Age of Empresarios

Moses Austin Born in Connecticut, Moses Austin moved to present-day Missouri in 1798 when that area of Louisiana still belonged to Spain. As a result, he was familiar with Spanish laws and regulations. In 1819, a depression ruined Austin’s business. In the fall of 1820, Austin set out with a slave named Richmond to meet with Governor Antonio Martinez to convince him to allow 300 Anglo families to move to Texas.

Moses Austin In 1821, he paved the way for Anglo-American colonization of Texas. With the help of an influential friend in San Antonio, Baron de Bastrop, Moses Austin was able to get the Spanish government to allow 300 American families to settle in Texas. Moses Austin got permission from the Spanish government to settle 300 American families in Texas.

Pop Quiz! How many families was Moses Austin allowed to bring to Texas? Answer: 300

Stephen F. Austin He continued his father’s colonization plan after his death.

Stephen F. Austin He mapped the territory he wanted, presented it to the governor, and began advertising for settlers. Each person was granted land based upon family size and slave count. They paid Austin for the land.

**Requirements** “No drunkard, no gambler, no profane swearer, no idler” would be allowed in the colony.

Settlers of Texas were required to become citizens of Mexico, take an oath of allegiance to Mexico, and become Catholic.

**Land Policy** Land would cost 12.5¢ per acre. Every man would receive 640 acres. His wife would receive 320 acres. Each child would receive 160 acres. Each slave would receive 80 acres.

With farmland being so cheap, Austin had no problem attracting settlers.

Pop Quiz! How much land would a family be able to purchase if they had 1 man, 1 wife, 2 children, and 1 slave? Answer: 1360 acres of land

**Colony Location** The region between the Colorado and the Brazos River was chosen for the colony. It had fertile soil, abundant water, natural resources, mild climate, animals to hunt and no other settlements.

Colony Location “One of our group went hunting and killed the fattest deer I ever saw in my life. We started about nine o’clock, continued a north course along the large body of timber which lay to our right. Prairies of the richest kind of black sandy land, intersected by branches and creeks of excellent water—heavily timbered, beautifully rolling.” –Stephen F. Austin, September 19, 1821

Pop Quiz! What were the character requirements for becoming a part of the new colony in Texas? Answer: “No drunkards, no gamblers, no profane swearers, no idlers.” Family-oriented people.

Problems in the Colony Austin goes to Mexico City and finds out that the Mexicans had won their independence. They did not recognize Austin’s right to colonize Texas. Austin spent a year in Mexico City until he received his land grant based on him being an empresario (land agent whose job it is to bring settlers into an area). Under a new law, each family could only receive a maximum of 4,605 acres of land. Stephen F. Austin would receive 100,000 acres of land for serving as an empresario.

Pop Quiz! What is an empresario? Answer: A land agent who brings people to new land. Modern day Real Estate Agent

Problems in the Colony The Karankawas and Tonkawas raided the colony stealing horses and cattle. To protect themselves, the colonist formed a militia (temporary army unit)

A supply ship wrecked carrying much needed supplies and the colonists had to adapt.

Why Austin’s Colonies Succeeded From the beginning Stephen F. Austin demonstrated his ability to deal successfully with the Mexican authorities His colonists had little difficulty getting land titles since Austin had such a good system.

Why Austin’s Colonies Succeeded The area Austin chose had some of the best farming soil and since that was what so many people wanted, it was not hard to attract settlers. The Natives became less of a threat.

Pop Quiz! What were 2 of the difficulties the Old Three Hundred faced when they moved to Texas? Answer: Their supplies were lost after a ship wreck. The Tonkawas and Karankawas raided the colony and stole their horses.

The Colony Gets a Capital Austin decided that the west bank of the Brazos, where the Old San Antonio Road crosses the river, would be a good location for the new colony’s capital. In July 1824, the town was officially organized and named San Felipe de Austin.

The Constitution of 1824 March 19, 1823, Mexican emperor Agustin de Iturbide was overthrown. The people who formed the new Mexican government were called Federalists**, they believed in sharing power between the states and the national government. = National Flag State Flag

Their opponents, called Centralists, believed that power should be concentrated in the national government of Mexico City. ≠

The Constitution of 1824 In 1824 the Federalists wrote a constitution for Mexico that divided the nation into 19 states and 4 territories Coahuila and Tejas were united as one Mexican state.

The Constitution of 1824 Baron de Bastrop was chosen as the first representative from Texas.

Colonization Law In 1824, Mexican congress passed a new colonization law. No one could receive more than 48,708 acres of land No colony could be established within 30 miles of the coast nor within 60 miles of an international boundary without government permission Only those who intended to live permanently in Texas could receive land contracts. Land grants were now given through each individual state instead of Mexico City.

Pop Quiz! What is a Federalist? Answer: They believed in sharing power between state and national government.

How State Colonization Laws Worked In 1825, Saltillo legislature passed a new law providing for colonization. Foreigners were invited to immigrate to Texas. They could receive title to land as individuals or through an empresario.

How State Colonization Laws Worked After a family paid $30, they could receive 4,428 acres. Colonists would not have to pay taxes for a set number of years. Single men would receive only 1,107 acres of land and would be given an additional 3,321 acres when they were married. If a man married a Mexican woman, he would receive an additional bonus of 1,107 acres.

How State Colonization Laws Worked Colonists had to be of good moral character. They also had to be Catholic, but Mexican authorities did not bother settlers who practiced other religions due to a shortage of Catholic priests. Most settlers came to Texas on an empresario contract.