Empresarios & Entrepreneurs

Martin De Leon Only Mexican empresario to found a colony in Texas Wanted to start a colony on the Guadalupe River – grew into present day Victoria, Texas Received an unusual contract: No requirement for number of families No marked borders Settled 162 families; all but 16 were from Mexico

Green DeWitt 1825 – received a contract to bring 400 families along the Lavaca, San Marcos, and Guadalupe Rivers by 1831 Some of his land was also land owned by DeLeon. Mexico sides with DeLeon and moves DeWitt farther West. He founds the town of Gonzales.

Other Empresarios Robert Leftwich Sterling C. Robertson 1822 – came from Tennessee to settle 800 families along the Brazos River Sold his contract to: Sterling C. Robertson Brought families in 1830 Mexican law prevented them from settling Stephen F. Austin and Robertson argued over the land but Robertson eventually settled 600 of his 800 families in 1835

de Zavala, Vehlein, & Burnet de Zavala, Vehlein, and Burnet each received land grants but did not have the means to bring settlers to Texas They sold the rights to bring settlers to the Galveston Bay and Texas Land Company – but not the land The company brought settlers to Texas and told them they had land (they didn’t) so what they sold the settlers (called scrip) was worthless This caused great confusion but eventually the land company brought nearly 1000 families to Texas

The Irish James, James, James & John Immigrants from Ireland came to settle Texas but faced many problems, including: 150 died of cholera on the journey to Texas Border disputes with other colonies, especially De Leon’s colony

Haden Edwards Haden Edwards won a contract in 1825 to bring 800 families to Nacogdoches Mexican officials told Edwards that people already lived there but he did not pay attention He told the settlers who were already there that they had to prove they owned their land. If they couldn’t, they had to pay Edwards for the land.

Haden Edwards The Mexican government disliked Edwards Thought he took too much power for himself They cancelled his contract Many others in Texas do not trust Edward Greedy, Bad Leader Stephen F. Austin troubled by him

Fredonian Rebellion Edwards led a revolt and declared Texas an independent nation and called it the “Republic of Fredonia” Promised to divide Texas into two parts One part for Native Americans The other part for white settlers Few people backed Edwards Soldiers from Mexico and Austin’s militia quickly end the revolt

End of the Empresarios In 1820, the population of Texas was less than 3,000. By 1835, a census showed the population had risen to nearly 25,000 – system worked! Settlers never become loyal to Mexico and never accept their system of government They wanted to rule themselves and not take orders from officials in far off Mexico City

End of the Empresarios Texas now has two regions: North: Anglos from the United States South: Tejanos –people with Mexican ancestry who live in Texas Empresarios had been the government of the colonies Mexico creates the Department of Nacogdoches to give settlers a stronger voice in government The settlers want changes!