Stephen F. Austin University is located in Nacogdoches

1. Stephen F. Austin University is located in Nacogdoches

2. Texas Colonies:Moses Austin &Stephen F. Austin Picture : Brazos River

3. Background: Colonies in Texas • Except San Antonio, the civil settlements werenot large and closer to Mexico than Louisiana. • There was a need for population to colonize Spain in North America. • Spain wanted people living in Texas but had a difficult time getting many Spainish people there. • American Moses Austin,(former Mexican citizen of French/Spanish Louisiana) needed a business, and had a plan…..

4. Moses Austin • American-- born in Connecticut, lived in Missouri • Made much money in Spanish Louisiana in a Lead mine, started a small settlement, then area sold to U.S. He starts banking…… • Owned a bank in Missouri; had problems after Panic of 1819, lost money • Felt Spanish territory (Mexico) was a good opportunity to re-establish business prospects • Met with Texas governor Martinez who did not trust Americans due to filibuster threats—with a plan for colonization • Is turned down, and is discouraged

5. Bastrop and Colonies • Moses meets an old friend, Baron de Bastrop* who offered to help convince Governor Martinez to accept the plan • Bastrop helps Moses formally request land to bring settlers to in Texas. • Martinez approves of the colony plan (empresario) and Moses returns to Missouri. • Moses Austin becomes seriously ill on the journey home and calls for his son Stephen to see him.

6. Stephen F. Austin • Son of Moses Austin • Trained lawyer and spent time in Missouri and Louisiana • As a promise to his dying father agrees to build colony • Begins the process by meeting with officials in San Antonio Famous Portrait of Stephen F. Austin

7. Austin Prepares for the Colony • August 1821, Austin meets with Erasmus Seguin to begin planning the colony. • He explores east Texas looking for a suitable place for the colony. • He chooses an area between the Brazos and Colorado rivers. • The area had rich farm land, water, timber and mild climate.

8. Ready the Colony! • Austin now goes to Louisiana to advertise for settlers. • He reports proposed location of the colony and land terms to Governor Martinez in Texas. • Finances and a ship, The Lively, are secured in New Orleans with Joseph Hawkins. • Austin sets the terms and price for purchase into the colony as well as applicant’s requirements. Brazos river Map of Texas coastline

9. Colonists’ Requirements • Applicants to the colony must meet the following: • Become Mexican citizen • ( pledge loyalty to Mexico) • Join Catholic Church • ******************** • Law-abiding citizen • No idlers (lazy-don’t work) • No drunkards • No gamblers • No profane swearers • All others need not apply

10. First attempt to settle Colonyif at first you don’t succeed…. • The Lively took the first colonists to Texas. • The ship landed on the Brazos instead of the Colorado where Austin settled in 1822. • Many of these settlers returned to U.S. • On the second trip to Texas The Lively wrecks outside Galveston; many supplies lost and colonists struggle. • Austin goes to San Antonio to report to Martinez and seek help and finds a surprise…..

11. The Colony Grows • Stephen F. Austin is the 1stEmpresario • Austin establishes the first headquarters of the colony to help discouraged settlers and secure order. • He establishes a set of laws to guide the colony based on American and Mexican laws. Austin was also the only legal authority in the colony. • By Fall 1824, the colony’s contract was almost complete as 297 families had settled in the colony. • These first settlers in Austin’s colony became known as “The Old Three Hundred.”

12. The Old Three Hundred • These people were: • Mostly Americans from south United States • Farmers with some education • Some slaveholders • Some important members: • Samuel May Williams • John P. Coles • Jared Groce • Jane Long • They become the foundation of colonization of Texas. Gravestone of David McCormick, member of Old Three Hundred. He is buried in Brazoria County

13. Further Developments • 1824, San Felipe de Austin, near the Brazos, becomes the official capital of Austin’s colony • It becomes the financial and political capital of the colony and becomes second largest business center in Texas. San Antonio is the 1st • The new areas of the colony grew between 1825 and 1831. “The Little Colony” was separate from Austin and was home to 100 new families. • Austin talked the Mexican government into letting US colonists bring slaves, even though Mexico was against slavery • Austin said colonists would not come without slavery, so Mexico allowed it.

14. U.S. Settlers “Line Up” for Land • Spanish land offered a deal unlike any other seen in the U.S.and many could hardly wait to get in • In th US, land sold for $1.25 per acre. • Austin sold his land for 12.5 cents an acre. • In addition, in the US, you had to pay cash, but Austin gave settlers a chance to Borrow from him and pay back over the years as you made a profit.

15. U.S. Settlers “Line Up” for Land • Austin later gave back most of the fees, so the land was nearly free---he was also known to personally accept payment other than cash--crops, livestock, etc. if it would help his colonists • Settlers who planned to farm received 177 acres, others (ranchers) received a sitio of land (4.428 acres) .Under the later colonization laws, these amounts were enlarged.

16. Changes in Mexico • 1824- Many changes in Mexican Government • New government gets rid of military leaders (which Mexico tends to like) and puts in place a federal system like the US. *Mexico will continue to struggle with the idea of Military leaders and Church in Government* • New!- Constitution of 1824- federal system (like the US) • Texas and Coahuila combined to create new state of Coahuila y Texas

17. Changes in Mexico • 1824- Many changes in Mexican Government • National Colonizational Law of 1824 -** *Empresarios would be responsible for settling Texas * Must become Mexican citizen • * Must become Catholic • * Pay no Taxes for 6 years * Even though Mexico did not allow slavery, they allowed Texans to bring their slaves*

18. Other Empresarios • The success of Austin’s colonies allows others to become empresarios. Some were: • Green DeWitt- had colony near Guadalupe river and founded town of Gonzalez • Martin de Leon- founded Victoria, only Mexican empresario with mainly colonists from Mexico

19. Other Empresarios • Hayden Edwards-near Nacogdoches-tries to use land previously settled because they have NO TITLE- Mexico is angry, takes away his contract. Edwards tries to take over the area by force, calling it the Republic of Fredonia. Mexican forces, aided by Austin’s militia stop him.

20. Other empresarios, cont • Land grants brought Irish settlers to Texas. Their capital wasnamed Refugio. More than 150 colonists died of Cholera on the voyage , fewer than 200 settled there. Later another Irish group moved in. • De Zavala, Vehlein and Burnett- These men got contracts, then sold the contracts to the Texas Land Company. This company cheated settlers out of tanyheir money by selling “scripts”, not titles. Some of these settlers never got land, Some became “squatters”-living on land without the title rights.

21. Austin’s Legacy • Austin’s colonies settled over 1500 families. • San Felipe de Austin and Bastrop were important business centers during the colonial times in Texas. • Mexican officials trusted him and his colonists. • He is known today as the “Father of Texas.”

22. Thank You, Stephen • Think about Texas without the contribution of Stephen F. Austin…… • Stephen F. Austin University is located in Nacogdoches