Expanding Markets and Moving West

1. Expanding Markets and Moving West 9.3 - Expansion in Texas

2. Main Idea • Essential Question 9.3 - Expansion in Texas Why would Texas prefer independence? Why would Texas prefer annexation into the US?

3. Objectives

4. Mexican Independence • Mexico gains independence from Spain in 1821. They faced difficulties maintaining and protecting large borders • Communication between the capital Mexico City and the northern provinces of Texas and California proved fruitless • After independence, Mexico sought to improve its economy by trading with the US. Trade opportunities involved the sale of cattle, hides and other commercial goods • US had tried unsuccessfully to purchase Texas from Mexico during the Quincy Adams and Jackson administrations • Americans continued to covet Texas, and in 1823, Mexico begins inviting US settlers to move to the territory. The goal was to fill out land, stimulate business. Soon Americans outnumber Mexicans

5. Frontier Americans settle Texas • Empresarios – • Threatened by Americans refusal to abide by Mexican Catholicism, or the prohibition on slavery, strict new laws are enforced. These measures did not have the intended effect. Settlers simply ignored the laws. • No new US settlers could migrate • Property tax exemption revoked, Tariffs on US goods increased • Mexico freed its slaves and prohibited them in Texas, much to the anger of the farming based Americans • Stephen F. Austin –

6. ““I fully hoped to have found Texas at peace and in tranquility, but I regret to find it in commotion, and threatened with immediate hostilities… can this state of things exist without precipitating the country into a war? I think it cannot.” • Stephen F. Austin

7. Conflict Brews • Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna – • Sent army to force Texas to obey Mexican laws. He revoked powers of Empresarios and initiated a crackdown on US settlers • Austin called followers to arms to defend their their weapons storages to prevent Mexican seizure • Anahuac Disturbances – • Texas was supported in their war by the US, but President Jackson was hesitant to formally recognize Texas as an independent nation until he had secured Martin Van Buren as his successor • Jackson recognized Texas on his last day before he left office, in 1837

8. Remember the Alamo! • Alamo – • All Texans died, including Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett • William B. Travis, commander at the Alamo who lead the hopeless effort. Wrote his famous “victory or death” letter as the Alamo was being sieged • Santa Anna’s troops win a number of small skirmishes in the beginning stages of the Texas Revolution, including a total victory at Goliad, executing 300 rebels • Runaway Scrape –

9. “I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his honor and that of his country, victory or death.” • William B. Travis

10. What does this flag say about the attitude of Texans during their Revolution?

11. Texas Declaration of Independence is modeled after US Declaration and signed on March 2nd1836 • Sam Houston – • Known for being a frontiersman, a drinker and a cowboy • The Runaway Scrape succeeds in stretching out the Mexicans, exposing President Santa Anna at the Battle of Jacinto. He is captured and forced to sign a surrender treaty • Treaty of Velasco – Swift Victory

12. The Lone Star Republic • The Republic of Texas was established in 1836 after Texas won it’s independence. Theyalso were known as the Lone Star Republic • Many Texans wanted to become part of the US, but the slavery issue made its incorporation a highly political issue • Santa Anna invalidated the Treaty of Velasco on the grounds that its was negotiated unfairly under duress. This hastened the process of annexation • Annexation– • Texas built up reinforcements because it had no idea if or when Mexico would attack again. Texas made treaties with France, Holland, and Belgium. These alliances worried the US for a number of political and economic reasons • The Monroe Doctrine (where Europe was told to "stay away") would be undermined if England had an ally in North America • The dominant Southern cotton economy would also be undercut by Texas cotton shipping to England.

13. Questions of Annexation • Texas became a leading issue in the presidential campaign of 1844. The Democrats were pro-expansion and were for annexing Texas. Congress debates admitting Texas as biggest slave state in the Union • Slavocracy – • The annexation of Texas fanned the flames of conspiracy. A unified Texas would represent a huge boost in the House of Representatives for slavery, a divided Texas would generate more Senators. • Democrat James K. Polk wins the Presidency, signaling that the people had spoken in favor of Texas annexation. President Tyler signed a resolution during his lame duck session that invited Texas to become the 28thUS state • A furious Mexican government begins to prepare for war, seeing the US as dangerous expansionists and conspirators against Mexico