Texas’s Independence

Mexico Won Independence in 1821

• During Spanish rule, only a few thousand Mexicans settled in Texas region

• Region dominated by Spanish missionaries, which dwindled after Mexican Independence

• Problems with Natives caused Mexicans to be disinterested in region

Mexico Invites U.S. Settlers

• Mexico wanted to Improve Economy– Increase trade with US– Increase manufactured goods in Mexico– Laws which tied North provinces to US trade

rather than rest of Mexico

• Protect territory from Native Attacks

• Prevent Border Violations

Reasons US Settlers Came• Tejanos – American/Mexican settlers generally raised

livestock prior to 1830

• Natural resources and good farm land

• Land Grants by Mexican government = cheap large plots of land

• Manifest Destiny

• Soon European/Anglo population surpassed Mexican

Rising Conflicts with Mexico• Growing American settlements:

– Stephen F. Austin created a settlement of 300 families in Texas in 1825

• Cultural Differences– English instead of Spanish– Issue of Slavery– Religion

• Mexico Sealed Borders in 1830 from US Immigration

• Heavy Tax on importation of American Goods

• Mexican troops rode into Texas to enforce Mexican Law– lacked sufficient troops to police borders well

Growing Problems between Texas and Mexico

• Despite closed borders, Anglo population doubled between 1830 and 1834– Tejano population 4,000 to 30,000 Anglos

• Mexican politics increasingly unstable– President Santa Anna suspended constitution– Convinced that Mexico could not be a democracy

• Austin arrested and imprisoned after Austin traveled to Mexico city to petition for greater self-government for Texas.

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Read Texas’ Declaration of Independence

• Answer the following questions:1. What document does this remind you of? What

culture does this document reflect? What might that foretell?

2. What are some of the main arguments Texas has for declaring independence from Santa Anna?

No Choice But War

• Austin returned to Texas in 1835 was convinced war was the only recourse

• Santa Anna marched toward San Antonio with 4,000 troops to make Texans obey laws

• Austin called Texans to arms

The Alamo• Texans occupied a mission fort

known as The Alamo

• Felt the Alamo would prevent Santa Anna from moving further North

• Feb 23 to March 6, 1836 – Santa Anna’s men attached the fort

• Mexican succeeding in scaling fort after 12 days, all 187 US defenders and hundreds of Mexicans died (guessed at 1,500.)

The Lone Star Republic is Established• Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836

• Santa Anna killed another 445 rebels at Goliad, 390 were massacred

• Rebels retaliated by killing 630 of Santa Anna’s men near the San Jacinto River, captured Santa Anna

• Only set him free after he signed Treaty of Velasco, which granted Texas Independence– Mexico refused to recognize Texas– GB and France did

Annexation of Texas• Most Texans hoped US would annex Texas, but

American public split– Southerners sought to extend Slavery– Northerners feared unbalance in Senate in favor of Slave

States, feared prompt war with Mexico

• John Quincy Adams (as president wanted to Purchase Texas) opposed in 1838, also rejected by President Tyler’s Sec of State Daniel Webster in 1842

• President James K. Polk, a slaveholder, firmly favored annexation, and Texas joined Dec. 29, 1845.