1. Steps Toward Revolution

2. Distrust between Mexico and U.S
U.S. minister, Joel Poinsett, offered to buy Texas from Mexico for $1 million in 1825
Mexico turned down the offer
Mexico distrusted the U.S. and believed they were going to try to force Mexico to give up Texas

3. American Experience U.S. settlers believed in democracy
One of their key beliefs was that civilians, not military leaders, should rule the country
Believed in separation of church and state – government should not favor any religion
People should be free to choose their religion (not just Catholic)
Also valued self-government

4. Mexican Experience Three Centers of Power
Army – favored a strong ruler to lead Mexico
Catholic Church – was the state church, held power in Mexico and played important role in government and society
Leaders of Mexican Revolution (Federalists) – liked the ideas of liberty and equality of the U.S.
These 3 groups fought for control of Mexico and the Texas settlers were caught in the middle of this power struggle

5. Issue of Slavery Mexico did not allow slavery
SFA convinced Mexican leaders to allow it so settlers from U.S. with slaves would come to Texas
Mexico tried to ban slavery many times but never able to enforce the ban

6. Settlers Practice “Independence”
Settlers had 3 requirements to settle in Texas
Settlers did not think of themselves as Mexicans
Brought American culture and practices to Texas
Spoke English
Set-up their own schools
Little contact with Mexican government
Little evidence that they were living in Mexico so life in Texas looked like life in U.S.

7. Mexico’s Reaction
Leaders worried about U.S. interest in Texas following Haden Edward’s Fredonian Rebellion
In 1827, Mexico sent General Mier y Teran to Texas to take a closer look at the situation in Texas and prepare a report
Mier y Teran was a patriot from the Mexican Revolution and was disturbed by what he saw in Texas
Reports that settlers do not respect Mexican customs and government and warns of a revolt

8. Mier y Teran’s Recommendations
Send more Mexican troops to Texas
Send more Mexican and European settlers to Texas to weaken the influence of U.S. settlers
Mexico should increase its trade with Texas – bring Texas and Mexico closer together
His findings alarmed many Mexican leaders so they took action
In 1829, the President of Mexico ended slavery in his country - did not enforce the ban in Texas

9. Mexico Angers the Settlers
Law of April 6, 1830 (Centralists)
Canceled all empresario contracts (except SFA and DeWitt)
Outlawed bringing slaves to Texas to make Texas more “Mexican”
Placed taxes on goods from U.S. to make American goods cost more than Mexican goods
Stopped immigration from the U.S. by placing more troops and setting up garrisons in Texas

10. Unrest Among the Texas Settlers
The actions of Mexico angered the Texans
Mexico was not following its own constitution
Until they did, the settlers were not going to obey the Law of April 6, 1830
Captain Bradburn arrived in Texas to set-up a garrison and tax collection station at Anahuac
Bradburn forced settlers to give him supplies for his fort and took some of their slaves

11. Trouble at Anahuac
William Travis and Patrick Jack, lawyers, were thrown in prison while trying to get slaves back
Settlers felt Bradburn was abusing his power since he did not charge them with a crime
160 settlers marched towards Bradburn’s garrison
They tried to negotiate the release of Travis and Jack but were not successful
One group decided to assemble more firepower and find cannons

12. Turtle Bayou Resolutions
While waiting for the group finding the cannons, the settlers wrote the Turtle Bayou Resolutions to state the causes of the revolt at Anahuac
Texans stated Bradburn ignored the Constitution of 1824 which granted each state the right to run its own affairs
Texans pledged loyalty to Santa Anna (Federalist who supported the state of Texas)
This was the FIRST organized written protest against Mexico

13. Avoiding the Crisis
Colonel Piedras, leader at the Nacogdoches garrison, traveled to Anahuac to look into the problem
Texans were preparing for battle so Piedras talked and listened to their concerns
Piedras replaced Bradburn as commander and released Travis and Jack from prison
The armed Texans disbanded and no serious fighting occurred

14. Bloodshed at Velasco
The group assembling more firepower for the attack on Anahuac were sending cannons down the Brazos River by ship
The ship was ordered to stop at Fort Velasco by a Mexican colonel
The Texans refused and fired on the fort from the ship and from the ground
The Mexican soldiers surrendered
Texans had not given up on Mexico but wanted reform

15. Political Fighting in Mexico
Federalist Party wanted a federal system of government
Separate states form a national government
Individual states hold most of the power
Texans sided with Federalists
Centralist Party favored a strong central government
National government would hold most of the power
States would have little power
Centralists passed Law of April 6, 1830

16. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
The leader of the Federalist Party was General Santa Anna
Texas settlers had pledged their loyalty to him in the Turtle Bayou Resolutions
Santa Anna tried to overthrow the Centralist government in 1832
This led to a civil war in Mexico
Many Mexican soldiers left Texas
This left control of Texas in the hands of the settlers

17. The Convention of 1832
Texas settlers hoped Santa Anna would win as a Federalist government would be more responsive to their needs
The Convention of 1832 at San Felipe was held to discuss their problems
At a convention, delegates discuss ideas and decide a course of action
Stephen F Austin was chosen as the leader

18. The Convention of 1832
Stephen F Austin demanded that immigration from the U.S. resume
They also asked that Texas become a separate Mexican state (currently part of a larger state called Coahuila y Tejas)
Mexican governor of Texas, Musquiz, supported the delegates’ concerns
Under Mexican law, the Convention of 1832 was not a legal meeting so it failed – governor refused to send their requests to the government

19. The Convention of 1833
Santa Anna won the civil war in Mexico and became president of the country
Federalists now held power
News of the victory led to the Convention of 1833 in April
William Wharton chosen as the leader
Delegates at this convention were firmer than those who attended the first one

20. The Convention of 1833 Delegates asked for:
An end to the ban against immigration
Texas to become a separate Mexican state
Better mail service
Improved defense against Native American raids
Reform of the courts
The right to use English in business and law
More money for schools

21. The Convention of 1833
SFA took active role in convention and explained why it took place
David Burnet wrote about why the settlers wanted statehood
Population was now large enough to be its own state
Texas suffered as part of Coahuila y Tejas since capital was 700 miles away
Sam Houston drafted a state constitution for Texas
SFA would deliver the demands and new constitution to Mexico City

22. Austin in Mexico City
SFA arrived in Mexico City in July to present the work of the convention to the Mexican government
His job was to convince the new Federalist government to make Texas a separate Mexican state
He found a confusing situation:
Santa Anna had resigned his position as president due to poor health (not even in the capital)
Vice-president Farias now controlled the government

23. Austin and Farias
SFA met with Farias in October to present the requests of the Convention of 1833
No action was taken by the Mexican government for weeks
SFA warned Farias that the Texans would take action if Mexico failed to act on the proposal
Farias felt threatened and ended the meeting in anger
SFA sent letter to the ayuntamiento at San Antonio without waiting for approval
Begin work to set-up a state government for Texas

24. Austin and Santa Anna
SFA met with Santa Anna in November who had returned to Mexico City
Santa Anna welcomed most of the SFA’s suggestions:
Ended the ban on immigration from the U.S.
Empresario contracts were extended
Given a greater sense of self-government
Santa Anna refused to support separate statehood for Texas
SFA left in December to return to San Felipe

25. Austin Imprisoned
SFA stopped in Saltillo on his way home and was arrested by the Mexican leaders in January
They learned of the angry letter he sent to San Antonio
They did not charge him with a crime but he was marched back to Mexico City and thrown in prison
Farias sent Colonel Almonte to Texas to check on the settlers who were calm
The calm was the result of a greater sense of self-government by the settlers

26. Santa Anna Changes Sides
To increase power, Santa Anna sided with the Catholic Church and the Army
He seized the government from Farias
He abolished the Constitution of 1824 (states’ rights to govern)
He reversed the policies of the Federalists
He dissolved each state legislature
He placed the states under the rule of the Army
Santa Anna created a Centralist Mexico (dictator)

27. Reaction in Texas/Anahuac
Settlers not pleased with Santa Anna’s actions
Local settlers got into another dispute in Anahuac over taxes
General Cos (Santa Anna’s brother-in-law) arrives at Anahuac to break up the state government
Decides he needs more troops at the garrison
Settlers learn of Cos’ plan and a small group led by William Travis capture Anahuac
Cos had Travis and others arrested
Cos sends more troops to Texas – war on the way!

28. Relations with Mexico Worsen
Matters came to a head in summer 1835
Settlers began to organize
They created the committees of safety and correspondence
Word spread of a meeting in October – the Consultation at Washington-on-the-Brazos
Ended up meeting at San Felipe in November
Before Consultation, SFA was released from prison after 1 ½ years
Texas lost all hope for peace and would go to war!