Unit 4: Mexican Texas - Colonization Through Rebellion
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Rebellion against Spanish Rule in the Early 1800s – Philip Nolan, a filibuster and
mustanger from the United States came to Texas in 1800 with Spanish approval, but Spain
was suspicious of the U.S. taking control of Texas. In 1810, the Hidalgo Revolution called on
Mexican people to revolt against Spain. He was unsuccessful and later executed. In 1812,
Gutierrez-Magee Expedition led by Gutiérrez (follower of Father Hidalgo) and Magee
(former U.S. soldier) organized the Republican Army of the North and proclaimed Texas
independent of Spain. But the Spanish Royalist Army defeated the Republican Army of the
North at the Battle of Medina in 1813, along the Medina River south of San Antonio. The
expedition failed but encouraged others to free Texas and Mexico from Spanish rule.
Galveston Pirates such as Jean Lafitte and Louis Michel Aury attacked Spanish ships in
1817. And James Long led a group from Mississippi to Nacogdoches where he declared
Texas independent from Spain. While looking for military support, he was captured, taken to
Mexico City, and shot.
Mexican Independence 1821 – Mexico declares independence from Spain and wins
independence in 1823 by overthrowing Spanish emperor Iturbide. Mexico forms a
government led by Federalists (shared power between states and national government) and
Centralists (all power centralized by national government). Texas is now officially a part of
Mexico.
Empresario Contracts in Texas 1820-1830 – In 1820, Moses Austin gets permission from
Spanish authorities to colonize Texas with Americans, but dies before he completes his
plans. Erasmo Seguin helped Moses Austin obtain approval from Spanish officials to settle
American colonists in Texas. In 1821, Stephen F. Austin continues his father’s dream by
settling 300 families from the United States. They are known as the “Old Three Hundred.”
There were three requirements for settlement: must convert to Catholicism, must become a
Spanish/Mexican citizen, must be of good, moral character.
Mexican Federal Constitution of 1824 – This is the constitution written after Mexico’s
independence from Spain. The republic took the name of United Mexican States, and was
defined as a representative federal republic with Catholicism as the official religion. The
constitution also created the state of Coahuila y Tejas, merging the two provinces of
Texas and Coahuila. Texas was not organized as a separate state because of its small
population. The State Colonization Law of 1825 allowed Stephen F. Austin and other
empresarios to receive land grants in Texas. Other empresarios included Martin De Leon, a
Mexican empresario who settled 200 Mexican families in South Texas (between the Lavaca
and Guadalupe River). He and his wife founded the town of Victoria in 1824; Green DeWitt,
an important American empresario who settled 166 families in the area near present-day
Gonzales. After permitting slavery (1821), and then forbidding sale or purchase of slaves
(1823), the Mexican authorities in Texas outlawed the introduction of additional slaves and
granted freedom at birth to all children born to a slave in 1827. Overall, Texans were
satisfied with the Mexican Constitution of 1824 because of the rights and freedoms it gave
them.
Unit 5: Mexican Texas – Revolution Through Independence
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Fredonian Rebellion – in 1826, in Nacogdoches, a group of Texans formed the Fredonian
Republic led by the Edwards Brothers, claimed the area was no longer under Mexican
control. Stephen F. Austin sided with the Mexican government and marched to Nacogdoches
to help stop the rebellion. It ended quickly with majority of settlers fleeing east to U.S.
Mier y Terán – in 1828, the Mexican government sent Gen. Manuel Mier y Terán to
investigate the conditions in northern Texas. He found that the Anglo-Americans
outnumbered Mexicans 10 to 1. The report resulted in the Law of April 6.
Law of April 6, 1830 – in 1828, the Mexican government sent Mier y Terán to report on
the new immigrants moving into Texas. He reported concerns about the Anglo Americans.
This resulted in the Law of April 6 which outlawed immigration from the U.S. to Texas and
canceled all empresario grants that had not been fulfilled. It did encourage European
immigration. Slaves could no longer be brought into Mexico to work, and they placed customs
duties on all goods entering Texas from the U.S. Overall, the Law of April 6 violated the
Mexican Constitution of 1824.
Turtle Bayou Resolutions – At Anahuac, William B. Travis and Patrick C. Jack were jailed
for interfering with John Bradburn’s enforcement of laws over customs duties (taxes).
Because Bradburn refused to release Travis and Jack, a skirmish broke out between Texans
and Bradburn. Anahuac settlers gathered at Turtle Bayou because of the disturbance. John
Austin was sent to retrieve a cannon to be brought back from Brazoria and drafted
resolutions that stated that they pledged their continued loyalty to Mexico under the
Constitution of 1824. As a Federalist, Santa Anna seemed to support the Constitution of
1824. This event resulted in Colonel Jose de las Piedras ordering the release of Travis and
Jack from jail. Bradburn was dismissed from his command at Anahuac.
Arrest of Stephen F. Austin – Austin travels to Mexico to meet with Mexican officials and
delivers the resolution written by Texas officials about their concerns. When he gets there,
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna has become the leader of Mexico, but so much time has gone
by that Austin sends a letter back to Texas to tell Texas officials to establish a state
government. He gets a meeting with Santa Anna that agrees to many of the grievances and
returns to Texas. On his return, he is arrested for treason because of the letter he wrote
to Texas officials earlier. He is not allowed to return to Texas until summer of 1835. Also
during this time, Santa Anna leaves the Federalist party and joins the Centralist party, and
makes himself dictator.
Battle of Gonzales – This was the first battle of the Texas Revolution on October 2, 1835.
Citizens of Gonzales would not give up a cannon that was given to them by the Mexican
government to protect them from Indians. A militia led by John H. Moore flew a flag over it
that said “Come and Take It”. Lieutenant Francisco Castaneda led 100 men to Gonzales to
take the cannon. The Texas militia fired the cannon on October 2 at the Mexican soldiers, a
battle began, and so did the Texas Revolution.
Battle of San Antonio – After Gonzales, more Texas volunteers join the army and the
Texans go on to take Goliad. Led by Stephen F. Austin, they head to San Antonio de Bexar
to defeat General Cos. The Texans don’t have any heavy cannon to attack them, so they lay
siege to San Antonio for nearly two months. Just when the Texans were to give up, Ben
Milam and Frank Johnson lead the Texans in a surprise attack and force Mexican troops
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into the Alamo. General Cos surrenders and vows to never return to Texas again. Texans
think the war is over, but Santa Anna is gathering his army to head towards Texas.
The Alamo – Sam Houston ordered the Alamo to be destroyed. James Bowie and James
Neill decided that the Alamo was too important. James Bowie (led volunteers) and William
B. Travis (led regulars) began to recruit supporters. One of those supporters was the
famous David Crockett, a Congressman from Tennessee. Santa Anna arrived unexpectedly in
San Antonio on February 23. The Texans didn’t think he would lead his army through harsh,
winter conditions. The Texans moved into the Alamo and for 13 days were bombarded by
the Mexican cannon fire. During this time, Travis wrote a letter “To the People of Texas
and All Americans in the World”. He signs it “Victory or Death”, meaning that Texans will
die fighting for victory. His purpose was to recruit men to help the Texans trapped in the
Alamo. Only 32 men from Gonzales responded and arrived at the Alamo to help. The fall of
the Alamo occurred on the morning of March 6, 1836. 1800 Mexican troops fought against
approximately 189 Texans for about 3 hours. All Texans were killed (Including Travis,
Bowie, and Crockett), and approximately 600 Mexican soldiers were also killed (1/4 of the
Mexican Army). The fall of the Alamo is devastating news to Texans everywhere.
Constitutional Convention of 1836 – While the siege of the Alamo was taking place, Texas
delegates met at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 1. First, they declared independence
from Mexico on March 2, 1836. George C. Childress is credited with writing the Texas
Declaration of Independence. The delegates also wrote a constitution to form an ad interim
government for the Republic of Texas. David G. Burnet was elected ad interim President of
Texas and Lorenzo de Zavala was elected Vice President. Sam Houston was elected
commander over all Texas troops. The Constitution also legalized slavery in Texas.
Battle of Coleto Creek and Goliad Massacre – Sam Houston ordered Colonel James Fannin
to retreat from Goliad. He decided to stay longer since he was waiting for scouts to return.
Later Fannin left and stopped in an open prairie to give his men a rest, but the Mexicans
were able to surround them. They fought the Mexicans off, but the Texans had no natural
resources to protect themselves, resulting in a defeat. Fannin surrendered his 300 men at
the Battle of Coleto Creek on March 19-20 in order to prevent more deaths. They were
marched to Goliad, and Mexican General Urrea told them they were not going to be killed,
but Santa Anna ordered all the captives to be executed. Few escaped while all the Texans
were shot dead as they marched onto an open prairie on March 27.
Runaway Scrape – News quickly spread throughout Texas concerning the fall of the Alamo
and Goliad. Many people fled east towards Louisiana in fear of Santa Anna’s army attacking
them. The fall and spring brought heavy rains and cold fronts that made it very difficult for
people to travel. The weather also affected the Texas and Mexican armies as they crossed
rivers (e.g., Colorado, Brazos and Trinity). During this time, Houston grew his army while
Santa Anna split his forces.
Battle of San Jacinto – On April 21, 1836, Sam Houston ordered Deaf Smith to burn
Vince’s Bridge (the way out of San Jacinto) and attacked the Mexican Army about 3:00pm.
Houston led the Texas forces of 800 men against Santa Anna’s Mexican forces of 1300
men. The Texans were inspired to “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!”. Juan
Seguín, a messenger for Houston who formerly served Travis at the Alamo, led the Tejanos
into battle. It is the shortest battle in history that lasted 18 minutes. Santa Anna, the selfproclaimed “Napoleon of the West”, was captured the next day and surrendered all rights to
Texas to Sam Houston.
Vocabulary Terms
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depression
Federalists
Centralists
customs duty
dictator
exempt
officials
revolt
executive
legislative
judicial
veto
survey
colonization
import
repeal
ambassador
petition
empresario
commerce
committees of correspondence
decree
epidemic
uprising
bombard
units
plaza
massacre
cabinet
skirmish
garrison
convention
ad interim
veteran
dispatch
cavalry
resolution
provisional government
fortress
recruit
regular army
siege