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1821Moses Austin receivesland grant in Texas
1833Santa Anna becomespresident of Mexico
March 1836The Alamo falls toMexican troops
September 1836Sam Houston iselected president of Texas
Main IdeaTexans won their independence fromMexico and asked to
be admitted tothe United States.
Key TermsTejano, empresario, decree, annex
Reading StrategySequencing Information As youread Section 2,
re-create the diagrambelow and, in the boxes, list keyevents that
occurred in Texas.
Read to Learn• why problems arose between the
Mexican government and theAmerican settlers in Texas.
• how Texas achieved independenceand later became a state.
Section ThemeGeography and History Mexico’soffers of huge tracts
of fertile landbrought American settlers to Texas.
Independencefor Texas
Davy Crockett was a backwoodsman from Tennessee. His skill as a
hunter and story-teller helped get him elected to three terms in
Congress. But when he started his firstpolitical campaign, Crockett
was doubtful about his chances of winning. “The thoughtof having to
make a speech made my knees feel mighty weak and set my heart to
flut-tering.” Fortunately for Crockett, the other candidates spoke
all day and tired out theaudience. “When they were all done,”
Crockett boasted, “I got up and told some laugh-able story, and
quit. . . . I went home, and didn’t go back again till after the
election wasover.” In the end, Crockett won the election by a wide
margin.
A Clash of CulturesDavy Crockett of Tennessee won notice for his
frontier skills, his sense of
humor, and the shrewd common sense he often displayed in
politics. When helost his seat in Congress in 1835, he did not
return to Tennessee. Instead he wentsouthwest to Texas.
362 CHAPTER 12 Manifest Destiny
1835 1836
Preview of Events
Guide to Reading
✦ 1820 ✦ 1830 ✦ 1840
Davy Crockett
Oct. Dec.
Feb. Apr. Sept.
Mar. May
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Stephen F. Austinearned the name “Fatherof Texas” because of
hisleadership in populatingthe Mexican territory ofTexas. After
attendingcollege he worked as abusinessperson. Austinorganized the
first landgrant colony in Texas in1821. Austin offeredlarge tracts
of land to settlers, and his colonygrew quickly.
Austin often played therole of spokesperson withthe Mexican
government,sometimes on behalf ofcolonists who were notpart of his
settlement. Heserved as their advocate,even when he disagreedwith
their opinions. Forexample, he negotiatedfor permission to
con-tinue slavery in theprovince of Texas after itwas banned by
Mexicanlaw. He also served
nearly a year in prison forpromoting independencefor the
Texans.
After Texas won itswar for independence,Austin ran for the
officeof president. He wasdefeated but wasappointed secretary
ofstate. He died just a fewmonths later. The state ofTexas honored
Stephen F.Austin by naming its capi-tal city—Austin—afterits
founding father.
363CHAPTER 12 Manifest Destiny
Crockett thought he could make a new startthere. He also wanted
to help the Texans wintheir independence from Mexico. Little did
heknow his deeds in Texas would bring himgreater fame than his
adventures on the frontieror his years in Congress.
Conflict over Texas began in 1803, when theUnited States bought
the Louisiana Territoryfrom France. Americans claimed that the land
inpresent-day Texas was part of the purchase.Spain protested. In
1819, in the Adams-OnísTreaty, the United States agreed to drop any
fur-ther claim to the region.
Land GrantsAt the time, few people lived in Texas.
Most residents—about 3,000—were Tejanos(teh•HAH•nohs), or
Mexicans who claimedTexas as their home. Native Americans
includ-ing Comanches, Apaches, and Kiowas, alsolived in the
area.
Because the Spanish wanted to promote thegrowth of Texas, they
offered vast tracts of landto people who agreed to bring families
to settle
on the land. The people who obtained thesegrants from the
government and recruited thesettlers were called empresarios.
Moses Austin, a businessman who haddeveloped a mining operation
in Missouri,applied for and received the first land grant in1821.
Before he could establish his colony, how-ever, Moses contracted
pneumonia and died.After Mexico declared independence fromSpain,
Austin’s son, Stephen F. Austin, askedthe Mexican government to
confirm his father’sland grant. Once he received confirmation,
hebegan to organize the colony.
Stephen F. Austin recruited 300 Americanfamilies to settle the
fertile land along the BrazosRiver and the Colorado River of Texas.
The firstsettlers came to be called the Old Three Hun-dred. Many
received 960 acres, with additionalacres for each child. Others
received largerranches. Austin’s success made him a leaderamong the
American settlers in Texas.
From 1823 to 1825, Mexico passed three colo-nization laws. All
these laws offered new settlerslarge tracts of land at extremely
low prices and
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reduced or no taxes for several years. In returnthe colonists
agreed to learn Spanish, becomeMexican citizens, convert to
Catholicism—thereligion of Mexico—and obey Mexican law.
Mexican leaders hoped to attract settlersfrom all over,
including other parts of Mexico.Most Texas settlers, however, came
from theUnited States.
Growing TensionBy 1830 Americans in Texas far outnumbered
Mexicans. Further, these American colonists hadnot adopted
Mexican ways. In the meantime theUnited States had twice offered to
buy Texasfrom Mexico.
The Mexican government viewed the grow-ing American influence in
Texas with alarm. In1830 the Mexican government issued a decree,or
official order, that stopped all immigration
from the United States. At the same time, thedecree encouraged
the immigration of Mexicanand European families with generous
landgrants. Trade between Texas and the UnitedStates was
discouraged by placing a tax ongoods imported from the United
States.
These new policies angered the Texans. Theprosperity of many
citizens depended on tradewith the United States. Many had friends
andrelatives who wanted to come to Texas. In addi-tion, those
colonists who held slaves wereuneasy about the Mexican government’s
plansto end slavery.
Attempt at ReconciliationSome of the American settlers called
for inde-
pendence. Others hoped to stay within Mexicobut on better terms.
In 1833 General AntonioLópez de Santa Anna became president of
364 CHAPTER 12 Manifest Destiny
The Defenders Had NotStayed at the Alamo?
William Travis and almost 200 other defenders weredetermined to
hold the Alamo. Travis wrote severalmessages to the people of Texas
and the United Statesasking them for assistance. Travis’s appeal
was unsuc-cessful. Texas military forces were not yet well
organ-ized and were badly scattered. Travis’s letter ofFebruary 24,
1836, is one of the finest statements ofcourage in American
history.
The defenders—mostly volunteers—were free toleave whenever they
chose. But they decided to defendthe Alamo for a cause in which
they believed.
Santa Anna hoped the fall of the Alamo would con-vince other
Texans that it was useless to resist hisarmies. Instead, the
heroism of those in the Alamoinspired other Texans to carry on the
struggle.“Remember the Alamo!” became the battle cry ofHouston’s
army.
To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World–Fellow
Citizens and Compatriots:I am besieged by a thousand or more of the
Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual Bombardment
& cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man. The enemy
has demanded asurrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison areto
be put to the sword if the fort is taken. I haveanswered the demand
with a cannon shot, and ourflag still waves proudly from the walls.
I shall neversurrender or retreat.
Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, &
of everything dear to the Americancharacter, to come to our aid
with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily
& willno doubt increase to three or four thousand in fouror
five days. If this call is neglected I am determinedto sustain
myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never
forgets what is due to his honor & that of his country.
Victory or DeathWilliam Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt.
Travis’s Appeal for Aid at the Alamo, February 24, 1836
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1. Do you think the stand at the Alamo helped the causeof Texas
independence even though it was a defeat forthe Texans?
Explain.
2. Did history take a different course because of the deci-sion
to defend the Alamo? Explain.
CHAPTER 12 Manifest Destiny 365
Mexico. Stephen F. Austin traveled to MexicoCity with the
Texans’ demands, which were toremove the ban on American settlers
and tomake Texas a separate state.
Santa Anna agreed to the first request butrefused the second.
Austin sent a letter back toTexas, suggesting that plans for
independenceget underway. The Mexican government inter-cepted the
letter and arrested Austin. WhileAustin was in jail, Santa Anna
named himselfdictator and overthrew Mexico’s constitution of1824.
Without a constitution to protect theirrights, Texans felt
betrayed. Santa Anna reor-ganized the government, placing greater
centralcontrol over Texas. This loss of local power dis-mayed many
people.
Explaining What role did empresariosplay in colonization?
The Struggle for IndependenceDuring 1835 unrest grew among
Texans and
occasionally resulted in open conflict. SantaAnna sent an army
into Texas to punish the Tex-ans for criticizing him. In October
some Mexicantroops tried to seize a cannon held by Texans atthe
town of Gonzales. During the battle the Tex-ans decorated the front
of the cannon with awhite flag that bore the words “Come and
TakeIt.” After a brief struggle, Texans drove back theMexican
troops. Texans consider this to be thefirst fight of the Texan
Revolution.
The Texans called on volunteers to join theirfight. They offered
free land to anyone whowould help. Davy Crockett and many
others—including a number of African Americans andTejanos—answered
that call.
In December 1835, the Texans scored an impor-tant victory. They
liberated San Antonio from thecontrol of a larger Mexican force.
The Texas armyat San Antonio included more than 100 Tejanos.Many of
them served in a scouting companycommanded by Captain Juan Seguín.
Born in SanAntonio, Seguín was an outspoken champion ofthe Texans’
demand for independence.
Despite these victories, the Texans encoun-tered problems. With
the Mexican withdrawal,some Texans left San Antonio, thinking the
warwas won. Various groups argued over who wasin charge and what
course of action to follow. Inearly 1836, when Texas should have
been mak-ing preparations to face Santa Anna, nothingwas being
done.
The Battle of the AlamoSanta Anna marched north, furious at the
loss
of San Antonio. When his army reached SanAntonio in late
February 1836, it found a smallTexan force barricaded inside a
nearby missioncalled the Alamo.
Although the Texans had cannons, theylacked gunpowder. Worse,
they had only about180 soldiers to face Santa Anna’s army of
severalthousand. The Texans did have brave leaders,though,
including Davy Crockett, who hadarrived with a band of
sharpshooters from Ten-nessee, and a tough Texan named Jim
Bowie.The commander, William B. Travis, was only 26
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years old, but he was determined to hold hisposition. Travis
managed to send messages outthrough Mexican lines. He wrote several
mes-sages to the people of Texas and the UnitedStates, asking them
for assistance. In his lastmessage, Travis described the fighting
that hadalready taken place and repeated his request forassistance.
He warned that
“the power of Santa Anna is to be met here,or in the colonies;
we had better meet themhere than to suffer a war of devastation to
ragein our settlements.”
Travis concluded with the statement that heand his troops were
determined to hold theAlamo.
For 12 long days, the defenders of the Alamokept Santa Anna’s
army at bay with rifle fire.The Mexicans launched two assaults but
had tobreak them off. During the siege, 32 volunteersfrom Gonzales
slipped through the Mexicanlines to join the Alamo’s defenders.
On March 6, 1836, Mexican cannon firesmashed the Alamo’s walls,
and the Mexicanslaunched an all-out attack. The Alamo
defenderskilled many Mexican soldiers as they crossed
open land and tried to mount the Alamo’s walls.The Mexicans were
too numerous to hold back,however, and they finally entered the
fortress,killing William Travis, Davy Crockett, JimBowie, and all
the other defenders. Only a fewwomen and children and some servants
sur-vived to tell of the battle.
In the words of Santa Anna’s aide, “The Tex-ans fought more like
devils than like men.” Thedefenders of the Alamo had killed
hundreds ofMexican soldiers. But more important, they hadbought
Texans some much needed time.
Texas Declares Its IndependenceDuring the siege of the Alamo,
Texan leaders
were meeting at Washington-on-the-Brazos,where they were drawing
up a new constitution.There, on March 2, 1836—four days before
thefall of the Alamo—American settlers andTejanos firmly declared
independence fromMexico and established the Republic of Texas.
The Texas Declaration of Independence wassimilar to the
Declaration of the United States,which had been written 60 years
earlier. TheTexas Declaration stated that the government ofSanta
Anna had violated the liberties guaran-teed under the Mexican
Constitution. The decla-ration charged that Texans had been
deprived offreedom of religion, the right to trial by jury,
theright to bear arms, and the right to petition. Itnoted that the
Texans’ protests against thesepolicies were met with force. The
Mexican gov-ernment had sent a large army to drive Texansfrom their
homes. Because of these grievances,the declaration proclaimed the
following:
“The people of Texas, in solemn conventionassembled, appealing
to a candid world for thenecessities of our condition, do hereby
resolveand declare that ourpolitical connection withthe Mexican
nation hasforever ended; and thatthe people of Texas donow
constitute a free,sovereign, and inde-pendent republic….”
366 CHAPTER 12 Manifest Destiny
HISTORY
Student Web ActivityVisit taj.glencoe.com andclick on Chapter
12—Student Web Activitiesfor an activity on the fightfor Texas
independence.
“We must now act or abandon all hope!”
—Sam Houston, before the Battle
of San Jacinto
http://taj.glencoe.com
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With Mexican troops in Texas, it was notpossible to hold a
general election to ratify theconstitution and vote for leaders of
the newrepublic. Texas leaders set up a temporary gov-ernment. They
selected officers to serve untilregular elections could be
held.
David G. Burnet, an early pioneer in Texas,was chosen president
and Lorenzo de Zavala,vice president. De Zavala had worked to
estab-lish a democratic government in Mexico. Hemoved to Texas when
it became clear that SantaAnna would not make reforms.
The government of the new republic namedSam Houston as commander
in chief of theTexas forces. Houston had come to Texas in1832.
Raised among the Cherokee people, hebecame a soldier, fighting with
Andrew Jacksonagainst the Creek people. A politician as
well,Houston had served in Congress and as gover-nor of
Tennessee.
Houston wanted to prevent other forts frombeing overrun by the
Mexicans. He ordered thetroops at Goliad to abandon their position.
Asthey retreated, however, they came face to facewith Mexican
troops led by General Urrea. Aftera fierce fight, several hundred
Texans surren-dered. On Santa Anna’s orders, the Texans
wereexecuted a few days later. This action outragedTexans, who
called it the “Goliad Massacre.”
The Battle of San JacintoHouston moved his small army
eastward
about 100 miles, watching the movements ofSanta Anna and waiting
for a chance to strike. Sixweeks after the Alamo, he found the
opportunity.
After adding some new troops, Houston gath-ered an army of about
900 at San Jacinto (SANjuh•SIHN•toh), near the site of
present-dayHouston. Santa Anna was camped nearby withan army of
more than 1,300. On April 21 the Tex-ans launched a surprise attack
on the Mexicancamp, shouting, “Remember the Alamo! Remem-ber
Goliad!” They killed more than 600 soldiersand captured about 700
more—including SantaAnna. On May 14, 1836, Santa Anna signed
atreaty that recognized the independence of Texas.
Identifying Who was commanderin chief of the Texas forces?
Gulf of Mexico
Rio Brazos
Rio
Grande
Red R.
Sabine R.
AlamoMarch 6, 1836
San JacintoApril 21, 1836
San AntonioDec. 10, 1835
RefugioMarch 14,1836
San PatricioFeb. 27, 1836
GoliadMarch 20, 1836
GonzalesOct. 2, 1835
SAN
TAAN
NA
UR
REA
HOUSTON 1836HOUSTON 1836
Washington-on-the-Brazos
Brazoria
MEXICO
REPUBLICOF
TEXAS
LA.
INDIAN TERR.
Boundaryclaimed by
Mexico
Boundaryclaimed by
Texas
100 kilometers0Lambert Conformal Conic projection
100 miles0
N
S
EW
In 1836 General Santa Anna led Mexico’s main forces across
theRio Grande into Texas.1. Location At which battles did Texans
win victories?2. Analyzing Information What battle immediately
followed the Alamo?
The Lone Star RepublicTexans elected Sam Houston as their
presi-
dent in September 1836. Mirabeau Lamar, whohad built a fort at
Velasco and had foughtbravely at the Battle of San Jacinto, served
asvice president. Houston sent a delegation toWashington, D.C.,
asking the United States toannex—take control of—Texas. The
nation’spresident Andrew Jackson refused, however,because the
addition of another slave statewould upset the balance of slave and
free statesin Congress. For the moment Texas wouldremain an
independent country.
CHAPTER 12 Manifest Destiny 367
Texan forces
Mexican forces
Texan victory
Mexican victory
Austin's colony
Disputed territory
Texas War for Independence, 1835–1836
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Checking for Understanding1. Key Terms Write a short history
about events in Texas using the fol-lowing terms: Tejano,
empresario,decree, annex.
2. Reviewing Facts Name the fourthings that American settlers
agreedto do in exchange for receiving landin Texas.
Reviewing Themes3. Geography and History Why did
Northerners and Southerners dis-agree on the annexation of
Texas?
Critical Thinking4. Analyzing Information How did the
fall of the Alamo help the cause ofTexas independence, even
though itwas a defeat for the Texans?
5. Categorizing Information Re-createthe diagram below. In the
boxes, describe two causes of the war betweenMexico and Americans
in Texas.
Analyzing Visuals6. Sequencing Study the map on page
367. Place these battles in order,starting with the earliest:
Gonzalez,San Jacinto, the Alamo, Goliad.
The Question of AnnexationDespite rapid population growth, the
new
republic faced political and financial difficulties.The Mexican
government refused to honorSanta Anna’s recognition of
independence, andfighting continued between Texas and Mexico.In
addition Texas had an enormous debt and nomoney to repay it.
Many Texans still hoped to join the UnitedStates. Southerners
favored the annexation ofTexas, but Northerners objected that
Texaswould add another slave state to the Union.President Martin
Van Buren, like Jackson, didnot want to inflame the slavery issue
or riskwar with Mexico. He put off the question ofannexing
Texas.
John Tyler, who became the nation’s presidentin 1841, was the
first vice president to becomepresident upon the death of a chief
executive. Hesucceeded William Henry Harrison, who died inApril,
just one month after taking office. Tylersupported adding Texas to
the Union and per-suaded Texas to reapply for annexation. How-ever,
the Senate was divided over slavery andfailed to ratify the
annexation treaty.
Texas Becomes a StateThe situation changed with the 1844
presi-
dential campaign. The feeling of Manifest Des-tiny was growing
throughout the country. TheSouth favored annexation of Texas. The
Northdemanded that the United States gain control ofthe Oregon
country from Britain. The Democra-tic candidate, James K. Polk,
supported bothactions. The Whig candidate, Henry Clay, ini-tially
opposed adding Texas to the Union. Whenhe finally came out for
annexation, it lost himvotes in the North—and the election.
After Polk’s victory, supporters of annexationpressed the issue
in Congress. They proposedand passed a resolution to annex Texas.
OnDecember 29, 1845, Texas officially became astate of the United
States.
Identifying Who was president ofthe Texas Republic?
368 CHAPTER 12 Manifest Destiny
Descriptive Writing Look at thepainting of the Battle of the
Alamoon page 365. Write one paragraphthat describes what is
happening inthe picture.
Causes
War
Texas Republic, 1839 For its first sixyears, this Lone Star flag
symbolizedthe independent nation of the Repub-lic of Texas. Texans
kept the LoneStar banner as their official state flag after joining
the Union in 1845.
America’s Flags