GROWING TENSIONS
Part 3
AUSTIN’S MISSION IS STALLED
In April of 1833, Stephen F. Austin begins his
mission to take the resolutions to Mexico City.
 When he arrived, Santa Anna’s government had
not yet been organized, and no plans had been
made for Texas.
 In Mexico City, a cholera epidemic had killed
thousands of people.
 After waiting 3 months in Mexico City, Austin
became impatient from his lack of
accomplishments.
 Austin wrote the authorities in San Antonio and
encouraged them to form their own government.

AUSTIN IS IMPRISONED AND RELEASED
In November, Santa Anna finally returned to
Mexico City and agreed to some of the reforms
presented by Austin.
 Santa Anna would not agree to allow Texas
separate statehood, but agreed to repeal the law
restricting immigration from the U.S.
 Santa Anna agreed to improve the court and
postal systems.
 Austin left to return home in December of 1833.

When Austin reached Saltillo in 1834, he was
arrested for the letter that he had sent
authorities in San Antonio.
 He was taken back to Mexico City and put in
prison for 1 year.
 Local officials from various towns began to press
for Austin’s freedom.
 Austin was released on bail on Christmas in
1834, but was required to remain in Mexico City.
 Austin was given complete freedom in July of
1835, and finally made it back home to Texas on
September 1, 1835 after 2 years and 4 months.

REFORMS BEGIN IN TEXAS
Cholera and malaria spread throughout Texas
and Mexico, killing many people.
 1834 was better in Texas.
 The reforms promised by Santa Anna had begun,
including:
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Recognizing English as an official language for
transactions.
Allowing immigration from the U.S.
Improving the court system.
Increasing the number of Texas representatives in
the state legislature.
Granting religious tolerance.
During Austin’s imprisonment, the Mexican
government sent Colonel Juan Almonte on an
inspection tour of Texas.
 Almonte reported that all was quiet in Texas and
to continue with the reforms.

TROUBLE ERUPTS AGAIN
In early 1835, trouble broke out again between
Texas and Mexico in Anahuac.
 Captain Antonio Tenorio was the commander of
the garrison at Anahuac.
 Local Anahuac residents, led by Andrew Briscoe,
quarreled with Tenorio over the customs duties.
 They argued that these taxes were not charged at
other ports and refused to pay them until the law
was enforced equally.
 Tenorio arrested Briscoe.

Briscoe’s arrest caused resentment among the
colonists.
 A group led by William B. Travis went to
Anahuac and forced Tenorio to surrender and
leave Texas.
 Several Texas towns adopted resolutions
assuring their loyalty to Mexico.
 Local San Felipe leaders wrote a letter of apology
to General Martin Perfecto de Cos, commander of
the Mexican forces in Coahuila.

COS REJECTS THE APOLOGY
General Cos demanded that Texas officials arrest
those involved in the disturbances and be turned
over to the military for trial.
 Santa Anna was no longer a Federalist; he had
become a Centralist.
 Cos also ordered the arrest of a distinguished
Mexican politician, Lorenzo de Zavala, who had
helped frame the Constitution of 1824.
 Cos announced that he was taking a group of
soldiers to Texas to arrest those he considered
disloyal.

TEXANS CALL FOR A CONSULTATION
Texans were concerned because they were not
willing to turn their friends over to the Mexican
government.
 On August 15, 1835, the town of Columbia issued
a call for a convention to discuss the situation.
 The meeting held on October 15, 1835 at
Washington-on-the-Brazos became known as the
Consultation.
 One group, known as the Peace Party, felt that
the Consultation would only cause more
problems.

Another group, known as the War Party, favored
the Consultation and was led by settlers who had
been disappointed when the Mexican government
stopped issuing land grants in Texas.
 Leaders like William H. Wharton and William B.
Travis favored an immediate declaration of
independence from Mexico, even if it meant war.
 The invitation for the Consultation noted that
the delegates should work for a peaceful solution.
 Stephen F. Austin approved of the Consultation
because he was convinced that Santa Anna had
become a dictator.
 Austin believed the time had come for the
colonists to unite and act together for change.
