Convention of 1832

1. Convention of 1832 When Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna took power in Mexico, most Texans believed he would restore the Constitution of 1824. Settlers in San Felipe de Austin called a convention to discuss possible reforms in policy. Each district was asked to send delegates to San Felipe on October 1, 1835. Delegates from 16 settlements attended the convention. There was however, no delegate from the largest Tejano settlement of San Antonio. The delegates chose Stephen F. Austin as president of the convention. During this convention, the delegates adopted several resolutions: Extension of tariff exemption to Texas for three years Modification of the Law of April 6, 1830, to permit more general immigration from the United States Donation of government lands for the maintenance of primary schools to be conducted in Spanish and English Request separate statehood from Coahuila. The convention also established a plan for organizing a militia and committees of vigilance, safety, and correspondence, which could disseminate news quickly in case of an emergency.

2. Convention of 1832 Answer the following questions in your IN: What did most Texans believe Santa Anna would do when he took power? Why were the delegates holding this convention? What did they hope the outcome would be? Why might the delegates from San Antonio not attended the convention? “Give me liberty or give me death.” This famous quote was spoken by Patrick Henry before the American Revolution. As a Texan in 1832, do you agree with this sentiment? Explain your position.

3. Convention of 1833 Stephen F. Austin when to San Antonio to try and gain their support for the resolutions passed in 1832. While he was away, impatient Texans called another convention to be held on April 1, 1833. Most of the delegates at the second convention had not been present at the first convention. The second convention welcomed notable men like Sam Houston and Juan Seguin. This convention adopted many of the same resolutions but there was one major difference between these two meetings; the Convention of 1833 drafted a constitution for the independent state of Texas. These men then sent theses new request to Mexico City, carried by Stephen F. Austin. “Ever since I returned from Bexar a year ago…and found the convention called in my absence, I have considered myself as suspended over the alter of sacrifice.”

4. Convention of 1833 Answer the following questions in your IN: Why were the delegates holding this second convention? What did they hope the outcome would be? Why was SFA trying to get the support from the delegates in San Antonio? Were the Texans over stepping their bounds by writing a Texas Constitution? “Ever since I returned from Bexar a year ago…and found the convention called in my absence, I have considered myself as suspended over the alter of sacrifice.” Identify the author of this quote. What does he mean by “alter of sacrifice?”

5. Austin is arrested Austin set out alone to deliver the resolutions from the Convention of 1833 to Mexican officials in Mexico City in April of the same year. When he arrived, Mexico was dealing with many issues. President Santa Anna was putting down a rebellion in southern Mexico and a cholera epidemic was sweeping through Mexico City. By October, Austin still had not met with the President and became frustrated and angry. He wrote a letter to Texans, instructing them to begin organizing a state government. Austin finally met with Santa Anna when he returned to the capital city in November and almost all of his demands were met. The one demand Santa Anna would not agree to was the separation of Texas from Coahuila. Austin was still satisfied with the results of this meeting and began the journey home. Along the way, he was arrested and taken back to Mexico City, where he was held captive for over a year without trial. The Mexican officials had opened his letter and found the writings to be a challenge to the Mexican government. Austin was not allowed to return to Texas until summer of 1835. While Austin was in prison, he spent much of his time writing letters and keeping a diary. He asked his friends in Texas not to resort to violent action against the Mexican government.

6. Austin is arrested Answer the following questions in your IN: Why would Austin travel to Mexico City to present his resolutions? Define treason. Was the order to organize a new government treason? Was Austin’s arrest justified? Why or why not? “It is much in my favor that all remains quiet in Texas.” – Stephen F. Austin Identify the audience and time period of this quote. Why did he mean by “quiet?” Why would he have said this?

7. The consultation In 1834, President Santa Anna declared that Mexico was not yet ready for a Republic and began to strengthen the power of the central government, forming a Centralist government. This action frightened Texans and another convention was called on October 15th, 1835 at Washington-on-the-Brazos. As the delegates debated the solutions to this problem, two factions began to form. One argued that Texans should remain calm and try to negotiate peaceful relations with the Mexican government. The second faction argued for a declaration of independence from Mexico and war. As these arguments continued, Stephen F. Austin returned from Mexico City. He declared his support for the war faction and the Texans were on the road to war with Mexico. “My object was to smother the party spirit and violent and ruinous divisions I saw brewing in the colony. ” – Stephen F. Austin

8. The consultation Answer the following questions in your IN: Why was this third convention held? What is a Centralist government? (Use your context clues.) Why would the people of Texas be upset by Santa Anna’s shift in policy? “My object was to smother the party spirit and violent and ruinous divisions I saw brewing in the colony. ” – Stephen F. Austin When might Austin have said this? Did his views ever change? Why?

9. The Convention of 1836 On March 1, 1836, Texans gathered at Washington-on-the-Brazos for a second time. There, 59 men decided to declare their independence from Mexico and draft a constitution for the independent Republic of Texas. While at the convention, the men got word of the siege of the Alamo. While many wanted to come to their aid, they stayed and diligently worked on the document that would govern their new nation. The Texas Declaration of Independence closely resembled its US counterpart. It listed complaints against President Santa Anna and the Mexican government as reasons for declaring independence. The Texas Constitution also closely resembled its US counterpart. It split the Texas government into three branches; executive, legislative and judicial. It also limited the powers of the government to those listed in the constitution. It also contained a Bill of Rights that guaranteed certain freedoms. Including these were free speech, freedom of religion and trial by jury. The last act of the convention was to create the ad interim government; a government that would act until elections could be held and the constitution could be ratified. David G. Burnet, President Lorenzo de Zavala, Vice President Samuel P. Carson, Secretary of State Bailey Hardeman, Secretary of Treasury Thomas J. Rusk, Secretary of War Robert Potter, Secretary of the Navy David Thomas, Attorney General

10. The convention of 1836 Answer the following questions in your IN: What would have been some of the complaints listed in the Declaration of Independence? Why did both of the documents drafted resemble the American documents so closely? The documents were drafted in a town called Washington-on-the-Brazos. Write 2 sentences about what irony is and how it applies to this situation. Predict how the Texas Constitution dealt with the issue of slavery. Defend your answer. (3 sentences)