The Road to Revolution
Chapter 9
Differences Arise
• Some settlers established their own :
– Newspapers
– schools
• Some settlers:
– Kept their own customs
– Did not become Catholic
States Rights
• Mexico’s Constitution of 1824
– Established states rights
– Placed the province of Texas in the Mexican
state of Coahuila y Tejas
• Nationalist concerns increased hostilities
Edwards Brothers
• In 1825 Haden Edwards received a very large land
grant in eastern Texas-near Nacogodoches.
• Required to honor previous land grants-but many did
not have proof.
• After a bogus election the Governor reversed the
election decision and took away the land grant.
• Edwards negotiated a treaty with the Cherokees.
Fredonian Rebellion
• Occured near Nacogdoches in 1826.
• Edwards and followers formed the Fredonian
Republic.
• Stephen Austin’s milita joined the Mexican
government’s troops to defeat the
Fredonians.
An Attempt to Purchase Texas
• Mexican officials feared that the settlers had
secret ties with the U.S.
• In 1826 U.S. president John Quincy Adams
sent Joel Poinsett to Mexico with an offer buy
all or part of Texas.
The Mier y Teran Report
• An increasing number of settlers from the U.S.
the Fredonian Rebellion, and the offer to buy
Texas fueled concerns of the Mexican
nationalists.
• Mexico sent Manuel Meir y Teran, a
commander in the Mexican army, to
investigate the conditions in Texas.
Mier y Teran Report
• Teran reported that the Anglo settlers
outnumbered the Mexican settlers 10 to 1.
• Noted that the United States influence was
growing in Texas.
• Mexican President Vicente Guerrero
responded by attempting to make Texas less
attractive for future colonists.
The Law of April 6, 1830
• Purpose was to control Texas colonists.
• Outlawed immigration from the U.S. to Texas and
canceled all empresarial grants that had not been
fulfilled.
• The United State could no longer colonize any
Mexican border state
• This law also included other provisions designed to
slow Anglo American immigration:
– Slaves could no longer be brought in work the fields
– New forts and presidios were built to stop illegal
immigration
– A customs duty was placed on all goods entering Texas
from the U.S.
The Law of April 6, 1830
• The government encouraged Mexican and
European settlers to relocate to Texas-the law
of April 6, 1830 even provided land and
money for these settlers.
• This law upset and alarmed Anglo Texans.
• The law also raised questions within the
Mexican government.
• Increased the tensions between Texas and the
Mexican government.
Bitter Division
• The Law of April 6, 1830 marked a turning
point in the relationship between the Texas
colonists and the Mexican Government.
• Mexican troops were sent to Texas to collect
customs duties.
– Texans were upset at the presence of military
force and the new taxes!
Santa Anna
• President Bustamante was ignoring the Constitution
of 1824.
– This upset many Anglo-Americans and Mexicans living in
Texas.
• Santa Anna claimed he was not a centralist.
• He staged a revolution to oust President Bustamante.
• Stephen F. Austin helped to convince the Mexican
government that the Texans were in favor of Santa
Anna.
• Santa Anna lied and was actually a centralist.
– He wanted all power centralized in himself, not in states’
rights.
Turtle Bayou Resolutions
• Settlers sent John Austin to Brazoria to bring
back a cannon.
• Turtle Bayou Resolutions
– Colonists pledged their loyalty to Mexico and
Santa Anna.
– Remember: Santa Anna was a centralist posing as
a nationalist!
Battle of Velasco
• John Austin has the cannon and he’s on his
way back to Brazoria.
– He and his men sail down the Brazos River toward
the Gulf of Mexico.
• They arrive in Velasco.
– Colonel Urgartechea refuses to let the men pass
through Velasco with the cannon.
– Fighting breaks out!
– First time Mexican and Texan troops fire at one
another.
Convention of 1832
• Texans met in San Felipe de Austin and drafted a set
of resolutions.
• Texans pledge their support for the Constitution of
1824.
• Called for a repeal of the Law of April 6, 1830 and
the customs duty.
– Repeal: to take away
• Wanted to allow U.S. immigration to Texas.
• Wanted the Mexican government to divide the state
of Coahuila y Tejas and grant Texas statehood.
• Established a plan to create a militia.
• Donate government lands for public schools.
Convention of 1833
• Same proposals at the Convention of 1832
EXCEPT they drafted a new Constitution.
– Mexican state of Texas!
• To the Mexican government, this looked like
an act of defiance!
SFA is in Mexico
• SFA leaves for Mexico to take the new resolutions to
the Mexican government.
• 1833 – impatient SFA wrote a letter to his fellow
Texans.
– The letter suggested the Texans establish a new state
government.
– New state government would make Texas separate from
Coahuila but still a part of Mexico.
• SFA meets with Santa Anna
– Santa Anna repealed the immigration law prohibiting
immigrants from the U.S.
– Promised fair taxes on goods imported from the U.S.
– Rejected separate statehood for Texas.
SFA Arrested!
• Austin’s letter to the Texans was intercepted.
• He was accused of treason.
• He was imprisoned in Mexico City for a year
and never received a trial.
Conflict Escalates
• Texans soon found out that Santa Anna was a
centralist and not a nationalist.
• He had a new constitution written that placed
all the power in his hands!
• To squash any rebellion that might take place
in Texas, Santa Anna sent General Cos to
watch over Texas.
Battle of Gonzales
• General Urgartechea hears there is a 6 pound
cannon in the town of Gonzales.
• Texans refused to return the cannon.
• When the Mexican army arrived, the Texans
fired on the Mexicans forcing them to retreat
to San Antonio.
• This battle showed that the Texans were
willing to use military force if necessary.
• The Battle of Gonzales is the battle that began
the revolution!
Siege of Bexar (San Antonio)
• Texans capture the city of San Antonio from
General Cos.
• Texans believed the crisis was over.
• Santa Anna had other ideas!