Expansion in Texas
CHAPTER 9
SECTION 3
Americans Settle in the Southwest
 The Impact of Mexican Independence
 Mexico gains independence from Spain in 1821
 Trade between US and Mexico multiplies


Northern Provinces rich in cattle trade and hided for commercial
products from the US
With independence Mexico is finding it difficult to control its
large territory and neglects its northern provinces of: New
Mexico, California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah
Americans Settle in the Southwest
 Mexico invites U.S. Settlers
 To help protect Mexico from attacks the Mexican gov’t invites
US settlers to come to Texas
 Mexican gov’t give huge land grants to empresarios, who inturn sell cheap land to Americans


Americans must pledge loyalty to Mexican laws and practice
Catholicism
Americans rushed to Texas; soon the number of Anglo
(English Speaking) people out-numbered the Mexican settlers
Texas Fights for Independence
 “Come to Texas”
 As Anglo population continued to grow increased tensions
arose
 Most of the settlers spoke English not Spanish, were Protestant
not Catholic, and had slaves


Mexico abolished slavery in 1824
1830 Mexico closed its borders and placed a high tax on
American goods

However; American population in Mexico doubled from 18301834
Texas Fights for its Independence
 “Remember the Alamo”
 Stephen Austin an important emprisario urged the Mexican
president to allow more self-governing for Texas
 Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (president) responded by
sending 4,000 troops into Texas
 Austin urged Texans to arm themselves
 1835 Texans were able to drive the Mexicans out of the Alamo,
and old mission and fort
 Santa Anna responded by destroying the 187 American men at
the Alamo including Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett
Texas Fights for Independence
 Lone Star Republic
 Six weeks after the Alamo the Texans struck back
 Led my Sam Houston the Texans killed 630 of Santa Anna’s
men in 18 minutes
 Shouts of “Remember the Alamo” provided the men with
courage and inspiration
 Houston captured Santa Anna and forced him to sign the
Treaty of Velasco


Gave Texas its independence
1836 Sam Houston became the president of the Republic of
Texas or the “Lone Star Republic”
Texas Fights for Independence
 Texas Joins the Union
 1838 Sam Houston invited the US to annex Texas and
incorporate it into the Union
 US opinion was split by region
Northern states feared admission of another slave state; and that it
would bring war with Mexico
 Southern states wanted to annex asap!


1845 Texas became the 28th in the Union and the Mexican
gov’t was furious……