1. Unit 5: Mexican Texas - Revolution through Independence
With the number of new American settlers moving into Texas, things are getting tense. Students should be able to recognize the reasons for the tensions between the Mexican Government and the new Texans (mostly former Americans) that eventually lead to the Texas Revolution.
KEY events to focus on –
Mexican Federal Constitution of 1824
Colonization Law of 1825
Fredonian Rebellion
Meir y Teran’s Report
Law of April 6, 1830
Turtle Bayou Resolutions
Conventions of 1832 and 1833
Arrest and Imprisonment of Stephen F. Austin
The Consultation (1835)
Myehr ee the RAHN
Warm-Up= Answer this question on paper: “What differences between Mexicans and Anglo American Texans in the 1820s and 1830s might have led to misunderstandings and conflict?
(Answers will vary, but not limited to)
Different languages
Different religions
Disagreed on issue of slavery
Mexicans lived geographically closer to Mexico City (central government) and Settlers lived geographically closer to United States and a different government.
Anglos were not familiar with Mexican laws.

2. THE CONSTITUTION OF 1824
Federalists wrote a constitution in 1824 that:
Divided Mexico into 19 states and 4 territories
Combined Coahuila and Tejas as one state---Coahuila y Tejas.
Texas could become a single Mexican state after it’s population grew large enough
Out of the 12 members of the state legislature that met in Saltillo, Texas could have only 1
Federalists mostly left the American settlers in Texas alone
Federalists – power should be shared between the states and the national government
POWER
POWER
This first slide is a quick review of where Chapter 7 left us.
Empresarios included–
Austin is given 5 contracts to bring in a total of over 2000 settlers to Texas, Father of Texas
Dewitt (400),
de Leon ( ),
Power and Hewetson,
McMullen and McGloin
POWER
Mexico City

3. Texas Settlements Grow in Early 1820’s
While Federalists are in power in Mexico, the colonists are left alone and…
Trade expands
Population grows
Farms and Plantations thrive
Schools built
Newspapers printing
Slaves are accepted in colonies
For many years life was good for the settlers, but then Tensions increase and difficulties begin.

4. State Colonization Law of 1825
• Set up guidelines to the colonization of Texas (and other Mexican states)
• Foreigners (U.S. and European) were encouraged to immigrate to Texas
• Same restrictions applied (become Mexican citizen, good moral character) EXCEPT: Mexico allowed settlers to practice other religions besides Catholicism

5. The Difficulties Begin (1826-1830)
Republic of Fredonia
Mier y Teran
Law of April 6, 1830

6. Fredonian Revolt
Haden Edwards was awarded a large piece of land as an empresario --
He was allowed to settle 800 families near Nacogdoches
When Edwards arrived at his land (in September) he discovered that there were already people living there (many had been there for generations)
MINE! No, it’s MINE!!
The Political chief in the area sided with the settlers (against Edwards)
Edward’s brother, Benjamin, thought the only way to solve the problem was to declare his colony independent from Mexico
Edwards told them they had to leave because they did not have any legal titles for their land and he had a contract from the Mexican government to sell their land – they would have to PAY him to stay!

7. So . . .
The brothers got armed settlers and took the Old Stone Fort (Dec. 16)
They raised a red and white flag that said, “Independence, Liberty and Justice”
Called it the Republic of Fredonia
- The Mexican government (with the help of Stephen F. Austin) sent troops to Nacogdoches to stop the revolt. (January)
- Some Fredonians were captured but most of them ran across the Sabine River (border) into the United States … the revolt was over

8. Effects of the Fredonian Revolt
The Mexican government wanted to know what in the world(?!) was going on in Texas so the sent General Mier y Teran to investigate.
Teran told the Mexican government that Texans outnumbered Mexicans in East Texas at least 5 to 1.
Worried about the growing American influence in Texas.
He also told the government that if they didn’t do something that Texas would be “lost forever.”
Warm-Up = Have students review notes from previous day and then create this organizer on paper and complete:
Views After the Fredonian Revolt
Mexican Govt Texas Settlers
Although the Fredonian Revolt was a minor event and most colonists had refused to support the Edwards brothers, Mexican officials became worried. They thought this small revolt was part of an American scheme to acquire Texas.
Teran was in Nacogdoches during the U.S. Presidential election in which Andrew Jackson was elected. He was the first president NOT from the Northeast. He was from Tennessee.
Teran realized that this proved the U.S. was looking westward---- which worried him more regarding possible U.S. plans to take over Texas.

10. Centralist Party -- 1829 End of independent acts
Regulations issued to bring the states and provinces of Mexico more under the control and authority of the national government.
As a RESULT of the Fredonian Revolt and Mexico’s growing concern over losing Texas to America, the Centralist Party came into power.
Remember that Teran was a Federalist and a “friend” of Texas; now, even he changes to a Centralist.
Most colonists considered these regulations to be unnecessary and unfair --- series of clashes resulted in a REVOLUTION
Remind students of how life was under Federalists (slide 3)

11. LAW OF APRIL 6, 1830 CENTRALISTS CAME INTO POWER IN 1829
Issued a decree (law) abolishing slavery in Mexico (including Texas)
LAW OF APRIL 6, 1830
Stopped all immigration from the UNITED STATES
Encouraged immigration from MEXICO and EUROPE
Placed customs duties (taxes) on goods made in foreign countries (the United States)
Texans DID NOT like the new laws the Centralists were putting in place.
THEY SAID IT VIOLATED THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS (The Constitution of 1824)
Centralists – power should be concentrated in the central government of Mexico City
POWER
POWER
The decree to abolish slavery in Texas never went into effect but WORRIED the slaveholders greatly and they feared the decree would soon apply to them.
The Law of April 6, 1830 was issued based on many of Teran’s recommendations.
Also built forts to prevent smuggling of goods from United States; introduction of more slaves; illegal land speculation.
Texas settlers were alarmed because their prosperity depended upon continued growth and trade with U.S.
Settlers also had friends and family who could no longer come to Texas.
Law of April 6, 1830 was an early turning point in relations between the colonists and the Mexican government—
Each side began to distrust the other!
Stephen F. Austin tried to negotiate with Mexican leaders but to much had already happened to
Reverse tensions.
END OF SECTION 1
POWER
Mexico City

12. Rebellions 1831-1835 Turtle Bayou Resolutions
Conventions of 1832 and 1833
Arrest and imprisonment of SFA
The Consultation
Section 2 begins on page 190
We ended section 1 with the Centralists taking control of the Mexican government with the Law of April 6, 1830.
Recall freedoms being taken away, etc.

13. Turtle Bayou Resolutions (June 13, 1832)
NOT rebelling against Mexican authority
Supported Santa Anna’s revolt against the Centralists in Mexico (President Bustamante) because they were ignoring the Constitution of 1824
Santa Anna supported the Constitution of (or did he?)
The Texans wrote up a list of things they wanted the Mexican government to know. These statements became known as the Turtle Bayou Resolutions.
The Constitution of 1824 favored the Texans… so they wanted it to stay in place. They thought Santa Anna supported this as a Fereralist.

14. I am a Federalist. NO, really
I am a Centralist
Finally in 1833, Santa Anna became president of Mexico… most Texans were happy… because he had declared himself to be a FEDERALIST… he had promised to support the Constitution of 1824… which is what the Texans wanted…
With the Centralists gone… 58 delegates to the convention assembled in San Felipe to discuss what changes they wanted from the new government (Federalist Santa Anna was coming into power in a few months)
Stephen F. Austin was elected president of the convention.

15. CONVENTION OF 1832 (October 1)
Stephen F. Austin was elected president of this convention
Six major resolutions made:
Texas should be made a separate state
Immigration from the U.S. should be allowed again
Texans be exempt from certain import taxes
They would receive better educational facilities
Better protection from the Native Americans
Land titles for settlers in East Texas
William H. Wharton and Rafael Manchola were elected to present these resolutions to officials in Mexico City.
Why do you think Austin was elected as the president of the 1832 convention?
They were never presented though ----

16. CONVENTION OF 1833 (April 1)
Included the same resolutions from the earlier convention
Also, included a constitution calling for Texas to become Mexican state of its own.
The delegates decided to send Stephen F. Austin to Mexico to present their resolutions to Mexico City
6 months later . . .
Another group of Anglo American colonists called another convention at San Felipe.
Most of these delegates had NOT attended the previous one.
Sam Houston was elected as the new representative from Nacogdoches. (Remember his name because he plays a huge part in what comes NEXT in Texas History)
Stephen F. Austin, Dr. James B. Miller and Erasmo Seguin were chosen to carry the resolutions to Mexico City. Miller and Seguin were unable to go so Austin went alone.
End of Secion 2

17. Increased Tensions 1833-1835 Stephen F. Austin imprisoned
General Cos incident
Consultation of 1835
Section 3 begins on page194

18. Cholera Epidemic in Mexico City
In April 1833, Austin arrives in Mexico City as a cholera epidemic is sweeping through the city
Austin’s meeting with Santa Anna is delayed because Santa Anna did not want to be in the city while so many people were dying of cholera
Austin gets frustrated (he had been waiting for 3 months) and writes a letter to the delegates in San Antonio telling them to go ahead and form their own government
In November, Santa Anna finally meets with Austin and agrees to some of the resolutions… mainly doing away with the law restricting immigration
Santa Anna did not agree to separate statehood but agreed to repeal the law restricting immigration from the U.S. and improve the court and postal systems.
Austin was pleased and left the capital on December 10 to return home.

19. Austin gets thrown in prison
Austin leaves Mexico City in December 1833 to head back to Texas
In the meanwhile, the Mexican authorities in Saltillo had read Austin’s letter to the delegates in Texas… they weren’t too happy…
Austin is arrested in January 1834 and sent BACK to Mexico City
Texans were appalled… they asked for Austin’s release…

20. After being imprisoned for 1 ½ years, Austin was finally given his freedom in July of 1835…
he got back to Texas that September –
over 2 years since leaving!!!

21. While Austin was in Prison
The cholera epidemic also killed colonists; including 8 members of Austin’s family
In the Fall of 1833, malaria also hit the colonists due to heavy rains in East Texas
1834 was better because reforms Santa Anna promised began –
English became official language
Immigrants from U.S. were allowed in
Improved courts
Increased number of Texas representatives in the state legislature of Coahuila
Religious tolerance was granted

22. Here we go again --- In early 1835, trouble began again in Anahuac!
To make a short story long, Anahuac merchant, Andrew Briscoe, told Garrison Captain, Antonio Tenorio that the taxes were not being collected in other ports and he refused to pay the duties until the law was enforced equally. Well, Tenorio arrested Briscoe! Colonists got mad and in late June, a group in San Felipe, led by
William B. Travis
decided to take action. They went to Anahuac and forced Tenorio to surrender and leave Texas!!
Some Texans disagreed with what Travis had done and wrote a letter of apology to General Martin Perfecto de Cos, Santa Anna’s brother-in-law and commander of the Mexican forces in Coahuila.

23. General Cos “Apology NOT accepted!”
Arrested William B. Travis, Frank W Johnson and Samuel M Williams
Arrested distinguished Mexican politician who helped frame the Mexican Constitution of 1824 (remember that one?), Lorenzo de Zavala
Santa Anna wanted them to stand trail. (He is no longer a Federalist but a Centralist.)
Cos announced he was taking many soldiers to Texas to arrest those he considered disloyal.
Zavala had moved to Texas because he was already worried about his safety in Mexico.
Remember this man – you’ll hear more of him later in Texas History.
Cos’s actions caused GREAT concern in Texas. Texans were NOT willing to turn over their friends to Mexican Military Court.

24. Consultation of 1835
August 15, 1835, leaders in the town of Columbia issued a call for a convention so people could discuss the situation with Cos and Santa Anna.
This convention was known as the CONSULTATION and was held at Washington-on-the-Brazos on October 15.
Colonists had mixed opinions --
Peace Party War Party
Members of the Peace Party feared the Consultation would cause trouble.
Those in favor of an immediate declaration of independence from Mexico were members of the War Party. This included, Travis.
Members of the Peace Party HOPED Stephen F. Austin would oppose the Consultation but he did not. Austin had become convinced that Santa Anna was becoming a dictator (ruler with absolute power)
Austin urges the colonists to unite – (next slide)

25. The provisional government functioned here until March 2, 1836,
This Historical Marker shows about where the courthouse, built about 1830, stood.
Both the first and second conventions of Texas, 1832 and 1833, and the consultation of 1835 were held on this site.
The provisional government functioned here until March 2, 1836,
Historical marker near the site where the Consultation of 1835 was held. The provional government functioned in the courthouse until March 2, 1836 – but you will learn about that in Chapter 9.

26. “War is our only recourse. There is not other remedy
“War is our only recourse. There is not other remedy. We must defend our rights, ourselves, and our country by force of arms.”
Stephen F. Austin