Unit 5: Mexican National
Section Four Notes – The Road to
Revolution
Mexican Federal Constitution of 1824
Mexico gained its independence from Spain in
1821 and became a republic in 1822, but it took
a little while for the government to become
official and stable. In 1824, the Mexican
government established a republic with the
writing of the Mexican Federal Constitution. The
country was then called the United Mexican
States.
With the Constitution of 1824…
People were elected to represent citizens in the
government, and the official religion of the
country was Catholicism. Like the U.S.
Constitution, it gave some power to the federal
government and most of the power to the
states. This is known as federalism.
U.S. Constitution vs. Mexican
Constitution of 1824
Similarities
• Both created federalist
governments, with most of
the power going to the
states.
• Both created 3 branches of
government.
• A president would serve as
the head of the
government.
Differences
• Mexico’s law makers, not
their citizens, elected the
president.
• There was no separation of
church and state in the new
Mexican government.
• No freedom of religion –
Roman Catholicism was the
official religion of Mexico.
Constitution of 1824
PROS
CONS
Merger of Texas and Coahuila
Once the Constitution of 1824 was passed, the
government created states. The provinces of
Texas and Coahuila were merged to create
Coahuila y Tejas. Texas was not organized as its
own state because the Texas population was too
small.
Colonization Problems
The Mexican government gave contracts to
empresarios in order to colonize Texas, but
this sometimes led to problems. Often, the
contracts would include land that was already
lived on by Mexican families, Indians, or other
U.S. citizens. These kinds of disputes led to
small disagreements and larger problems
throughout Texas.
Haden Edwards
The Fredonian Rebellion began with a dispute
over land. Haden Edwards was an empresario
who had been given permission to settle 800
families in East Texas, but when he arrived,
the land was already settled on. Many of the
settlers could not prove that the land was
theirs, so Edwards demanded that they pay
him. When they refused, Edwards complained
to the governor who sided with the settlers.
The Fredonian Rebellion
In October of 1826, the Mexican government
cancelled Edward’s contract, and Haden’s brother,
Benjamin, took action. Benjamin and a group of
Texas settlers took up arms and claimed a section
of East Texas as an independent nation called
Fredonia. They even wrote a declaration of
independence. In January of 1827, Mexican
troops marched to put down the rebellion, and
most of the rioters fled. Some were captured and
later released after Stephen F. Austin spoke on
their behalf.
Results of the Fredonian Rebellion
Though it was one incident, this made the
Mexican government worry about other U.S.
citizens in Texas. They were afraid that the
U.S. would attempt to take Texas from them.
The Mexican government soon began to limit
the amount of trade allowed between people
in Texas and the people in the U.S. They also
encouraged more Europeans and Mexicans to
settle in Texas so that it wouldn’t be
completely made up of former U.S. citizens.
Slavery and the Law of April 6, 1830
Texans did not always agree with the laws in
Mexico. Many still felt like U.S. citizens and
these Texans in power often created a mixture
of U.S. and Mexican law in Texas. Slavery soon
became an issue that was difficult to work
around.
Slavery Laws
• In 1821, colonists were allowed to bring slaves
with them into Texas. They even received more
land for having them!
• In 1823, the sale or purchase of slaves became
illegal. The children of slaves were required to be
set free at the age of 14. Mexico also offered full
citizenship to free blacks, including the right to
own land.
• By 1827, the state of Coahuila y Tejas outlawed
the introduction of additional slaves and granted
freedom at birth to all children born to a slave.
• In 1829, Mexico abolished slavery, but it granted
an exception to Texas.
Law of April 6, 1830
It was the Mexican President, Vincente
Guerrero, who issued a decree outlawing slavery
in Mexico in 1829. Then the Law of April 6, 1830
banned U.S. immigration to Texas and made it
illegal for more slaves to be brought into Texas.
It also taxed goods coming into Texas from the
United States.
Possible Problems with the Law of
April 6, 1830
Conflict at Anahuac
• The Mexican government
sent troops to Anahuac to
enforce the Law of April
6, 1830.
• Many Texans refused to
pay the tax on goods, and
one disagreement led to
the wounding of a soldier.
Austin smoothed over the
incident, but many in
Texas and Mexico were
still angered.
Federalism vs. Centralism
Mexico soon had a new president, President
Anastacio Bustamante. He had taken complete
control of the government by ignoring the
Constitution of 1824 and creating a centralist
government. Instead of power being in the
hands of the state, all the power was in the
hands of the president and other members of
the national government. This also angered
many throughout Texas.
The Turtle Bayou Resolutions
A group of Texans living outside of Anahuac, Texas,
marched on Anahuac in order to get a friend,
Patrick Jack, out of jail. (He may have refused to
pay a tax.) They exchanged gunfire with the
troops and captured a soldier.
The Mexican government saw this as a revolt, but
the group wrote a resolution claiming that they
were simply defending the Constitution of 1824.
They also expressed their support for General
Antonio López de Santa Anna, who was trying to
overthrow President Bustamante.
Texans Unorganized
Eventually the situation at Anahuac was resolved,
but others who had just heard about Anahuac
were angry and decided to attack Mexican
troops. This led to the Battle of Velasco, where
both Texan and Mexican soldiers were killed.
Though this should have caused a backlash against
the settlers, the Mexican soldiers were soon
called back to Mexico. President Bustamante was
fighting his own war against the Federalists, led
by Santa Anna.
Conventions of 1832 and 1833
Hoping that Santa Anna would take over the
government and restore the Constitution of
1824, the political leaders in Texas decided to
hold a convention to discuss possible reforms,
or changes in policy. Each district in Texas was
asked to send delegates, or representatives.
Stephen F. Austin was then sent to Mexico to
present their proposals or requests.
Four Proposals of the Conventions of
1832 and 1833
1. They asked the Mexican government to allow
legal immigration from the United States.
2. The delegates requested that Texas become a
separate Mexican state instead of being joined
with Coahuila.
3. The Texans asked that customs duties (or taxes
on goods from the United States) be removed
for three years.
4. The delegates asked for land for public schools.
Austin’s Arrest
When Austin reached Mexico City three months
later, the new government in Mexico was still
unstable and thousands of people were dying of
cholera in the city. He was unable to meet with
Santa Anna, so he went ahead and wrote to the
delegates, telling them to set up a state
government, though he had not received
permission. After meeting with Santa Anna, the
Mexican officials found out about his letter and
they arrested him. He was put in prison for over a
year.
Battle of Gonzales
In 1834, Santa Anna went back on his promises and
created a centralist government, claiming that
Mexico was not ready to become a republic.
Some in Texas became angry. Mexican soldiers
were sent back to Texas to control conflicts.
When a Mexican officer in San Antonio ordered U.S.
settlers at Gonzales to hand over a brass cannon,
they refused. They made a flag, challenging the
soldiers to COME AND TAKE IT!
War Had Begun
On October 2, the settlers
attacked. The battle of
Gonzales was brief,
leaving at least one
Mexican soldier dead,
but no Texas settlers
were killed. The
Mexican army
withdrew, starting the
rebellion. The Texas
Revolution had begun!