bluff
overlooking the mouth of the Trinity, called Perry's Point, on October 26, 1830, with
orders to establish a garrison (military base) and a town. The garrison was chosen to
prevent smuggling on the Trinity and San Jacinto rivers. It also assisted the tax
collector to collect national tariffs (taxes) and prevent smuggling. Bradburn was also
charged with preventing the entrance of immigrants from the United States in accord
with the recently passed Law of April 6, 1830, which was designed to encourage
Mexican and European settlement of Texas and to restrict Anglo-American settlement
(U.S. settlement).
The first trouble for Bradburn came in January 1831, when a state-appointed land
commissioner, José Francisco Madero, arrived to issue titles to those residents of the
lower Trinity who had settled prior to 1828. Although both the state and national
governments had previously approved granting titles, Bradburn believed that the Law
of April 6, 1830, had annulled the earlier grants. Bradburn arrested Madero, but he was
soon released by the state authorities.
Further trouble stemmed from Anglo-American hatred against Bradburn and his
troops. Bradburn had permitted two or three runaway slaves from Louisiana into his
garrison. Mexico allowed no slavery but had allowed Austin's colonists to bring blacks
in as indentured servants. A slave catcher arrived but was unsuccessful in his efforts to
recover the Louisiana runaways. He hired William B. Travis to attempt to recover the
escaped slaves. Bradburn briefly imprisoned Jack for starting a militia. Later Travis
decided to trick Bradburn into releasing the runaway slaves. Travis, wrapped in a
concealing cloak, delivered a note allegedly from a friend of the commander warning
that a force of Louisianans was on the march to recover the fugitives he was harboring.
When Bradburn realized that he had been given false information, Bradburn arrested
Jack and Travis; because the jail was not adequately secure he placed them in an empty
brick kiln. A group of men decided to rescue the two men. On their way, they captured
Bradburn's entire cavalry force of nineteen men and held them hostage, planning to
exchange them for Travis and Jack and a couple of others Bradburn had arrested.
Several skirmishes followed at Turtle Bayou.
The matter was resolved when Col. Piedras, Bradburn's immediate superior, arrived
from Nacogdoches and, thinking he was outnumbered, bowed to the wishes of the
insurgents. He removed Bradburn, reinstalled the ayuntamiento (Mexican
government) at Liberty, and turned over the Anglo-American prisoners to this body.
Stephen F. Austin's Trip to Mexico City
Settlers were upset by many of the Mexican government’s actions. They held several
Convention and Stephen F. Austin was sent by the Anglo settlers to talk to the Mexican
government about the Law of April 6, 1830. He reached the capitol in time to see it the
scene of confusion and intrigue. His stay in Mexico was lengthy and greatly prolonged
by political events.
Mexico’s government was in turmoil and deeply in debt. To lighten the public burden,
the army was reduced and a part of the profits of the church were taken. The church
was thereupon aroused, and, uniting with those opposed to the federal form of
government, poured in their requests for the cancelation of these laws. Santa Anna
determined in his mind to abandon the Republican Party, overturn the constitution,
and establish an absolute government.
Stephen F. Austin Arrested in Mexico
While Santa Anna was thus fanning the flame of a civil war, Austin was attempting to
petition the government about the Law of April 6. To add to the confusion within the
capitol, cholera broke out. Austin had begun to lose hope and wrote a letter to the
government in Bexar. His letter recommended that all the towns of Texas should unite
in organizing a new state within Mexico and prepare for the Mexican government to
keep the Law of April 6. He further advised them that, if they did not take matters into
their own hands, Texas was ruined forever.
Austin's mission to Mexico was eventually successful. He persuaded the government to
repeal the immigration ban and to agree to consider reforms in the administration of
Texas. He started home in December 1833, only to be arrested on the journey and
brought back to Mexico City. Austin, who had spent the last decade counseling
moderation, was considered a suspect in trying to incite insurrection in Texas. He was
held without charges in a Mexican prison for almost a year, but never brought to trial.
In December 1834, Austin was finally freed on bond but forbidden to leave the city.
Finally, he took his leave under a general pardon, and finally made his way back to
Texas in August 1835.
 All students must create an illustrated timeline
representing all four causes
Directions: Also, pick one task from EACH section to complete. Each person in the
group must do an activity.
Fredonian Rebellion
1. Write a newspaper story which would appear in a U. S. newspaper describing what
was taking place in the Edwards colony (1 page).
2. Write a newspaper story which would appear in a Mexican newspaper describing
what was taking place in the Edwards colony (1 page).
3. Write a letter from Stephen F. Austin to Haden Edwards condemning his rebellion
and possible consequences (1 page).
4. Respectfully write a letter from Haden Edwards to Stephen F. Austin requesting
assistance in his rebellion (1 page).
Law of April 6, 1830
1. Design a protest poster showing how the Texans felt about the Law of April 6, 1830
2. Design a commercial from the Mexican View Point advertising the Law of April 6,
1830.
3. Create a political cartoon illustrating one of the recommendations General Mier y
Teran made to the Mexican government.
Affair at Anahuac
1. Write a summary (own words) about the problems at Anahuac (3/4 of a page)
2. Write a debate between Travis and Bradburn over the problems at Anahuac (1 page –
front and back)
Arrest of Stephen F. Austin
1. Create a wanted poster of Stephen F. Austin detailing his crimes against Mexico.
2. Create a wanted poster of Santa Anna detailing his crimes against Tejas.