Early Texas Empresarios: Key Figures in the Growth of Colonial Texas

1. 7-2 Power Notes The Colonies Grow Main Idea: As SFA and other empresarios encouraged settlement in Texas, many groups made important contributions.

2. Let’s Recall Prior Knowledge • Explain why Moses Austin came to Texas. What did he seek to accomplish? • What characteristics made SFA good for Texas? • Why do you think Spain was so strict on their rules for living in a Texas colony?

3. SFA: THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EMPRESARIO • He also established the LITTLE colony • Located NORTHWEST of the first “Old 300” colony • The capital was BASTROP

4. II. WHY WERE AUSTIN’S COLONIES SO SUCCESSFUL? • SFA dealt SUCCESSFULLY with Mexican authorities • Good fertile LAND to produce COTTON • Plenty of WATER and TIMBER • ROADS and RIVERS provided easy transportation

5. Early Texas Empresarios

6. III. OTHER EMPRESARIOS • Green DEWITT • 2nd most successful empresario • GONZALES was the capital of his colony (later known for “Come and Take It” cannon)

7. “Come and Take It” Battle of Gonzales 1835

8. III. OTHER EMPRESARIOS B. Martin DELEON • TEJANO – a person of Mexican heritage who considers Texas his home • Expert horseman and RANCHER • What brings to mind the word “ranch”?

10. III. OTHER EMPRESARIOS B. Martin DELEON • VICTORIA was the capital of his colony along the Guadalupe River • His fortune began with DOWRY, or valuable goods, his wife Patricia brought into marriage

11. Victoria, Texas

12. III. OTHER EMPRESARIOS • OTHERS • David G. BURNET – later interim, or temporary, PRESIDENT of Texas • Ben MILAM – later leads SIEGE of San Antonio de Bexar in Texas Revolution

13. Who will go with old Ben Milam?

14. III. OTHER EMPRESARIOS • OTHERS • Lorenzo de ZAVALA – Tejano and later interim VICE-PRESIDENT of Texas (see page 179) • Nancy TEVIS – later founded BEAUMONT

15. Beaumont, Texas

16. III. OTHER EMPRESARIOS • Two IRISH colonies started by immigrants in Refugio and San Patricio

17. IV. POPULATION OF COLONIAL TEXAS • By 1827, Texas had 21,000 people (mostly from the U.S.)

18. IV. POPULATION OF COLONIAL TEXAS • Texas was divided into 3 DEPARTMENTS – large administrative units similar to a territory • NACOGDOCHES: 9,000 people (East TX) • BRAZOS: 8,000 people (SFA’s colonies) • BEXAR: 4,000 people (San Antonio)

19. IV. POPULATION OF COLONIAL TEXAS • The IMPERIALCOLONIZATION Law recognized SLAVERY but outlawed slave trading • More than 2,000 enslaved Africans in Texas • Little were FREE, namely Hendrick Arnold, who later serves a spy for Texan army

20. No slavery!

21. IV. POPULATION OF COLONIAL TEXAS D. Mary AUSTINHOLLEY, cousin of SFA, wrote a series of letters about WOMEN’S hardships living in the colonies (see p. 178)

22. IV. POPULATION OF COLONIAL TEXAS • Education • Some settlers joined together to form PRIVATE schools for their children • In 1829, Thomas J. PILGRIM, opened the first school in Texas in San Felipe de Austin • In 1830s, Frances TRASK opened one of the first schools for girls in Texas

23. V. MEXICAN TEXAS • In 1821, Mexico declared independence from Spain • In 1823, Spanish emperor ITURBIDE was overthrown • New Mexican government formed by FEDERALISTS (believed in sharing power b/w states and federal government) and CENTRALISTS (believed power should be concentrated in national or central government)

24. Spain out, Mexico in

25. V. MEXICAN TEXAS B. CONSTITUTION OF 1824 • ZAVALA was one of the Federalist writers • Fair plan of government, people had rights • Texas is part of the Mexican state, COAHUILA • SALTILLO was the capital

26. Mexican Provinces in 1824

27. The Alamo Flag

28. V. MEXICAN TEXAS C. Mexican Colonization Laws (1824-1825) • No colony within 10 miles of the coast • Each FAMILY given 4,428 acres of land for $30 • No TAXES for 10 years • A single man gets 1100 bonus acres if he marries a MEXICAN woman!

29. Reflection • Why were Austin’s colonies so successful in Texas? • How did Texans react to the Imperial Colonization Law regarding slavery? • How did Texans respond to the Mexican Consitution of 1824?