Expansion in Texas Ch 9 Sect 3

Americans Settle in the Southwest Mexicans were attempting to convert Native Americans to Catholicism & settle them on missions. To protect the missions, Spanish troops guarded them in forts. The mission system declined during the 1820s after Mexico won its independence from Spain. Some NA were forced to stay & work as unpaid laborers while others launched attacks on settlers.

Impact of Mexican Independence Trade opportunities developed b/w Mexico & U.S. Mexico sought to improve its economy Mexico eased trade restrictions making trade w/ the U.S. more profitable. Ties b/w Mexico & its northern provinces (Texas, California, New Mexico, etc.) loosened. Mexico’s gov. located in Mexico city was indifferent to the problems of the northern provinces. Mexican gov. began to try to find ways to strengthen the ties b/w Mexico & its northern provinces.

Why do you think Mexico was loosing its control over the northern provinces?

Mexico Invites U.S. Settlers To prevent boarder violations & Native American attacks, the Mexican gov. encouraged Americans to settle in the Texas. Mexico offered large land grants Attracted Americans who bought cheap land Agreed to convert to Catholicism Same restless determination that fed economic growth, led Americans to settle in the West. Population of white settlers soon surpassed that of Mexicans.

Austin in Texas Stephen Austin was the most successful land agent. Established a colony “no drunkard, no gambler, no profane swearer, and no idler” would be allowed Word of Austin’s success spread around the U.S.

Austin in Texas “Go to Texas” Americans increasingly discussed extending the U.S. boarders to the Rio Grande River. Mexico refused to sell Texas to the U.S. Mexico began to regret its hospitality to Americans

Texas Fights for Independence 1830, Mexico sealed its boarders & put a heavy tax on American goods. Lacked troops to enforce boarder White population continued to grow Mexican politics became unstable

Texas Fights for Independence Austin traveled to Mexico city to ask for Texas’ independence from President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Gov. revoked local governments causes rebellions which would become known as the Texas Revolution.

“Remember The Alamo Santa Anna marched toward San Antonio Austin called for Texans to arm 1835, Texans attacked Drove Mexicans from the Alamo Santa Anna stormed the Alamo killing all the Texans

Lone Star Republic 1836, Santa Anna’s troops executed 300 rebels at Goliad 6 weeks after the Alamo, Texans defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto Led by Sam Houston W/ shouts of “Remember the Alamo” Texans killed Santa Anna’s troops Treaty of Velasco granted Texas independence Houston became president of the Republic of Texas “Lone Star Republic”

Texas Joins the Union Texans compared themselves to Americans who won independence from Great Britain. Republic of Texas ratified a constitution based on the U.S. constitution. 1838, Houston offered to let the U.S. annex Texas Texans wanted to enter the union Southerners wanted to annex Texas b/c it was a slave territory which would favor the South in Congress. Northerners did not want to annex Texas b/c they did not want another slave state & they believed it would prompt war w/ Mexico.

Texas Unions the Union 1845 President James Polk annexed Texas into the Union. Texas became the 28th state Mexico recalled its ambassador from Washington as events moved towards war w/Mexico.

Critical Thinking Questions Why did tensions develop between Native American and Mexican inhabitants of Texas? Why did Mexico invite American settlers to Texas? What role did Stephen Austin play in the American settlement of Texas? Why did the Anglo settlers in Texas rebel against the Mexican government? What was the significance of the battle at the Alamo? How did Texas eventually become the 28th state in the Union?