3. Mexico had given a large tract of land to Stephen
Austin to settle with at least 300 Americans
The northern area was dominated by violent
Native Americans – Apache and Comanche
Mexicans did not want to settle close to these
tribes
The Mexican government gave the land away to
anyone with a settlement plan
5. Mexico gave land to Empresarios
Mexican citizens charged to settle the land
Empresarios brought in settlers and gave them pieces of
land
Settlers had to become Mexican citizens and convert to
Roman Catholicism
Austin was the most successful Empresario
Persuaded over 1,500 Americans to settle
6. Americans did not assimilate into Mexican culture as
was hoped
Empresarios felt the government was not giving them
enough control
Mexico closed its borders to settlers in 1830
A tax was put on goods imported from America to
discourage trade
7. New laws infuriated the settlers
Their settlements could not grow
They could not get goods they were accustomed to
Mexican government (considered foreign) was telling
them what to do
8. Two conventions were called by Texans
Austin was appointed President
Demands were made to open the borders and loosen
taxes
A constitution was drawn
Austin took demands to Mexico City, talks failed
Austin encouraged Texas to form its own government
and was arrested for treason
President Antonio López de Santa Anna declared
himself dictator and refused to talk to Texans
10. Austin was released from jail and went back to
Texas to organize and army
Mexican army was poorly lead and disorganized
Texan army had element of surprise and achieved
early victories, took control of San Antonio
Sam Houston took command of the Texans and
began training them
Santa Anna assembled a 6,000 man army to put
down the rebellion
12. Santa Anna’s army arrived in San Antonio to take the
city back
180 Texans locked themselves in an old Spanish
Catholic mission called the Alamo
The Texans held off Santa Anna’s army for 13 days
In that time, the new Texan government formally
declared independence
13.
14. On March 6, 1836, Santa Anna’s army stormed the
Alamo
After 6 hours and 600 Mexican casualties, the Alamo
fell
15.
16. Goliad was a town southeast of San Antonio
Mexican troops surrounded a Texas army of more
than 300
The Texas army surrendered
Santa Anna demanded execution
On March 27, 1836, Mexican troops executed the
entire regiment
The defeat enraged and united Texans
17. Turning point in the war
Santa Anna’s army did not see the Texans as a threat
The Mexican army was sleeping when they were
ambushed by Sam Houston
Hundreds of Mexicans were killed and over 700 were
taken captive
Among those taken captive was Santa Anna himself
Houston forced Santa Ana to agree to Texas
independence
19. In September of 1836, the Texas citizens elected Sam
Houston as their President
They also agreed to annexation by the US
Northerners were opposed because Texas would be a
slave state
Andrew Jackson did not want to increase tensions and
did not annex Texas
Texas remained an independent nation until 1845