Development of Texas

1. Development of Texas

2. By 1820 only 3,500 non-Indian peoples known as Tejanos populated the Spanish held territories of north Mexico. • People were rancheros – cattle ranchers who grazed their herds on the unfenced range or sheep herders.

3. US Settlers Welcome • The US was in a rush to settle land after the Louisiana Purchase (we thought that Texas was part of the deal too). • Moses Austin made a deal with Spain to move 300 settlers (known as the Old Three Hundred) into Texas. • In return for cheap land, settlers had to promise to be loyal to Spain, learn Spanish, follow the teachings of the Catholic Church and obey Mexican law.

4. US Settlers Welcome • The settlement created a buffer zone between Mexico and the land hungry US. • It was located between the Brazos River and the Colorado River of Texas. • Mexico gets independence from Spain. • Moses Austin died before he could reach the new settlement; his son Stephen took over instead.

5. US Settlers Welcome • The settlement was a huge success. • Each family got 960 acres plus more for additional children. • To encourage immigration, Spain/Mexico offered large tracts of land for “dirt” cheap and no taxes for four years.

6. Growing Tensions • By 1830, 15,000 white settlers and 1,000 African American slaves had moved into Texas. • Americans far out numbered Mexicans in Texas. • The US had offered to buy Texas from Mexico.

7. Growing Tensions • The rapid influx of migration made it difficult to fulfill the original deal: • Protestants did not want to follow the Catholic Church. • The Mexican government was ineffective. • Outright refusal to obey Mexican law. • Abolishment of slavery in name only. • One man rule vs. democracy.

8. Growing Tensions • Austin lost control and the authority went to the new comers who had no stake in the original settlement agreement. • Mexico had issued a decree stopping all immigration from the US, but encouraged immigration from Europe and Mexico.

9. Attempt at Reconciliation • Some Texans wanted independence and some wanted to remain part of Mexico but with better terms. • 1833 General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna became president of Mexico. • Stephen Austin would travel to Mexico to put forth the Texas case.

10. Attempt at Reconciliation • With the request for independence denied, Austin sent a letter to tell Texas to start the ball rolling towards declaring their independence. • The letter was intercepted and Austin thrown in jail.

11. Attempt at Reconciliation • Santa Anna overthrows the Mexican government/constitution and declares himself dictator. • Texas feels betrayed. • It’s only a matter of time before war breaks out.

12. Texas Gains Independenceor The Texas Revolution

13. The Struggle for Independence • Santa Anna sends in troops to quiet the rebels. • In October of 1835, Santa Anna sent troops to Gonzales to capture a cannon held by the Texan rebels. • The Texans draped the cannon with a white flag that said “Come and Take It”. • After a brief struggle, the Texans were able to push back the Mexican troops. • The Battle of Gonzales was considered the first fight in the Texan Revolution.

14. The Struggle for Independence • To help fight Santa Anna and his troops, Texas called for volunteers who in turn got free land for joining up. • In 1835 the Texans scored a major victory at San Antonio. They were able to liberate the town from a much larger Mexican force. • The Mexicans retreated to the other side of the Rio Grande River. • Show Clip #3

15. The Struggle for Independence • Even though the Texans had claimed victory all was not well. • With the Mexican withdrawal many Texans felt that the war was over and left San Antonio. • Others argued about who was in charge and what to do now.

16. Battle of the Alamo • Santa Anna was furious at the loss of San Antonio, so he marched northward with several thousand troops. • Show Clip #6

17. Battle of the Alamo • In late February 1836 Santa Anna encountered a small Texas force that had barricaded themselves in a mission called the Alamo.

18. Battle of Alamo • The Texas commander, William Barrett Travis and 150 soldiers were out numbered and out gunned. • They had cannons, but they were short on gun powder. • What they did have is brave leaders and lots of courage.

19. Battle of Alamo • They lasted 12 days keeping Santa Anna and his army at bay. • On March 6, 1836 Mexican cannon fire smashed the Alamo’s walls. • Show Clip #6

20. Battle of Alamo • The Mexican troops rushed the Alamo and the rebels had to resort to hand to hand combat. • “The Texans fought more like devils than like men”.

21. Battle of Alamo • The Alamo fell and William Barrett Travis, Davy Crocket and Jim Bowie are dead • Santa Anna ordered the rebels killed. • Susanna Dickinson was one of the very few who survived the Alamo. She was sent to warn Sam Houston against any further rebellion. • Show Clip #13

22. Independence Proclaimed • Texans could no longer bide by Mexican rule, so a delegation met at Washington-on-the-Brazos to proclaim independence and write a constitution loosely based on the US Constitution. • On March 2, 1836 Texans and Tejanos alike declared the independence of the Republic of Texas. • Show Clip #2

23. Independence Proclaimed • Sam Houston was named commander in chief of the Texas troops. • The new independent republic bothered Santa Anna. He did not want anyone standing in his way. • Show Clip #10

24. Independence Proclaimed • Goliad, a fort controlled by Texas, was another pocket of people wanting independence. • Houston ordered the troops to leave the fort. • As they were retreating, they came face to face with the enemy.

25. Independence Proclaimed • A fierce battle ensued, but in the end several hundred surrendered. • On Santa Anna’s orders, they “took no prisoners”. • The Texans called the action the “Goliad Massacre”. • Show Clip #4

26. Independence Proclaimed • Sam Houston, in charge of the rag tag rebels, led a retreat away from Santa Anna and his army. • At San Jacinto on April 21, 1836 Sam Houston and 800 men led a surprise attack and trounced the Mexican army of 1,300. • Restitution was taken with the cry of “Remember the Alamo”. • Show Clip #17

27. Lone Star Republic • On May 14, 1836 Santa Anna was captured and forced to acknowledge that Texas was free from Mexico. • Mexico in turn denied the claim of independence on the grounds that it was coerced.

28. Lone Star Republic • Texas is now independent and turned to the US. • The US was of no help to Texas, refusing to annex the territory on the grounds that it would upset the balance of slave state vs. free state.

29. Lone Star Republic • Texas ruled as an independent country for 10 years: • Sam Houston was elected the first president. • Immigration was encouraged from both America as well as from Europe. • People settled along the various rivers and raised crops and cattle. • As settlement grew so too did the desire to join the Union.

30. Texas Becomes a State • The South favored Texas becoming a state, but the North did not. • Presidents Jackson and Van Buren wanted to add Texas to the Union but they did not want to fan the flames of slavery nor risk a war with Mexico.

31. Texas Becomes a State • Texas becomes a major issue in the 1844 election. • James K. Polk wanted to finally achieve “Manifest Destiny” (a term coined by John L. O’ Sullivan) and Texas as well as the Oregon Territory were key. • December 29, 1845 Texas officially becomes a state.