Mexico wins Independence 1821 Mexico wins independence from Spain They are in the process of creating a new government.

Mexico needs settlers Spain had control over Texas for over 300 years with very little growth Spanish settlers did not want to live in Texas No gold or silver To get good paying jobs you needed to be in Mexico City Farmers and cattle ranchers did not like the land Native Americans were still a threat on the prairies of Texas

Moses Austin 1820 (just before Mexico is independent from Spain) First American get permission from the Spanish government to settle Americans in Texas. Died before he could complete his agreement Moses Austin

Wanted to be a lawyer, but quit school after his father died. 1821 Wanted to be a lawyer, but quit school after his father died. Had to go to Mexico city to regain his fathers original land grant from new Mexican government. Settled 300 American families in Texas. Called the “Old 300” Our state capital is named after him Stephen Fuller Austin Known as the Father of Texas

Helped Moses Austin get approval from Spanish officials to settle American Colonist in Texas. Represented Texas in the Constitutional Convention after the revolution. Erasmo Seguin

He and his wife were Tejanos Don martin de leon He and his wife were Tejanos Brought 200 people to settle what is now Victoria He was the only successful Mexican Empresario

Green dewitt 1831 An important Empresario who settled 166 families in the area present day Gonzalez.

Old Three Hundred The first 300 that Stephen F. Austin settled in Texas. The actual number was 297 They took all they had in covered wagons. Paid 12.5 cents per acre Mr. Thomas Borden

American Colonist in Texas In 1824 they settled between the Brazos and Colorado Rivers Rivers were a primary water source Fertile soil, natural resources, mild climate There were no other settlements in the area. “one of our group went hunting and killed the fattest deer I ever saw in my life. We started about nine 0’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”

Moving to Texas Received land grants from Mexico - Good farm land for a cheap price 12.5 cents per acre There was more opportunity for people in Mexican owned Texas than in the United States. Had time to pay off land. Original Spanish agreement Men- 640 acres Wives- 320 acres Children- 160 acres Slaves-80 acres 1200 acres for $150 New Mexican Agreement 4,605 acres per family no matter the size.

Requirements to live in Texas Must convert to Catholicism Must become Mexican citizens Must be of good moral character “no drunkard, no gambler, no profane swearer, no idler”

Mexican Federal Constitution of 1824 Written after Mexico became independent of Spain. Named themselves: United Mexican States It was a representative Federal Republic Declared the official religion Catholic

State Colonization law of 1825 Guidelines to colonization of Coahuila Y Texas Allowed Stephen F. Austin and other Empresario land grants. Page 197 in your textbook

Issue of Slavery 1821- Colonist could bring slaves and buy land depending on the number of slaves brought Mexico- offered full citizenship to freed slaves. They were allowed to own land.