Steps Toward Revolution

1. Steps Toward Revolution

2. Distrust between Mexico and U.S • U.S. minister, Joel Poinsett, offered to buy Texas from Mexico for $1 million in 1825 • Mexico turned down the offer • Mexico distrusted the U.S. and believed they were going to try to force Mexico to give up Texas

3. American Experience • U.S. settlers believed in democracy • One of their key beliefs was that civilians, not military leaders, should rule the country • Believed in separation of church and state – government should not favor any religion • People should be free to choose their religion (not just Catholic) • Also valued self-government

4. Mexican Experience • Three Centers of Power • Army – favored a strong ruler to lead Mexico • Catholic Church – was the state church, held power in Mexico and played important role in government and society • Leaders of Mexican Revolution (Federalists) – liked the ideas of liberty and equality of the U.S. • These 3 groups fought for control of Mexico and the Texas settlers were caught in the middle of this power struggle

5. Issue of Slavery • Mexico did not allow slavery • SFA convinced Mexican leaders to allow it so settlers from U.S. with slaves would come to Texas • Mexico tried to ban slavery many times but never able to enforce the ban

6. Settlers Practice “Independence” • Settlers had 3 requirements to settle in Texas • Settlers did not think of themselves as Mexicans • Brought American culture and practices to Texas • Spoke English • Set-up their own schools • Little contact with Mexican government • Little evidence that they were living in Mexico so life in Texas looked like life in U.S.

7. Mexico’s Reaction • Leaders worried about U.S. interest in Texas following Haden Edward’s Fredonian Rebellion • In 1827, Mexico sent General Mier y Teran to Texas to take a closer look at the situation in Texas and prepare a report • Mier y Teran was a patriot from the Mexican Revolution and was disturbed by what he saw in Texas • Reports that settlers do not respect Mexican customs and government and warns of a revolt

8. Mier y Teran’s Recommendations • Send more Mexican troops to Texas • Send more Mexican and European settlers to Texas to weaken the influence of U.S. settlers • Mexico should increase its trade with Texas – bring Texas and Mexico closer together • His findings alarmed many Mexican leaders so they took action • In 1829, the President of Mexico ended slavery in his country - did not enforce the ban in Texas

9. Mexico Angers the Settlers • Law of April 6, 1830 (Centralists) • Canceled all empresario contracts (except SFA and DeWitt) • Outlawed bringing slaves to Texas to make Texas more “Mexican” • Placed taxes on goods from U.S. to make American goods cost more than Mexican goods • Stopped immigration from the U.S. by placing more troops and setting up garrisons in Texas

10. Unrest Among the Texas Settlers • The actions of Mexico angered the Texans • Mexico was not following its own constitution • Until they did, the settlers were not going to obey the Law of April 6, 1830 • Captain Bradburn arrived in Texas to set-up a garrison and tax collection station at Anahuac • Bradburn forced settlers to give him supplies for his fort and took some of their slaves

11. Trouble at Anahuac • William Travis and Patrick Jack, lawyers, were thrown in prison while trying to get slaves back • Settlers felt Bradburn was abusing his power since he did not charge them with a crime • 160 settlers marched towards Bradburn’s garrison • They tried to negotiate the release of Travis and Jack but were not successful • One group decided to assemble more firepower and find cannons

12. Turtle Bayou Resolutions • While waiting for the group finding the cannons, the settlers wrote the Turtle Bayou Resolutions to state the causes of the revolt at Anahuac • Texans stated Bradburn ignored the Constitution of 1824 which granted each state the right to run its own affairs • Texans pledged loyalty to Santa Anna (Federalist who supported the state of Texas) • This was the FIRST organized written protest against Mexico

13. Avoiding the Crisis • Colonel Piedras, leader at the Nacogdoches garrison, traveled to Anahuac to look into the problem • Texans were preparing for battle so Piedras talked and listened to their concerns • Piedras replaced Bradburn as commander and released Travis and Jack from prison • The armed Texans disbanded and no serious fighting occurred

14. Bloodshed at Velasco • The group assembling more firepower for the attack on Anahuac were sending cannons down the Brazos River by ship • The ship was ordered to stop at Fort Velasco by a Mexican colonel • The Texans refused and fired on the fort from the ship and from the ground • The Mexican soldiers surrendered • Texans had not given up on Mexico but wanted reform

15. Political Fighting in Mexico • Federalist Party wanted a federal system of government • Separate states form a national government • Individual states hold most of the power • Texans sided with Federalists • Centralist Party favored a strong central government • National government would hold most of the power • States would have little power • Centralists passed Law of April 6, 1830

16. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna • The leader of the Federalist Party was General Santa Anna • Texas settlers had pledged their loyalty to him in the Turtle Bayou Resolutions • Santa Anna tried to overthrow the Centralist government in 1832 • This led to a civil war in Mexico • Many Mexican soldiers left Texas • This left control of Texas in the hands of the settlers

17. The Convention of 1832 • Texas settlers hoped Santa Anna would win as a Federalist government would be more responsive to their needs • The Convention of 1832 at San Felipe was held to discuss their problems • At a convention, delegates discuss ideas and decide a course of action • Stephen F Austin was chosen as the leader

18. The Convention of 1832 • Stephen F Austin demanded that immigration from the U.S. resume • They also asked that Texas become a separate Mexican state (currently part of a larger state called Coahuila y Tejas) • Mexican governor of Texas, Musquiz, supported the delegates’ concerns • Under Mexican law, the Convention of 1832 was not a legal meeting so it failed – governor refused to send their requests to the government

19. The Convention of 1833 • Santa Anna won the civil war in Mexico and became president of the country • Federalists now held power • News of the victory led to the Convention of 1833 in April • William Wharton chosen as the leader • Delegates at this convention were firmer than those who attended the first one

20. The Convention of 1833 • Delegates asked for: • An end to the ban against immigration • Texas to become a separate Mexican state • Better mail service • Improved defense against Native American raids • Reform of the courts • The right to use English in business and law • More money for schools

21. The Convention of 1833 • SFA took active role in convention and explained why it took place • David Burnet wrote about why the settlers wanted statehood • Population was now large enough to be its own state • Texas suffered as part of Coahuila y Tejas since capital was 700 miles away • Sam Houston drafted a state constitution for Texas • SFA would deliver the demands and new constitution to Mexico City

22. Austin in Mexico City • SFA arrived in Mexico City in July to present the work of the convention to the Mexican government • His job was to convince the new Federalist government to make Texas a separate Mexican state • He found a confusing situation: • Santa Anna had resigned his position as president due to poor health (not even in the capital) • Vice-president Farias now controlled the government

23. Austin and Farias • SFA met with Farias in October to present the requests of the Convention of 1833 • No action was taken by the Mexican government for weeks • SFA warned Farias that the Texans would take action if Mexico failed to act on the proposal • Farias felt threatened and ended the meeting in anger • SFA sent letter to the ayuntamiento at San Antonio without waiting for approval • Begin work to set-up a state government for Texas

24. Austin and Santa Anna • SFA met with Santa Anna in November who had returned to Mexico City • Santa Anna welcomed most of the SFA’s suggestions: • Ended the ban on immigration from the U.S. • Empresario contracts were extended • Given a greater sense of self-government • Santa Anna refused to support separate statehood for Texas • SFA left in December to return to San Felipe

25. Austin Imprisoned • SFA stopped in Saltillo on his way home and was arrested by the Mexican leaders in January • They learned of the angry letter he sent to San Antonio • They did not charge him with a crime but he was marched back to Mexico City and thrown in prison • Farias sent Colonel Almonte to Texas to check on the settlers who were calm • The calm was the result of a greater sense of self-government by the settlers

26. Santa Anna Changes Sides • To increase power, Santa Anna sided with the Catholic Church and the Army • He seized the government from Farias • He abolished the Constitution of 1824 (states’ rights to govern) • He reversed the policies of the Federalists • He dissolved each state legislature • He placed the states under the rule of the Army • Santa Anna created a Centralist Mexico (dictator)

27. Reaction in Texas/Anahuac • Settlers not pleased with Santa Anna’s actions • Local settlers got into another dispute in Anahuac over taxes • General Cos (Santa Anna’s brother-in-law) arrives at Anahuac to break up the state government • Decides he needs more troops at the garrison • Settlers learn of Cos’ plan and a small group led by William Travis capture Anahuac • Cos had Travis and others arrested • Cos sends more troops to Texas – war on the way!

28. Relations with Mexico Worsen • Matters came to a head in summer 1835 • Settlers began to organize • They created the committees of safety and correspondence • Word spread of a meeting in October – the Consultation at Washington-on-the-Brazos • Ended up meeting at San Felipe in November • Before Consultation, SFA was released from prison after 1 ½ years • Texas lost all hope for peace and would go to war!