1. Growing Tensions
Chapter 8

2. Vocabulary Decree Exempt Customs Duty Commerce Import Skirmish
Resolution
Cholera
Repeal
Malaria
Dictator

3. The Difficulties Begin
Section 1

4. Defenses Create Tension
1820s – many Anglo American settlers came to Texas.
Under the power of the Federalist Party in Mexico, these colonists were left alone. They received land titles, cleared fields, built homes, established school and newspapers, and brought in slaves.
The Centralist Party took over in 1829 and they put many regulations and new rules on what colonists could and could not do.
The difference in how these two parties governed caused tensions and eventually a revolution.

5. Trouble Begins in East Texas
In September 1825, Haden Edwards was awarded land in East Texas by the Mexican government.
Edwards settled 800 families in the Nacogdoches area, but some people were already living there.
His contract required him to recognize the rights of those settlers who held legal land titles.
Edwards required titles to be shown. Without a title, the settlers had to move or purchase one from him.
This angered the settlers.
These settlers included families from Louisiana living in the area and Cherokees and Mexicans whose ancestors had lived there for decades.
Graphic Organizer – timeline showing the beginning of tensions in East Texas.

6. The Republic of Fredonia
Benjamin Edwards, Haden’s brother, believed that his only hope for solving the problem was to declare the colony independent from Mexico.
He made an alliance with Richard Fields, a Cherokee chief, and prepared for action.
December 16, 1826 – Edward’s led a group of armed settlers and took control of the Old Stone Fort in Nacogdoches.
The proclaimed the creation of the Republic of Fredonia.
They asked for assistance from Austin’s colony and the U.S. and both declined.
In January 1827, Mexican troops marched towards Nacogdoches and the settlers who revolted fled.
This marked the end of the Fredonian Revolt.

7. Mier y Terán Investigates
Mexican officials believed that the Fredonian Revolt was an American scheme to acquire Texas.
Two hundred Mexican soldiers, commanded by Colonel José de las Piedras, were sent to Nacogdoches to prevent new uprisings.
The U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Anthony Butler, proposed that Mexico sell Texas to the U.S.
This increased suspicions that the U.S. was plotting against Mexico.
General Manuel de Mier y Terán was sent by the Mexican government to inspect.
He found that Anglo American influence was strong in East Texas because they outnumbered Mexican settlers at least five to one (5:1).

8. Mexico Needs to Act Soon
Mier y Terán made it clear that if the Mexican government did not act at once, Texas would be “lost forever.”
In 1829, the Mexican President issued a decree, or order, abolishing slavery.
Texans tried persuading Mexican officials to exempt, or excuse, Texas because many Anglo-Americans already had slaves.
This decree wasn’t enforced in Texas immediately, but it was only a matter of time, or so the Anglo-American slaveholder thought.

9. The Law of April 6, 1830
April 6, 1830 – Mexico issued a law stopping immigration from the U.S. and suspended most empresario contracts that had not been completed.
The law encouraged the immigration of Mexican and European families to Texas with generous land grants and financial assistance.
The law also set up new forts to prevent smuggling, slavery, and illegal land speculation.
The law also discouraged trade between foreign nations and Texas by placing taxes called customs duties on goods made in foreign nations.
Many Texans were upset and Stephen F. Austin tried negotiating with Mexican leaders, but too much had damaged the relationship between Texas and the Mexican government.

10. Rebellions,
Section 2

11. Settlers Protest at Anahuac
Anahuac – a town established to control commerce, or the movement of goods.
The first serious conflict occurred here, commanded by John (Juan) Davis Bradburn, a colonel in the Mexican army.
The Anahuac colonists accused Bradburn of taking supplies and refusing to give up runaway slaves.
The tax collector at Anahuac tried collecting customs duties on goods imported into Mexico from the U.S.
This angered merchants because they needed to travel long distances to get permission to cross the border into Mexico.
Finally, in May 1832, Bradburn arrested and imprisoned two lawyers, William B. Travis and Patrick C. Jack for interfering in his efforts to enforce the laws.
160 settlers traveled in two groups to confront Bradburn about releasing the prisoners.
Bradburn agreed if the settlers retreated, but not all did. Bradburn called for backup.
The settlers mad camp at Turtle Bayou, between Anahuac and Liberty and John Austin went to Brazoria to bring back a cannon.
Cause and Effect
Flowchart

12. Colonists Adopt the Turlte Bayou Resolutions
June 13, 1832 – the colonists declared their loyalty to Mexico.
They denied rebelling against Mexican authority.
They insisted they supported Antonio López de Santa Anna, who was leading against the Centralist President Anastasio Bustamante.
Bustamante ignored the Federal Constitution of 1824.
Colonel José de las Piedras, commander at Nacogdoches, arrived at Anahuac.
He promised the Texas that Bradburn would be removed from command sure enough, Bradburn resigned and fled Texas.
Travis and Jack were also released.
The soldiers at Anahuac declared support for Santa Anna and joined his growing forces in Mexico.
Use map on page 192.

13. Clash at Velasco
On June 26, 1832, a clash occurred at Velasco near the mouth of the Brazos River.
John Austin’s group – picked up the cannon at Brazoria – loaded a ship.
Colonel Domingo de Ugartechea, a Mexican commander, would not let them pass when they reached Velasco and fighting began Mexican and Texas troops.
Ugartechea surrendered and Austin’s group sailed on to Anahuac – with the cannon.
Meanwhile, those supporting Santa Anna were winning battles elsewhere, including one at Nacogdoches.
Summer 1832 – Bustamante resigned as president of Mexico and Santa Anna to over in 1833.
Most Texas colonists were pleased because Santa Anna declared himself a Federalists.
Federalists always supported Texans.
Use map on page

14. Convention of 1832 Texans knew changes needed to occur.
A convention to discuss these changes was called on October 1, 1832 with Stephen F. Austin as its president.
The agreed on the following:
Texas be made a separate Mexican state
Immigration from the U.S. be permitted again.
Exemption from certain taxes.
Improved educational facilities.
Better protection from Native Americans
Land titles for settlers in East Texas.
William H. Wharton and Rafael Manchola were sent to Mexico City to present these changes, but they never presented anything.

15. Convention of 1833
Another convention was called at San Felipe on April 1,
Many new delegates were present at this convention, including Sam Houston from Nacogdoches.
This convention adopted similar resolutions like in 1832, but they also prepared a constitution for the proposed Mexican State of Texas.
Stephen F. Austin, Dr. James B. Miller, and Erasmo Seguín were chosen to carry the resolutions to Mexico City.
Miller and Seguín were unable to make the trip at the time, so Austin made the journey alone.

16. Increased Tensions,
Section 3

17. Austin's Mission Is Stalled
April 1833 – Austin begins his journey to Mexico City and arrives three months later.
Santa Anna was out of town.
His government did not know how to handle the issue of Texas.
A cholera epidemic raged in the capital causing thousands of deaths.
Austin waited until October.
Finally, he wrote a note to authorities in San Antonio urging Texans to form their own government.
Graphic Organizer – timeline.

18. Austin Is Imprisoned and Released
November 1833 – Santa Anna returns to Mexico City.
He granted repealing, or doing away with the law restricting immigration from the U.S., improving the court and postal systems.
However, Santa Anna did not grant Texas separate statehood.
December 10, 1833 – Austin leaves Mexico City.
January 1834 – Austin reaches Saltillo in northern Mexico.
Austin is arrested because of the letter he wrote to authorities in San Antonio.
He was taken to Mexico City and remained a prisoner.
He was released on bail on Christmas Day 1834, but had to remain in Mexico City.
On July 11, 1835, he was granted complete freedom.
September 1, 1835 – Austin returns to Texas after two years and four months.
Graphic Organizer – timeline.

19. Reforms Begin in Texas 1834 – reforms promised by Santa Anna began.
English became an official language for transactions.
Immigration from the U.S. began.
Court systems improved.
Two more Texans were added as representatives in the state legislature of Coahuila.
Religious tolerance was granted.
The Mexican government sent Colonel Juan Almonte, to inspect Texas during this time of reform.
Almonte reported that all was quiet in Texas and urged that reforms be continued.
-Explain religious tolerance.

20. Trouble Erupts Again
Early 1835 – Andrew Briscoe, a merchant in Anahuac quarreled with Captain Antonio Tenorio who was commander of the garrison in Anahuac.
Briscoe did not want to pay customs duties because they were not enforce in other Texan ports.
Tenorio arrested Briscoe.
Briscoe’s arrest caused resentment amongst the colonists.
In late June 1835, a group in San Felipe, led by William B. Travis, went to Anahuac and forced Tenorio to surrender.
Tenorio surrendered and he and his soldiers agreed to leave Texas.
Some Texans did not agree with Travis and adopted resolutions assuring the Mexican government of their loyalty.
These colonists wrote a letter of apology to General Martín Perfecto de Cós, Santa Anna’s brother-in-law and commander of the Mexican forces in Coahuila.
Why would some Texans not agree with Travis?

21. General Cós Rejects the Apology
Cós was in no mood for an apology.
He demanded the arrest of those involved in the disturbances.
He was acting on Santa Anna’s orders because Santa Anna had become a Centralist.
Cós also ordered that Lorenzo de Zavala be arrested.
Zavala had helped frame the Mexican Constitution of 1824 and had moved to Texas for safety.
Cós announced that he was taking many soldiers to Texas to arrest those he considered disloyal.

22. Texans Call for a Consultation
August 15, 1835 – leaders in the town of Columbia issued a call for a convention so the people could discuss the situation.
This convention was to be known as the Consultation and was to meet at Washington-on-the-Brazos on October 15.
There were two sides: the Peace Party and War Party.
Peace Party – felt the Consultation would create trouble.
War Party – favored the Consultation. The colonists in the War Party demanded a declaration of independence from Mexico, even if that meant a war.
A note had been sent out to the delegates asking the following:
To work for a peaceful solution if it could be secured on agreeable terms.
The delegates should “prepare for war – if war is inevitable.”
Austin approved the Consultation because he believed Santa Anna was becoming a dictator (a ruler with absolute power).