1. Chapter 7 - Age of Empresarios
Chapter 7.1 – Austin Establishes a Colony
In 1821, Moses Austin paved the way for Anglo American colonization of Texas
He was the first Anglo American to secure permission from Spain to bring American settlers into Texas
Born in Connecticut, Moses Austin moved to present-day Missouri in 1798, when that area of Louisiana still belonged to Spain
As a result, he was familiar with Spanish laws and regulations
Austin prospered in Missouri until a depression swept the United States in 1819 and ruined his business
Austin set out to Texas in 1820 to meet with Governor Antonio Martinez, hoping to secure a contract from Spanish authorities that would allow him to bring 300 families to Texas
Austin was at first turned down
While leaving Martinez’s office, Austin met an old friend, Baron de Bastrop
Moses Austin Paves the Way

2. Chapter 7 - Age of Empresarios
Chapter 7.1 – Austin Establishes a Colony
Baron de Bastrop, whose real name was Philip Hendrik Nering Bogel, was an important man in San Antonio and promised to help Austin
Bastrop helped convince the governor that his plan was not an excuse for the United States to grab land
After returning to Missouri, Austin received word that the Spanish had approved his request
Before he could carry out his plans, however, he became seriously ill with pneumonia
The long, difficult journey to San Antonio and his work in preparing for colonization had exhausted him
On June 10, 1821, Moses Austin died.
His last request before dying was that his son, Stephen, carry out the plans for settling Texas
Moses Austin Paves the Way

3. Chapter 7 - Age of Empresarios
Chapter 7.1 – Austin Establishes a Colony
At the time of his father’s illness, Stephen was living in New Orleans, studying law and working for a newspaper
When he learned that the colonization contract had been approved, he left for San Antonio to help his father explore the country and set up the colony
He was near Natchitoches, Louisiana, when he learned his father had died
Stephen F. Austin was determined to carry out his father’s colonization plan and decided to go to San Antonio to see Governor Martinez
When Austin arrived in August of 1821, Governor Martinez warmly greeted him and then discussed Austin’s plan for settlement
Stephen F. Austin Continues His Father’s Work

4. Chapter 7 - Age of Empresarios
Chapter 7.1 – Austin Establishes a Colony
After spending most of September exploring Texas, he decided that the region between the Colorado and Brazos Rivers was a good place for a colony
He said that it had
fertile soil
abundant water
natural resources
a mild climate
and no other settlement
Austin wrote a full report and sent it to Governor Martinez, outlining the boundaries he wanted for the colony
Austin made a specific request for land along the coast, although he planned most settlements to be in the Colorado and Brazos Valleys
Austin Sets Colony Boundaries

5. Chapter 7 - Age of Empresarios
Chapter 7.1 – Austin Establishes a Colony
Austin began advertising for settlers to come to the colony
The advertisements appeared mainly in newspapers in the southern newspapers in the United States
The land policy proposed by Austin was very generous. It stated:
Each man would receive 640 acres
320 acres for his wife
160 acres for each child
80 acres for each slave
People of special value would receive additional grants of land (merchants, doctors, mill operators, and ferry operators)
Settlers would pay Austin 12.5 cents per acre
Austin was willing to extend credit to the settlers, allowing individuals time to pay
Advertising for Colonists

6. Chapter 7 - Age of Empresarios
Chapter 7.1 – Austin Establishes a Colony
Settlers coming to Texas were required to:
become citizens of their new country
take an oath of allegiance to the Spanish (later Mexican) government
become Catholic
be of good moral character
be willing to work hard
Advertising for Colonists

7. Chapter 7 – Age of Empresarios
Chapter 7.2 – The Colonies Grow
On March 19, 1823, Mexican emperor Agustin de Iturbide was overthrown
Federalists formed the new Mexican government; they believed in sharing power between the states and the national government
Their opponents, Centralists, believed that power should be concentrated in the national government of Mexico City
The Federalists wrote a new constitution for Mexico in 1824
Divided the nation into 19 states and 4 territories
The provinces of Coahuila and Tejas were combined into one province – Coahuila y Tejas
Tejas would be able to become its own Mexican state once its population grew large enough
Tejas would only select 1 of 12 representatives for the state legislature that met in Saltillo
The Constitution of 1824

8. Chapter 7 – Age of Empresarios
Chapter 7.2 – The Colonies Grow
In 1824 the congress in Mexico City passed a new colonization law that set up new restriction for colonization and had the states work out the details
No family could receive more than 48,708 acres of land
No colony could be established within 30 miles of the coast or 60 miles of an international boundary without permission
Only those who intended to live permanently in Texas could receive land
Upon learning of this new law, many people set out for Saltillo, the capital of Coahuila y Tejas
Mexico Passes Colonization Law

9. Chapter 7 – Age of Empresarios
Chapter 7.2 – The Colonies Grow
In 1825, Coahuila y Tejas passed a new state law for colonization within the state
Foreigners were invited to immigrate to Texas and could receive land through an empresario or on their own
For a payment of $30 a family could receive as much as 4,428 acres of land
Single men would receive 1,107 acres
When they married they would receive another 3,321 acres
If he married a Mexican woman, he would receive a bonus 1,107 acres
Colonists had to show evidence of good moral character and be Roman Catholic
Most families came through an empresario contract because
Most of the desirable land was held by them
Most families did not speak Spanish
How State Colonization Laws Worked

10. Chapter 7 – Age of Empresarios
Chapter 7.2 – The Colonies Grow
Stephen F. Austin continued to be the most successful empresario
By 1828, he had received 4 more contracts
He was allowed to settle 500 families within the boundaries of his first colony in 1825
Founded the town of Bastrop in 1827 while settling 100 families east of the Colorado River and north of the San Antonio Road
Settled 300 families along the coast in 1828
Settled 800 families in a large area northwest of his original colony in 1831
For every 200 families brought in, Austin was given around 67,000 acres of land for himself
The Most Successful Empresario

11. Chapter 7 – Age of Empresarios
Chapter 7.2 – The Colonies Grow
Several reasons contributed to Stephen F. Austin’s success as a colonizer
Ability to deal successfully with Mexican authorities
His colonists had little trouble getting the title to their land
He dealt with native Americans to eliminate threats
In addition to these traits, the land Austin had claim to was important
Some of the most fertile soil in Texas
Well watered
Contained large amounts of timber
Crossed by roads and rivers to provide transportation
Why Austin’s Colonies Succeeded

12. Chapter 7 – Age of Empresarios
Chapter 7.2 – The Colonies Grow
The second most successful empresario was Green DeWitt of Missouri.
In 1825 he was authorized to bring 400 families into Texas
His colony was situated west of Austin’s first colony and south of the San Antonio Road
The town of Gonzales was established as headquarters for the colony
Native Americans began a series of raids, which slowed the early growth of DeWitt’s colony
By 1831, he had issued 166 titles to land
Green DeWitt’s Success

13. Chapter 7 – Age of Empresarios
Chapter 7.2 – The Colonies Grow
Another successful empresario was Martin de Leon, an expert horseman and rancher
He settled between 100 and 200 families along the Guadalupe River near the coast
He founded the town of Victoria, which was named for the first president of the republic of Mexico
Native American raids also troubled de Leon’s colony, which was southeast of the DeWitt settlement
His colonists prospered by farming and ranching
Victoria became an important center for trade between Texas and Mexico
He later becomes famous for his help in the Texas Revolution but is forced to flee due to anti-Mexican sentiments
Martin de Leon, Empresario

14. Chapter 7 – Age of Empresarios
Other Contracts
Successes
Problems
Empresario
Capital
Location
McMullen and McGloin
Along the Gulf Coast
San Patricio
Irish
Power and Hewetson
South of De Leon along the Gulf Coast
Refugio
Native American Raids
Refugio was built on the site of an old Spanish Mission
Martin De Leon
South of De
Witt along the Guadalupe-Near the coast
Victoria
Forced to leave TX because of anti-Mexican sentiments
Did a lot to promote the cattle industry in Texas
Victoria important center for trade between Mexico and Texas
Green DeWitt
West of Austin’s 1st Colony
Gonzales
Settled 166 families
2nd in number to Austin
Stephen F. Austin (Father of Texas)
Between the Colorado and Brazos Rivers
San Felipe de Austin
Drought
Tonkawa & Kawakawa
Lively shipwrecked
Disputes over boundaries
Mexican gov’t revoked right to settle
Convinced Mexican gov’t to let him settle
Father of TX – 1st colonize Americans
Settled nearly 300 families