Ch. 16 – Expanding West

Texas Gaining Independence & Becoming a State

16.2 – 16.3 US History

Recap: 16.1 Cornell Notes

 Life in Northern New Spain – California • • Californios Missions – Tejanos  The Mexican War for Independence  An Independent Mexico

16.2 Key Questions

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Why did Mexico allow the first American settlers into Texas, and what conditions did the Mexican government establish?

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Why did many Texans choose to rebel against Mexico?

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What events led Texas to win its independence from Mexico?

American Settlers Welcome

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1821 – Mexican government welcomed American settlers to Texas

–

Mexican citizens, obey Mexican laws, &



support the Roman Catholic Church Why would Texas welcome

Most settlers came from southern states  Empresarios – agents contracted by Mexico to bring settlers to Texas – Empresarios received land in exchange

Stephen F. Austin

– Empresario - Led settlers to Texas – The first 300 families he brought became known as the “Old Three Hundred.” – Families could receive 640 acres, with an extra 320 acres for each child.

– Many families brought slaves with them – He tried to keep peace between Mexico & American settlers

Conflict in Texas: American Point of View

 US settlers ignored Mexican law  Not interested in becoming Mexican citizens  Texans – Americans & tejanos – thought Texas was underrepresented in Mexican government  Wanted the Mexican Constitution of 1824 to be strictly enforced (limiting the central gov.)  Too much power given to appointed officials rather than elected representatives

Conflict in Texas: Mexico’s Point of View

 Mexican officials said Texas didn’t show respect for authority   Americans weren’t following laws – Slavery was outlawed but people brought slaves  Mexican government restricted American immigration and enforce ban on slavery, raising tariffs on US goods, sent soldiers to enforce Mexican authority

Negotiations??

 Stephen F. Austin tried to maintain peace between Texas & Mexico  Austin was thrown in jail when petitioning the Mexican president for more self-government in Texas Austin was released after a year and said:

“War is our only recourse (option). There is no other remedy. We must defend our rights, ourselves, & our country by force of arms.”

Texas War for Independence or



Texas Revolution

October 1835

– first battle  Mexico: General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna  Texans made a temporary government & pledged to overthrown Santa Anna  No official Texas army – only volunteers

BATTLE OF THE ALAMO

 November 1835  Texan army captured towns of Goliad & San Antonio  The Alamo (an old Franciscan mission) was occupied by Texans  Santa Anna became outraged and marched to San Antonio

Battle of the Alamo

 Santa Anna arrived at the Alamo with 3,000 soldiers on Feb. 23, 1836    Only 189 Texan troops Santa Anna surrounded it for 13 days

“Remember the Alamo?”

Mexican army attacked - March 6, 1836  Mexican army won  “Remember the Alamo”

The Battle of the Alamo

March 6,1836

Battle of Goliad

 Mexican forces move to Goliad  Texans outnumbered & surrender  Texas Commander Fannin & almost 400 soldiers were charged with treason & executed by Santa Anna – Outraged Texans

Convention of 1836

 Texan leaders met to declare independence (prior to Alamo)  Created a Texas Constitution – Modeled on the United States – Legalized slavery

Battle of San Jacinto

  Sam Houston, commander in chief of new Texas army, fought Santa Anna Houston’s troops were outnumbered & untrained   Santa Anna carelessly chose a bad site for his camp April 21, 1836 – Houston’s army attacked & won the war

Texas Becomes a Republic

– Santa Anna was forced to recognize the independence of Texas in a treaty & was released to return to Mexico City – Santa Anna was then thrown out of power by angry Mexican citizens – Many Mexicans did not accept that Texas had become an independent country

16.3 The Lone Star Republic

16.3 Outline

 Why did Texas not immediately become part of the US?

 New immigrants and people already living there  Issues in Texas

The Republic of Texas

 Sam Houston elected president  Capital – Houston  The US, France, & Great Britain all recognized Texas as independent, but not Mexico

Annexation?

 President Jackson – didn’t want to annex (take control of) Texas – Concerned about balance between slave & free states – Did not want war with Mexico – Recognized Texas as an independent nation in 1837  President Buren made no changes  President Polk makes changes

People

 Native Americans – President Houston was friendly, but President Lamar forced them out  Tejanos – unfair treatment by American settlers, even though supported war – Still maintained a presence

New Immigrants

 US Settlers – 100,000 new residents 1836-1845 – Panic of 1837  European – 1840s – Germany – Farming communities  Slave Issue – 1847 – 40,000 slaves – Law passed banning free African Americans in Texas

Problems in the Republic

 Economic, military, & social issues – Economic: Small towns & slow travel; based on agriculture (no manufacturing); high public debt – Military: large & hard to defend; Texas Rangers to guard frontier – Social: slavery, different people

 Pres. Lamar in 1841 attacked New Mexico so Santa Anna recaptured San Antonio  President Houston returned to presidency & ended fighting with a peace agreement in 1844