The document summarizes Mexican Texas from 1821 to 1836, when Texas gained independence from Mexico. It describes the ideological conflicts between liberals and conservatives in the new Mexican government. It also discusses the various immigration laws passed by Mexico to try to regulate the influx of American settlers into Texas, including the Law of April 6, 1830, which banned further immigration from the United States. However, this and other laws were ineffective and illegal immigration into Texas continued to rise dramatically during this period.

1. Mexican Texas, 1821-1836 Chapter Three

2. Problems in independent Mexico Ideological conflicts Liberals – wanted to form a republic based on liberal ideas of the Enlightenment and on the Spanish Constitution of 1812; essentially, more rights for the lower classes Also permitted mass immigration and tolerated slavery Conservatives – disliked the egalitarian ideas that gave some worth to the lower classes in Mexico Economic chaos Desire of military and Catholic Church officials wanting to maintain the distinct connection between Church and State Political inexperience of Mexico’s new leaders The Mexican Government

3. Non-Aggressive Immigration Concerns Philip Nolan (1801) American who came into Hill County looking for mustangs to sell in Louisiana; Spanish authorities captured and killed him in fear of a possible conspiracy to acquire Texas Border disputes with the United States (1803) U.S. President Thomas Jefferson sends a party to clarify the boundaries of the Louisiana territory; nearly starts a war with Spain over the eastern boundary of Texas The Mexican Government

4. Aggressive Immigration Concerns Dr. James Long (1819) Attempted to take advance of political issues between Mexico and Spain during the Mexican Revolution Came to Texas with a party of filibusters to take control of Texas from Mexico Caused a great uproar and was later captured by Mexican authorities Used the logic that since Texas was “surrendered” to Spain to gain Florida, U.S. southerners had a right to take back their land since Spain was on its way out of North America Caused great distrust of Americans by Spanish and Mexican officials The Mexican Government

5. Mexico legalizes immigration to Texas Keeping up the Spanish precedent Spanish already agreed to allow Moses Austin to start a settlement of Americans to Texas Moses Austin’s son, Stephen Fuller Austin later assumed his contract Mexican liberals saw missions as expensive liabilities Added too much power to the Church Encouraged intervention in government affairs Wanted to find another way to bring people into Texas without the baggage of the Catholic Church Security in Texas depended on steady foreign immigration 6 million people settled on an expanse ranging from California to Central America Manpower was desperately needed The Mexican Government

6. Moses Austin Stephen Fuller Austin

7. Austin’s Colony Stephen F. Austin assumed Moses Austin’s contract in 1821 Settlers began to arrive in late 1821 Political issues caused Austin’s contract to come into question, Austin traveled to Mexico City in 1822 to argue his claim The weak Mexican government recognized Austin’s claim under the Imperial Colonization Law (1823) Lasted as long as President Iturbide remained in power (which was not long) Austin returns to find his colony in a state of uncertainty Attacks by Karankawa Indians Food shortages Many settlers began to depart By the end of 1824, most of Austin’s land titles had been approved and Austin’s contract was considered valid Austin’s principle settlement became San Felipe de Austin (about sixty miles from present-day Houston) The Mexican Government

8. New Immigration Laws National Colonization Law of 1824 Individual states of Mexico had complete control over immigration and the disposal of public lands Law did not directly prohibit the importation of slaves or outlaw slavery Very federalist in tone; took similarities from the American Constitution and the Spanish Constitution of 1812 Valentin Gomez Farias and Lorenzo de Zavala were the principle individuals behind the law Conservatives who wanted a strong central government despised the law and called for an end to the rise of the Federalists The Mexican Government Lorenzo de Zavala

9. New Immigration Laws State Colonization Law of 1825 Focused primarily on the immigration of Coahuila and Texas Attempted to encourage farming and ranching Stimulate commercial activity Families could obtain a sitio (4,428 acres) and a labor (177 acres) of farming land Immigrants had to become Mexican citizens Promise to observe the Christian religion (expected Catholicism) Again, this law was so vague that it did not inhibit the slave trade and/or ownership of slaves The Mexican Government

10. Empresario Contracts Empresario – immigration agent that acted on behalf of the state government to select colonists, allocate land, and enforce laws within their colony Between 1821 and 1825, 41 empresario contracts were signed, permitting 13,500 families to come to Texas The majority were Anglo Americans from the United States Disputes Green DeWitt and Martin de Leon colonies (South Texas) had ill defined boundaries that caused disputes between settlers DeWitt’s land later became public domain in 1832 De Leon’s colony remained small The Mexican Government

11. Martin de Leon

13. Native Mexicans of Texas Revival in fortunes Ranches reestablished between Bexar (San Antonio) and La Bahia Wealthy ranchos established Martin de Leon of Victoria Erasmo and Juan N. Seguin of Bexar Carlos de la Garza of Goliad Towns Nacogdoches was experiencing a steady population growth through the 1820s In the 1830s, the town was surrounded by nearly 50 ranchos. Trans-Nueces area had roughly 350 rancherias (small family operated ranches) by the 1830s The Mexican Government

14. Entry into Texas Most arrived independently (not under the guidance of an empresario) Some that came illegally were attempting to flee debt or the law in the United States Mexican nationality/culture often ignored and made the government uneasy Squatting on unoccupied lands Smuggling Using American practices in local situations Speculating with their properties Violating other miscellaneous conditions (and oath) under which they had been allowed to settle Anglos and the Mexican Government

15. Haden Edwards and the Fredonia Republic Edwards proclaimed the independence of the region near Nacogdoches in 1826, calling it the Fredonia Republic Issues over land titles and Edwards’ brother, Benjamin lead to an armed insurrection. Stephen F. Austin led his colonial militia along with Mexican officials to put down the rebellion The episode highlights the growing tensions between the settlers and Mexico Also the possibility that increasing immigration could dissolve Mexico’s hold over Texas Settlers’ animosity towards Mexico grew as the government voided Edwards’ empresario contract Anglos and the Mexican Government

16. Haden Edwards

17. Mier y Teran’s Mission and Report Mexico dispatched Manuel de Mier y Teran, a military officer and engineer, to Texas in order to evaluate how the government should deal with problems in Texas In 1828, Teran reported that Nacogdoches has become an American town, flooded with Anglos Problems he noticed: Anglo settlements resisted obeying colonization laws Assimilation of the Anglos into Mexican culture was almost impossible Teran returned to Mexico and convinced the government to draft the Law of April 6, 1830 Anglos and the Mexican Government

18. Law of April 6, 1830 Intended to stop immigration into Texas from the U.S. Declared uncompleted empresario agreements void Loophole: any empresario who had brought 100 families could retain their contracts Future American immigrants must not settle in any territory bordering the U.S. New presidios constructed (ran by convicts) to check illegal immigration Banned further importation of slaves into Texas Anglos and the Mexican Government

19. Search for economic prosperity Political factions Viesca faction – belonged to the liberal Federalist party Struggled to maintain influence in Mexican politics throughout the 1820s Leaders: Guadalupe Victoria, Lorenzo de Zavala, Vincente Guerrero Wanted to achieve economic prosperity through the colonization program and other legislation Centralist faction – belonged to the Centralist party Conservatives who believed in securing the traditional power of the military and the Catholic Church Sort of a throw-back to traditional Spanish Texas Mexican and American Capitalists

20. Liberal Federalist Legislation Exemptions from taxes on cotton, foreign imports, and domestic items for use by colonists in Texas and Coahuila Granted citizenship and special concession to numerous Anglo-Americans James Bowie, acquired a textile mill permit Liberals argued that slave labor was necessary for the economic advancement of Mexico Decree passed on May 5, 1828 validated contracts of servitude (indentured servitude) by immigrants of Texas Another loophole that allowed Texans to bring in slaves as “permanently indentured servants” Mexican and American Capitalists

22. The End of Slavery in Texas In 1829, Mexican President Vicente Guerrero issued a directive abolishing slavery throughout the country It would continue until the 1850s though Political resistance from the rising class of capitalists in Texas and Coahuila persuaded Guerrero to exempt Texas from the directive The Law of April 6, 1830 affirmed the end of slavery in Texas Anglos in Texas viewed this critically and began to question the Mexican government Mexican and American Capitalists

23. Law of April 6, 1830 in Context Law was passed by Centralists after a coup in 1829 Pushed liberals out of step with state and national politics Centralists were determined to end Anglo immigration and slavery Counter-colonization was their preferred method Reinforced presidios at San Antonio, Goliad, and Nacogdoches Commissioned numerous garrisons; Velasco and Anahuac were the most important Velasco was at the mouth of the Brazos River Anahuac was near the Gulf Coast and discouraged illegal immigration by sea Conservative Coup

24. Liberals resisted conservative policies Tejanos committed themselves to liberal, Federalist policies The “War Party” A radical Federalist faction that emerged from the outrage of the Law of April 6 Turtle Bayou Resolutions (June 13, 1832) William Barret Travis was arrested at Anahuac for attempting to release two runaway slaves that Col. Juan D. Bradburn had in custody Travis was held without a trial by jury or charged Anglos and the War Party labeled Bradburn a despot for not following the American customs of separating military and civilian law Liberal Reaction

25. Turtle Bayou Resolutions (June 13, 1832) An angry Anglo party surrounded Bradburn’s garrison at Brazoria. A battle seemed imminent. Instead of fighting, the Anglos issued the Turtle Bayou Resolutions It condemned Bradburn’s actions Explained that the Anglos’ actions were not an uprising, but a demand for constitutional rights for Mexican citizens Instead of causing more conflict, military officials replaced Bradburn and released Travis While some respected the War Party’s actions, most did not support them. Liberal Reaction

26. The “Peace Party” Led by Stephen F. Austin Most Texans belonged to this party which preferred to work for solutions to settle settlers’ issues Used established political channels instead of protests Attempt for Concession In Oct. 1832, delegates from Anglo settlements appealed to the Mexican government to repeal the article in the Law of April 6 that limited immigration The Mexican political chief at Bexar refused to forward the petition Viewed the meeting of Anglos as outside the law Extralegal citizens’ meetings were viewed poorly by Spanish-Mexican tradition Liberal Reaction

27. Attempt for Concession Citizens in Bexar tried to petition a second time in 1832 Complained that the Law of April 6 was threatening useful capitalists Demanded bilingual administrators Wanted more judges Better militia protection from hostile Indians Tax exemptions for businesses The petition was forwarded to governor Bexar’s political chief advised the governor that the Anglos and Tejanos wanted reform, not a new state Also echoed the fear that Anglos would dominate politics if a new state was created Liberal Reaction

28. Division of Coahuila and Texas sought After attempts at concession in 1832, a subsequent meeting was held at San Felipe de Austin in 1833 to discuss the separation of the division of Coahuila and Texas New leaders opposed Stephen F. Austin’s caution towards the Mexican government Including David G. Burnet and Sam Houston Argued that a separate Texas could make decisions affecting its own well-being The meeting entrusted Erasmo Seguin, Stephen F. Austin, and Dr. James B. Miller to speak with Mexico City Only Austin made the journey to Mexico City Liberal Reaction

29. Alteration to the Law of April 6, 1830 Santa Anna elected President as a Federalist Mexican liberals and Austin worked together to make the Mexican senate revoke the immigration provision in the Law of April 6, effective May 1834 Failure to Separate Coahuila and Texas Austin failed to convince the government to separate Texas Officials discovered letters from Austin advocating separation They threw him in jail in early 1834 Liberals Return to Power

30. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

31. Legislative Concessions Acceptance of the English language as a legal language of the state Permitted the extension of empresario contracts Expanded local courts Provided for trial by jury Texas Representation Improved Increased representation in the state congress Increased the number of departments to three Department of Nacogdoches Department of Brazos Department of Bexar Liberals Return to Power

32. Empresario contract issues Anglos continued to come into colonies whose empresarios had imported at least 100 familes (no immigration control) Irish empresarios were granted after the law was enacted Mexicans looked favorably on Europeans to people Texas James McGloin and John McMullen founded San Patricio (1831) Sterling C. Robertson persuaded the government to validate his contract and successfully brought in more settlers to Texas Land Certificates Galveston Bay and Texas Land Company sold invalid land certificates to buyers after the law was enacted Several European families came in to Texas; Mexico accepted them Ineffectiveness of the Law of April 6

33. Illegal Immigration By 1834, over 20,700 Anglos and slaves arrived in Texas Probably went from 10,000 to 20,000 from 1830 to 1834 Many arrived illegally and took occupations as: Merchants, lawyers, land speculators, politicians, squatters, trappers, miners, artisans, smugglers, and anything else that paid Overall, the Law of April 6, 1830 was ineffective Immigration increased exponentially while the law was on the books Ineffectiveness of the Law of April 6