1. Chapter 8 “Growing Tensions”

2. Differences Create Tension Differences between Mexicans and Anglo-American Texans in the 1820’s and 1830’s may have led to misunderstanding and conflict.

3. Different Languages

4. Different Religions

5. Disagreements over the issue of slavery

6. Mexicans suspected that Anglos remained loyal to the United States.

7. Anglo-Americans were unfamiliar with Mexican laws.

8. Texans under the Mexican Federalists before 1829 were left alone to do as they pleased. More and more settlers received land titles, cleared their fields, and built homes. They established schools and newspapers. Settlers brought in slaves, which the Mexican government opposed.

9. Texans under the Mexican Centralists after 1829, were under many strict regulations. It issued regulations to bring the states and provinces of Mexico more under the authority of the national government. Most Anglo Texans considered these regulations unnecessary and unfair.

10. The Republic of Fredonia The first clash between colonists and Mexican authorities. (1829)

11. The state government allowed the empresario Haden Edwards to settle 800 families in the Nacogdoches area.

12. Edwards learned that many settlers were living without legal titles on his land. He was told that he could not charge these settlers for new land titles.

13. Edwards responded by declaring his colony, The Republic of Fredonia, independent from Mexico.

15. Edwards received no support from other Texan colonies or from the United States, and Mexican troops quickly put the revolt down. Thirty or so Fredonians fled to the United States.

16. At approximately the same time, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Anthony Butler, proposed that Mexico sell Texas to the United States.

17. The Mexicans were convinced now that the Fredonian Revolt was part of an American scheme to acquire Texas. Their fears and suspicions grew. The Americans cannot be trusted!

18. #1 NOTES: FREDONIAN REVOLT Where? Nacogdoches What happened? Hayden Edwards was angry with squatters & Mexico so he declared his colony free from Mexico. Result? When Mexico attacked, most Fredonians fled to the U.S.

19. Mexico sent an inspection party, led by General Mier y Teran, to investigate.

20. Mier y Teran reported that Anglo- American influence in East Texas was strong, since Anglo settlers outnumbered Mexican settlers five to one.

21. He also noted that slavery was growing in Texas, …

22. …and that American settlers were entering Texas without permission or contracts. http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/OregonTrail.html

23. Mier y Teran made it clear to the Mexican government that if it did not act at once, Texas would be

24. #2 NOTES: Inspection of Mier y Teran Where? East Texas What happened? * found Anglos 5 to 1 over Mexicans * influences from U.S. too strong Result? Recommended that Mexico take action against the Anglos

25. Meanwhile, the Anglo American colonists were also becoming concerned. Those colonists who held slaves were worried about government efforts to abolish slavery.

26. In 1829 the president of Mexico issued a decree, or order, abolishing slavery. He was persuaded to exempt, or excuse, Texas from the decree, but many of the Anglo American slaveholders believed that it was only a matter of time before the decree would apply to them, too.

28. The Law of April 6, 1830 was issued by the new Centralist government, who no longer trusted the Texans.

29. This new law: A. Stopped immigration from the United States. B. Encouraged immigration from Mexico and Europe.

30. C.Placed customs duties on goods made in foreign countries in order to discourage trade with the United States.

31. D.Set up new forts in Texas to enforce these customs duties. http://www.floridafrontiersmen.org/FtGun.jpg

32. One result of the Law of April 6, 1830: Each side began to distrust the other side and skirmishes occurred in different settlements.

33. #3 NOTES: Law of April 6, 1830 Where? For Texas What happened? * stopped immigration from U.S. * customs duties on goods from U.S. * new forts to enforce the above taxes Result? Texans were angry. Mexicans did not trust Texans.

34. Physical Conflicts between Texans and Mexicans occurred at the towns of Anahuac and Velasco because of these customs duties.

35. ANAHUAC A fight began when merchants protested having to travel long distances to pay taxes on goods coming across the border. When two Texans, William B. Travis and Patrick C. Jack, were arrested, several men went to Brazoria to get a cannon to fight.

36. #4 NOTES: Tax Protests at Anahuac Where? Anahuac, Tx What happened? * Texans protested customs duties (taxes) * Some men were arrested and jailed Result? * Texans angry * Some went to get cannon to release those jailed

37. VELASCO Mexican officials would not let the cannon, now loaded on a ship, pass Velasco on its way to Anahuac. Both Texans and Mexicans died in the skirmish over the cannon.

39. While the colonists in Anahuac waited on the cannon, they issued a series of statements known as the Turtle Bayou Resolutions. They claimed that in fighting, they were not rebelling against Mexican authority…

40. but instead were supporting the Constitution of 1824 and the revolutionist Santa Anna, who was leading a rebellion against the Centralist President Anastasio Bustamonte.

41. Page 1 of the Turtle Bayou Resolutions

42. #5 NOTES: Velasco Skirmish VELASCO: * Skirmish over cannon * Men on both sides killed TURTLE BAYOU: * Some Texans made resolutions pledging loyalty to Mexico, Constitution of 1824, and Santa Anna

43. In 1832, the Centralist President Anastasio Bustamonte, resigned. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna became president.

44. Most Texas colonists were pleased. They thought Santa Anna would support Texas because he was a Federalist.

45. The Convention of 1832 With new optimism, Texans called a convention to discuss changes needed in Texas. 58 delegates assembled in San Felipe on October 1, 1832. Stephen F. Austin was elected president of the convention. The convention made several resolutions to discuss with President Santa Anna:

46. The Convention of 1832 Texas should be made a separate Mexican state. Immigration from the United States should be permitted again. Exemption from certain import taxes Improved educational facilities Better protection from Native Americans *** For various reasons, these resolutions were never presented to officials in Mexico.

47. The Convention of 1833 A few months later, a second convention convened at San Felipe. The Convention of 1833 adopted the same resolutions as those adopted in 1832. However, they also prepared a constitution for the proposed Mexican state of Texas. Of the three delegates chosen to carry the resolutions to Mexico City, only Stephen Austin was able to make the trip.

48. #6 NOTES: Conventions at San Felipe Where? San Felipe What happened? * Men voted on improvements wanted for Texas (ex: immigration from U.S. ; less taxes; Texas a separate state) Result? * Stephen Austin was to take the resolutions to Santa Anna in Mexico City

49. In April of 1833, Stephen Austin traveled to Mexico City to discuss the many concerns of Texas with the new president, Santa Anna. Austin was unable to obtain an audience with Santa Anna for several months. One reason for this delay was a cholera epidemic which killed thousands in Mexico.

50. By October, Austin was becoming discouraged. He wrote a letter to authorities in San Antonio describing the difficulties he faced. In that letter, Austin encouraged Texans to begin forming their own state government.

51. Finally, in November of 1833,Austin was allowed to meet with Santa Anna. Santa Anna agreed to the following: 1.Citizens may immigrate from the U.S again. 2.Mexico will improve Texas court and postal systems. BUT: 3.Texas may not become an independent Mexican state.

52. Stephen Austin left to return to Texas, pleased with his accomplishment.

53. In January 1834, Austin reached the town of Saltillo in northern Mexico. The letter he had written to authorities in San Antonio, authorizing them to draw up a constitution for the new Mexican state of Texas, had been intercepted. Austin was arrested and taken back to Mexico City. http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/mex-war/santa-anna-1.gif

54. In 1834, Santa Anna’s promised reforms had begun in Texas: A.English became an official business language. B.Immigration from the United States was once again allowed.

55. C.The Texas court system was improved. D.The number of Texas representatives was increased from one to three in the legislature.

56. E.Religious tolerance for non-Catholics was granted.

57. After one year in prison, Austin was released on Christmas Day, 1834. He was required to stay in Mexico City for six months and wait on a final decision on his case. Austin returned to Texas on September 1, 1835. He had been away from his colony for two years and four months.

58. Notes #7: SFA Arrested Where? Saltillo & Mexico City What happened? Stephen Austin was arrested for treason b/c he had written a letter advising Texans to write a consti- tution for the “Mexican state of Texas.” Result? * In prison for 1 year * Away from his colony for 2 years & 4 months

59. Early in 1835, trouble between Mexicans and Texans erupted again around Anahuac.

60. Residents in Anahuac again quarreled about customs duties (taxes on imports). William Travis and others refused to pay the tax until the law was enforced equally. They also forced the Mexican commander there to leave Texas.

61. Local leaders of the Peace Party from several towns did not approve of the actions taken by Travis. Those at San Felipe wrote an apology to General Martin Perfecto de Cos, Santa Anna’s brother-in-law and commander of the Mexican forces in Coahuila.

62. General Cos was in no mood for an apology. He was upset by the fiery words of the Texans, and demanded the arrest of those involved, including Travis. In doing so, he was acting on Santa Anna’s orders. Santa Anna was no longer a Federalist; he had become a Centralist.

63. After long consideration, Stephen Austin had become convinced that Santa Anna was becoming a dictator (a ruler with absolute power.) He urged Texans to unite against him.

64. “War is our only recourse. There is no other remedy. We must defend our rights, ourselves, and our country by force of arms.” http//www.latinamericanstudies.org/19-century/austin-1.jpg

65. Notes #8: Arrests at Anahuac Where: Anahuac What happened: More protests & arrests at Anahuac over taxes. Mexican officials there run out of town. Result: Some Texans try to apologize but General Cos is furious with the Texans.

66. A Mexican Army Arrives in Texas In 1835, tension continued to build in Texas. Mexican officials felt that Texian radicals like William B. Travis were becoming disloyal, and that more soldiers were needed. General Cos arrived with additional troops. This brought the number of Mexican soldiers in San Antonio to 650.

67. The presence of the Mexican soldiers in Texas caused concern among the Texas settlers. Towns formed Committees of Correspondence – local groups that shared political and military information – to keep the colonists informed. Patrols watched the roads to give warnings of approaching troops.

68. Notes #9: Cos brings soldiers to Tx. Where? San Antonio What happened? Gen. Cos brings 650 troops to San Antonio to control and arrest rebellious Texans. Result? Very concerned Texans form committees to monitor actions of soldiers.

69. Gonzales – The Lexington of Texas The first conflict between Mexican troops and Texan colonists came at Gonzales on October 2, 1835.

70. Why was Gonzales known as the Lexington of Texas? The first battle of the American Revolution had taken place at Lexington, Massachusetts, when British soldiers had attempted to take arms and ammunition away from the people. The battle of Gonzales had a similar beginning. Surrender your artillery! Give us the cannon!

71. The Mexican commander at San Antonio, Colonel Ugartechea, ordered the people of Gonzales to surrender their small brass cannon. When the citizens refused, Colonel Ugartechea ordered about 100 soldiers to take the cannon by force.

72. When the Mexican troops arrived at Gonzales, they faced about 160 armed Texans, who had decorated the front of the cannon with a white flag that bore the words “Come and Take It.” The fighting lasted only a few minutes. One Mexican soldier was killed. No Texans died in the confrontation. The Mexicans withdrew toward San Antonio.

78. Notes #10: Battle of Gonzales Where: Gonzales What happened: Settlers refuse to hand over a small brass cannon loaned to them to fight off Tonkawa Indians. Tell 100 Mexican soldiers to “Come and Take it!” Result: One Mexican killed. Santa Anna considered this as the outbreak of war. October 2, 1835.

79. At San Antonio, General Cos regarded the actions at Gonzales as the outbreak of war. Many Texas colonists who had been indifferent about the prospect of fighting were now enthusiastic. We can take ‘em!

80. The Consultation of 1835 While Texan militia troops camped near San Antonio to keep an eye on Mexican soldiers, other Texans representing 14 towns and districts met in San Felipe to consult on a plan of action.

81. War Party delegates favored an immediate declaration of indepen- dence from Mexico. Peace Party delegates favored a declaration that Texans were loyal Mexican citizens and that they were fighting for the Mexican Constitution of 1824, which Santa Anna had overthrown.

82. The Texans final declaration to the Mexican government stated that Texans were no longer united with the current Mexican dictatorship and urged Mexican citizens to fight with them for a democratic government.

83. Notes #11: Consultation of 1835 Where? San Felipe What happened? 58 Texan delegates met to form a plan and compose a statement to present to Santa Anna. Result? Texans stated that they were loyal Mexican citizens, but declared war on Santa Anna and his dictatorship.