1. Unit 4: Mexican National Era
The Colonies Grow
Mexico passed laws that affected how to colonize Texas and who was allowed

2. Spain grants Mexico INDEPENDENCE
Remember: 1821
Spain grants Mexico INDEPENDENCE
Stephen F. Austin traveled to Mexico City and met with the new government.

3. Stephen F. Austin became the first Anglo empresario
to receive a land grant in Texas.
His capital was called
San Felipe de Austin.

4. Migrate (v): to move from one country to live or work in another
At the same time,
an economic depression
in the United States
motivated many settlers
to immigrate to Texas
to get a new start.
Migrate (v): to move from one country to live or work in another

5. Mexican methods of settlement:
Austin followed the
Mexican methods of settlement:
Immigrants (settlers) had to be Catholic
Men had to be of good moral character
Colonization laws played an important role

6. Colonization Laws?
The Mexican federal Constitution of 1824 created the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas with its Departments.

8. See textbook p.187 for an enlargement of Austin’s Colony
Austin’s first Colony
See textbook p.187 for an enlargement of Austin’s Colony
It had fertile soil, plenty of clean water, trees for building houses, a healthy environment, and access to the coastline.

9. The 1820’s Land Grants
The most successful land grants in Texas were located in the
Coastal Plains region.
The land was cheap and well-suited for farming and cattle ranches.

10. Most Texas settlers chose the services of an empresario because:
Why Use an Empresario?
Most Texas settlers chose the services of an empresario because:
They could speak Spanish or had translators
They held the best land and knew how to get claims.

11. 25 Contracts were granted to set up Texas colonies
Other Empresarios
25 Contracts were granted to set up Texas colonies
Martín De León
A wealthy native Mexican cattle rancher who brought nearly 100 Mexican families to his little colony on the Gulf Coast (next to Austin’s).
He was known as “Captain Plenty Cows” because he freely gave beef to the local
Native Americans.

12. Martín De León and wife founded Victoria with a school and a church.

13. By 1834, Mexican officials recorded more than 21,000 settlers in the
The Old Three Hundred were allowed to choose the prime farmland along the Brazos, Colorado, and San Jacinto rivers. …
Many hopeful people came to Texas after 1821 for a better chance at success.
By 1834, Mexican officials recorded more than 21,000 settlers in the
three Texas Departments.