1. Austin Establishes a Colony
Chapter 7
Austin Establishes a Colony

2. Moses Austin Paves the Way
Baron de Bastrop
Moses Austin was the first Anglo American to secure permission from Spain to bring American settlers into Texas
Bastrop was a personal friend of the Spanish governor and an old friend of Austin’s
Baron de Bastrop helped Austin convince the Spanish governor that his plan was not an excuse for Americans to take Spanish land

3. Stephen F. Austin Continues his Father’s Work
Stephen F. Austin Background
Erasmo Seguin
Background:
Grown up on the frontier
Transylvania University in Kentucky
Missouri territorial legislature
Circuit judge in Arkansas
Austin was determined to carry out his fathers plan
Citizen from San Antonio that went with Austin to see the Spanish Governor to discuss the plans for settlement

4. Austin Sets Colonies Boundaries
Where and why did he choose the location he chose?
Austin spent Sept 1821 exploring Texas
Decided the region between the Brazos and Colorado River would be the best place for the colony
Abundant water and natural resources
Fertile soil
Mild climate
No other settlements

5. Advertising for Colonists
Survey
Ways to pay?
Requirements of settlers
Austin surveyed, measured, the land to determine grant sizes and boundaries so settlers could get legal rights to property
12.5 cents per acre
Austin was willing to extend credit to new settlers, allowing them to pay over time
Requirements:
Become citizens of their new country
Take an oath of allegiance to Spain (later Mexico)
Become catholic
Be of good moral character

6. Good Land and Low Prices Attract Settlers
Attraction to colony?
March 1822
Prospect of gaining good farm land for low prices
Went to San Antonio to report to the Spanish Governor, but realized Mexico had won its independence from Spain
Austin’s settlement was not recognized his right to colonize
Austin goes to Mexico City to try to get the new government’s approval

7. Austin Impresses Mexican Leaders
Austin’s stay in Mexico
Empresario
In Mexico city, Austin found confusion and problems with the new government
Mexican Law 1823: New government law about settlement
Austin could now give people, including himself, more land and settle 300 families

8. Problems Develop in the Colony
List problems in the colony
Militia
Drought
Disagreements over ownership of land
Karankawas and Tonkawas raided settlements and stole horses and cattle
Austin raised a militia, temporary army unit, to protect the colony against the raids

9. Men and Women of The Old 300 The Old 300 San Felipe de Austin
300 families that came from Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Missouri who were the first to settle in the new area
New capital in Austin’s colony located on the west bank of the Brazos

10. The Constitution of 1824
Augustin de Iturbide – Mexican Emperor overthrown by Federalists in 1823
Federalists- Group of people who formed the new government (believed in sharing power between the states and the national government
Centralists- believed that power should be concentrated in the federal government of Mexico city
Federalists Constitution of Written by Feds, divided Mexico into 19 states with 4 main territories
Coahuila y Tejas is formed

11. Mexico passes Colonization Law!
Restriction of colonization- passed in 1824 by Congress: 3 important new laws
1.) no one could receive more than 48,708 acres of land
2.) no colony could be established within 10 leagues of the coast nor within 20 leagues of international boundary without Mexican permission
3.) if you bought land contract, you must PERMANENTLY stay

12. How the laws worked
After a payment of $30, family received as much as 4,428 acres
Single men – up to 1,107 acres
When they married – additional 3,321 acres
If they married a Mexican women – bonus of 1,107 acres
Shortage of friars, meaning religion laws were not a scrict

13. The Most Successful
Stephen F. Austin- By 1828, he had received 4 additional contracts under the new colonization law (500 new families)
In 1827 established the town of Bastrop – “Little Colony”
Final land contract – 1831 – With the help of Samuel M. Williams – land Northwest of original colony (This caused a big debate over land with Nashville Immigrants lead by Sterling C. Robertson!)

14. Why Austin was so successful
Learned to speak Spanish
Dealt well with Mexican authorities
With help of militia, Indians became less of a threat
Most fertile soil in all of Texas

15. Green DeWitt Second most successful Empresario
Brought 400 families (Anglo) into Texas in 1825
Founded the town of Gonzales, became colonies Headquarters
Native American raids!!

16. Martin de Leon Successful Mexican Empresario
Expert rancher and horseman who brough 100 to 200 families MEXICAN into Texas and settled along the Guadalupe River
Wife, Patricia de la Garza de Leon, had family values through DOWRY aka valuable goods
Founded the town of Victoria

17. Women in the colonies Majority of immigrants to Texas were women
Worked alongside men and farmed, hunted, defended land, tended livestock
Could not vote, hold public office, or serve on jury
Women like, Jane McManus, even became Empresarios – brought German colonists