TENSION WITH MEXICO
1823-1833
TENSION
 When the Federalists held power in Mexico City, the Texas
colonists were able to live undisturbed.
• Created their own schools
• Newspapers
• Brought in slaves
 When the Centralists came to power in 1829, they put an end to
the independent decision making of the Texans.
EAST TEXAS
 1826, first clash between colonists and Mexican authorities.
 Haden Edwards
• Permitted to settle 800 families in the Nacogdoches area
• Found families already living there with no title
• Edwards allowed the families to get a title for their land through him
or move
• The families took their case to Mexican authorities who sympathized
with them
• Edwards is told he can not charge them for new land titles
REPUBLIC OF FREDONIA
 Benjamin Edwards
• Brother to Haden Edwards
• Believed the only hope for solving the problem was to declare the
colony independent from Mexico.
 With about 25 men, B. Edwards captured the fort in Nacogdoches.
• Raised a red and white flag bearing the words “Independence,”
“Liberty,” and “Justice.”
 The brothers asked Austin to help their rebellion.
 He refused.
• Austin offered the Mexican government assistance in putting down
the rebellion.
 When Mexican troops approached Nacogdoches in January 1827,
the Fredonian Revolt collapsed and most of the rebels fled across the
Sabine River into the United States
MIER Y TERAN
INVESTIGATION
 Although most colonists refused to support the Fredonian Rebellion,
Mexican authorities were worried it was part of an American scheme to
acquire Texas.
 U.S. Ambassador Anthony Butler proposed that Mexico sell Texas to
the United States.
• This only reinforced Mexican suspicions
 The Mexican government sent General Manuel de Mier y Teran to
investigate Texas.
 Mier y Teran observed that Anglos outnumbered Mexican settlers
5:1 in East Texas.
 Concerned, he recommended that if the Mexican government did
not act at once, Texas would be “lost forever.”
THE LAW OF APRIL 6, 1830
 Stopped all immigration from the United States.
 Suspended empresario contracts that had not been completed.
 Encouraged immigration of Mexican and European families to
Texas.
 Set up new forts.
 Placed taxes called “customs duties” on many goods made in
foreign nations.
ANAHUAC
 First major conflict.
 Port town, site of a small Mexican garrison established to control
commerce into Mexico.
• Commanded by John Davis Bradburn
• Believed in strict enforcement of all Mexican laws
• Argued with settlers who accused him of taking supplies, refusing to give
up runaway slaves, and customs duties
 May 1832, Bradburn arrested and imprisoned two lawyers, William B.
Travis and Patrick C. Jack, for interfering in his efforts to enforce the laws.
 160 settlers marched to Anahuac, demanding Travis’s and Jack’s
release.
 A small skirmish broke out between the settlers and Mexican soldiers.
 The settlers made camp at Turtle Bayou.
• Some went to Brazoria to get a cannon
TURTLE BAYOU
RESOLUTIONS
 June 13, 1832
 Denied the rebellion was against Mexican authority
 The colonists insisted that they were supporting Antonio Lopez de
Santa Anna.
• Was leading a revolt in Mexico against the Centralist party in power
• Had promised to favor a Texan-favored constitution
 The soldiers at Anhuac declared support for Santa Anna and
joined his forces in Mexico.
 Bradburn resigned and left Texas.
 Travis and Jack released.
BATTLE OF VELASCO
 June 26, 1832
 John Austin’s gropu had picked up a cannon at Brazoria.
 Mexican soldiers would not let them pass when the settlers reached
the town of Velasco.
 Mexican soldiers surrendered when they ran out of ammunition.
CONVENTION OF 1832
 Texans called a convention to discuss changes needed in Texas.
• 58 delegates assembled in San Felipe on October 1, 1832
• Stephen F. Austin was elected president of the convention
• Things they wanted:
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Texas to become a separate Mexican state
Immigration from the U.S. be allowed
Exemption from certain customs duties
Improved educational facilities
Better protection from Native Americans
Land titles for settlers in East Texas
CONVENTION OF 1833
 The resolutions agreed upon the previous year were never
presented to the Mexican government.
 Sam Houston attended the Convention of 1833.
 The convention proposed the same resolution as the year before.
 Drafted a constitution for the proposed Mexican state of Texas.
 Stephen F. Austin chosen to deliver the resolutions and
constitution to Mexico City.
AUSTIN STALLED
 July 1833, Santa Anna was not in Mexico City when Austin arrived.
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Santa Anna had just taken over as President of Mexico and his government was not yet well
organized
Cholera epidemic
 Austin writes a letter to authorities in San Antonio encouraging Texans to form their own
government.
 November 1833, the situation in Mexico City seemed more hopeful and Santa Anna had
returned.
 Santa Anna did not grant Texas statehood, but did repeal the law restricting U.S.
immigration.
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Also agreed to improve the court and postal system
 Austin left the capital on December 10, 1833.
AUSTIN IMPRISONED
 January 1834, Austin reaches the city of Saltillo.
 Austin is arrested because of the letter he wrote the previous November.
• Taken back to Mexico City under guard
 Austin remained in prison for one year.
 Christmas Day, 1834 – Mexican authorities release Austin, but require him to
stay in Mexico City and wait for a final decision on his case.
 July 11, 1835 – Austin was given his complete freedom.
 September 1, 1835 – Austin lands in Texas
• Austin had been away from his colony for two years and four months
REFORMS BEGIN
 The cholera outbreak had reached San Antonio and New Orleans.
• 8 members of Austin’s family alone had died