The Road to Revolution Difficulties with Mexico Guiding Question: What caused tensions between the Anglo American Settlers in Texas and the Mexican government?

The Road to Revolution

Difficulties with Mexico

Guiding Question: What caused tensions between the Anglo American Settlers in Texas and the Mexican government?

Changes in Government

• When Mexico changed into a Centralist government, it…

• Increased power in Mexico City• Reduced power to the departments

• Texans were worried about losing their relative freedom.

Fredonian Rebellion

Fredonian Rebellion

The Edwards brothers got into a land dispute with the Mexican government.

Fredonian Rebellion

The brothers declared a new independent country and called it the Republic of Fredonia.

Fredonian Rebellion

Stephen F. Austin and U.S. chose sides with the Mexican government and the rebellion

collapsed.

Mier y Terán Report

Mier y Terán Report

• The Fredonian Rebellion was a minor incident, but there were other signs that worried the Mexican government about Texas…• The U.S. made offers to buy Texas in

1827 and 1829.Now, Mexico feared there was an

American scheme to steal Texas from them!

Mier y Terán Report

Another inspection party was sent to Texas to report about the settlers.

General Manuel Mier y Terán and his team spent two months touring Texas settlements.

Mier y Terán Report

He observed that there was a growing

American influence in Texas.

He then reported that prompt action was

needed to keep Texas in Mexico.

Mier y Terán Report

• Terán recommended that Mexico:• Place troops around Texas

settlements;• Attract more Mexican and other

European settlers to Texas;• Develop more trade between Texas

and the rest of Mexico;

His report led to the Law of April 6, 1830

The Law of April 6, 1830

The Law of April 6, 1830

• It was created to keep Texas in Mexico and away from U.S. by…• Stopping all immigration from U.S.;• Setting up new forts with soldiers;• Placing duties (tariffs) on goods made

in foreign nations.

Combined with the ban on slavery,

it alarmed and angered Texans!

The Road to Revolution

Guiding Question: What caused tensions between the

Anglo American Settlers in Texas and the Mexican

government?

The Fredonian Rebellionand earlier U.S. efforts to purchase Texas

causes Mexico to inspect Texas.…

so the Mier y Teran Report is createdthat causes Mexico to issue changes.

…

The Law of April 6, 1830causes fear, anger, and mistrust in

Texas

TENSION ● TENSION ● TENSION

What caused tensions between the Anglo American Settlers in Texas and the Mexican

government?

The Road to Revolution

Troubles with Mexico

Guiding Question: What events brought about the Turtle Bayou Resolutions?

Trouble at Anahuac

Trouble at AnahuacAnahuac: a port with a fort at the mouth of the Trinity

River.…

Its purpose was to control commerce coming in and out of Mexico. The job of the garrison was to enforce

the tariffs on imported goods into Texas from the U.S.

Trouble at Anahuac

• Colonel Juan Bradburn of the Mexican Army tried to enforce tariffs in Anahuac.

…

1. He arrested lawyer William B. Travis and friend, Patrick Jack. They were accused of spreading false rumors and interfering with the law.Others were soon arrested and a total of 19 were held at the Fort Anahauc guardhouse.

TravisSpoiler Alert!

This is the same commander at the Alamo three years later.

Trouble at Anahuac

2. This caused 200 settlers from other towns to march to Anahuac to protest the arrests.

This lead to a few skirmishes.

Trouble at Anahuac

3. The Texans made a camp at nearby Turtle Bayou. The skirmish caused the

settlers to send a team back to Brazoria to get a cannon.

Meanwhile, General Antonio Lopez de Santa

Annawas leading a revolt against the Mexican

government. He stated that he supported the Constitution of 1824 that

protected Texans.

Trouble at Anahuac

When the settlers at Turtle Bayou heard about Santa Anna’s victory and they met to adopt the Turtle

Bayou Resolutions.

Turtle Bayou Resolutions

Turtle Bayou Resolutions

• Settlers adopted several formal statements that…1. Declared their loyalty to Mexico and the Constitution of 1824,

but not to the Mexican government.2. Supported General Santa Anna who

promised to preserve protection for Texas.

End of Troubles at Anahuac

• When new troops arrived in Anahuac:• Bradburn was removed from command;

he feared for his life and ran away to New Orleans;

• Travis and Jack were released from prison;• The fort was closed, Mexican troops left to

join the revolt in Mexico. Tensions were calmed.

• But what about the cannon? Read p 225 to find out!

The Conventions

Convention of 1832

As the Mexican government changed leadership in the summer of 1832, General Santa Anna had positioned himself to take

control.

Most Texans were pleased by this change.

Remember, there was a hopeful belief that Texan rights would be restored by the new

Mexico!

Convention of 1832

• In Fall, 1832 at San Felipe de Austin• 55 delegates met for 7 days• Stephen F. Austin is president of

convention• They wrote proposals for Mexico to:

• Resume immigration of Anglos from the U.S.• Exemption from tariffs for 3 years.

• But the proposals were never presented!

Convention of 1833

A second convention was called for in early Spring of the next year. It was also held in

San Felipe.

Most of the delegates were new to the process.

Sam Houston represented Nacogdoches.

This meeting went further than the first.

Convention of 1833

• They wrote a constitution for the new State of Texas

• Their proposals to Mexico were• Resume immigration of Anglos from the

U.S.• Exemption from tariffs for 3 years.• Make Texas a separate state.

• Stephen F. Austin was sent to Mexico City to present the proposals to President Santa Anna.

Who was chosen to join Austin but did not go? See p 226

The Road to Revolution

Mexico loses Support

Guiding Question: What leadership qualities did Stephen F. Austin show in dealing with Mexico?

Austin in Mexico

• Austin was a supporter of Mexican authority as an empresario.

• After the conventions, he acts as a diplomat.

• Austin writes a letter to other Texans, while he is waiting for Santa Anna, that suggests a temporary state government for Texas.

Austin in Mexico

• Austin and Santa Anna meet and he agrees to some of the requests but not the idea of a separate state for Texas.

• Austin leaves but is arrested when the letter is found.

• After a year in jail and another 6 months in Mexico City, Austin returns as a supporter of Texas Independence.