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1810-1821
 Equality – the same rights for all people
 Rebellion – fighting against the government
 Dictator – government leader with total authority
 Grants – gifts of land
 Empresario – a person given a grant by Mexican government
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to bring settlers to Texas
Militia – a group of unpaid people that acts as an army
formed to keep order
Tejanos – Mexican settlers in Texas
Bilingual – able to speak two languages
Title – the ownership of land or property
Anglos – people whose ancestors are from Britain; or white
people.
 After the death of
Moses Austin, his son,
Stephen F. Austin, is
determined to carry
out his father’s plans
to settle Texas
This statue of Stephen F. Austin,
the father of Texas, is located in the
south entry hall of the Texas
Capitol.
 In 1808 Napoleon Bonaparte
took over Spain and removed
the king of Spain from the
throne. He placed his own
brother as the ruler of Spain.
Spain no longer had a strong
leader.
 Royalists, people who were
born in New Spain, but had
ancestors from Spain, and
Spanish-born (those from
Spain) began fighting each
other for control of Mexico.
 Neither group wanted the
Indians or the mestizos to
have power.
 On September 16,
1810, he gave a
speech, the Grito de
Dolores, demanding
equality and same
rights for ALL people
in Mexico.
 He led the Indians
and mestizos against
the Spanish
Government.
 He was captured,
tried and executed.
 Ten years later, in 1820, fighting began again.
 This time, Agustin de Iturbide announced the
Plan de Iguala which sought to make Mexico
Independent.
 Many people, including some Spanish soldiers,
agreed.
 Widespread rebellion eventually forced Spain
to give up control of Mexico.
 Dr. James Long led an expedition, in
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September of 1819, from Mississippi into
Texas to help drive out the Spanish.
His wife, Jane Long, vowed to wait for him to
return to Galveston.
Except for Jane, her 6-year old daughter, and
a 12-year old servant, the fort was deserted
as soon as supplies ran out.
Jane Long gave birth to her third child.
Dr. Long was killed during the expedition and
never returned; so, Jane left the area the
following March.
Because of her devotion to her family and
staying during the long winter, Jane Long is
known as the “Mother of Texas”.
 A French pirate that
attacked Spanish ships
in the Gulf of Mexico.
 He helped develop and
had complete control
of Galveston Island for
a long period of time.
Jean Lafitte
August 1821: Stephen F.
Austin first arrives in San
Antonio
Both the mayor of San
Antonio and the governor
of Texas welcomed him
Erasmo Seguin was the
mayor of San Antonio when
Stephen F. Austin first
arrived there
 Under new Mexican law, Coahuila and Texas
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Juan Seguin
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were a single state.
Most people in Texas were natives of Mexico.
When Spain was in charge, many Mexican
settlers moved into Texas.
These settlers, Tejanos, lived in San Antonio
de Bexar, La Bahia del Espiritu Santo and
Nacogdoches.
Some Tejanos began farms and ranches.
One of the moste well-known Tejano ranchers
was Erasmo Seguin. He and his son, Juan
Seguin, helped the “Texians”, as some
Americans that moved into Texas called
themselves.
Many Tejanos, who were loyal to Spain, left
Texas.
The remaining Tejanos became loyal to the
new Mexican government.
 Years of fighting in Mexico had destroyed
Spanish missions and presidio buildings in Texas.
 Farming and ranching nearly stopped.
 The city of Nacogdoches was turned into a ghost
town. Fewer people lived in Texas.
 Mexico feared it would lose Texas to the United
States because so few people lived there.
Austin explores the land east of
San Antonio
 Picked rich farmland in the area
of the Brazos and Colorado rivers
 mild climate, fertile soil, water,
timber, wild game, near coast
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 Mexico had won its
independence from Spain since
Moses Austin’s contract had
been approved
 A new contract would have to
be worked out with the
Mexican government
 By 1820, it was difficult to buy land in the US
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because land prices were high and money was
scarce.
Land in US was $1.25 per acre
US law required a min of 80 acres
Price of land had to be paid in full and in cash
Austin allowed people to pay fees with goods
He also allowed people to pay fees over time
 Lively — ship upon which Austin’s first
colonists sailed
 1821: The colonists on the Lively brought
mostly seeds, tools, and building materials
 The Lively misses its destination
 Second voyage — wrecks near Galveston
 Governor Martinez tells Austin he will
have to reconfirm his contract with the
Mexican government
 March 1822: Austin goes to Mexico City
to convince the government to approve
his colony
 However, he finds the government is
struggling to organize — had little time
for Texas matters
 In 1822 the Emperor
of Mexico, Agustin I,
ruled with complete
power as a dictator.
 Within a year, he was
removed from power by
another rebellion.
 In the following years,
Mexico had several
other leaders.
January 1823: the Mexican
government passed the
Imperial Colonization Law —
made Austin’s land grants
secure
 The new Mexican
government began working
with Empresarios, giving
them land grants (gifts of
land) in order to bring
settlers to Texas.
 Empresarios were paid for
their expenses in addition
to receiving land.
 Augustin de Iturbide falls from
power and the Imperial Colonization
Law is canceled
 Austin pleads his case with officials
 New government upheld his contract
under the terms of the canceled
Imperial Colonization Law
 Received power to organize a local
government and serve as judge for his
colony.
 Received the power to organize a
militia — used to defend against
Indians
 In April of 1823, Stephen F. Austin returns to his colony
in Texas.
 The original colonists (first families) who settled
Austin’s Colony are known as the “Old 300”.
 Stephen F. Austin will forever be revered as …
“the father of Texas”.
 Write a detailed letter to Stephen F.
Austin explaining why you are a perfect
candidate to be allowed in Austin’s
Colony. Make Stephen F. Austin really
want you in his colony. Give specific
examples to show you qualify.
 Be ready to SHARE your letter!!!