1. Chapter Three

2. Anglos Towns Number increased from 3 (1821) to 21 (1835) San Felipe de Austin, Gonzales, Velasco (near Freeport), and Matagorda were the primary towns Survival Anglos lived off the land, hunted wild game, fished, planted small gardens, and gathered nuts and berries Farming only earned the minimum standard of living initially By the early 1830s, Anglos began to plant cotton and began to make a profit Slaves and imported technology greatly helped 1834 estimates: 7,000 bales of cotton sent to New Orleans valued at $315,000 This is a great improvement over subsistence farming 3. Anglos Education Numerous schools established in the 1820s and 30s Patterned schools after those in the Southern U.S. Private enterprise paid for childrens education No public schooling during this era Limitations Not many instructors Subpar educational facilities Colonists who had money typically sent their children to schools in the United States 4. Anglos The Press Started in 1810 with the printing of La Gaceta de Tejas, a publication promoting republican ideals to help Mexico liberate itself from Spain First successful press started in 1829 in Austins colony Godwin Brown Cotton was the proprietor of the Texas Gazette Started a trend of Anglos producing their own newspapers Another instance of Anglos distancing themselves from Mexico 5. Anglos Religion Mexican citizenship required all citizens to observe Christianity (Catholicism) Very few Anglos actually did this The Catholic Church had very few priests Treated Anglos as a second priority Anglos held illegal church services as a result Conducted their own civil ceremonies in the 1830s Father Michael Muldoon was the clergyman for Austins colony He often reported colonists as faithful to Catholicism, but regularly wed couples outside the Catholicism Anglos were cautious initially, but after 1834, the Mexican government granted them freedom of conscience 6. Anglos The Local Militias These were the first lines of defense for the colonists Authorized by the Mexican govt as alternatives to the standing army Mexican govt could not adequately provide protection for all the settlers Only Austins colony had an efficient and sizable militia Other colonies failed to establish militias Which was required by Mexican law They simply relied on volunteer companies of a very temporary nature These volunteer companies evolve into an early form of the Texas Rangers by 1835 7. Blacks (the peculiar institution) Slavery perpetuates Anglos bring in slaves under the pretext of contract labor; perpetual contract labor By 1836, 5000 slaves in Texas Most lived on Anglo plantations along the Brazos, Colorado, and Trinity Rivers Anglos argued that development of Texas depended on slave labor Tejanos and liberals agreed Anglos attempted to recreate slavery as it existed in the Southern U.S. 8. Blacks (the peculiar institution) The Slave Condition Whites attempted to use policy and corporal punishment to control the slave population Slave attempted to run away when possible They typically sought refuge among Indian tribes in East Texas or in Mexican settlements in Mexico 9. Tejanos Settlements Descendants of the first Hispanic colonists lived in the ranching areas of Central and South Texas Others lived in the older cities already established Population Statistics San Antonio: 2500 (1835) Goliad: 700 (1834) Nacogdoches: 537 (1835) Victoria: 248 (1830) Larado: 2000 (1835) 10. Tejanos Social Divisions Opportunities in commerce, ranching, and politics fragmented society The Elite: Government bureaucrats Successful merchants/ranchers Others from prominent families 11. Tejanos Gender Divisions Similar to liberties and restrictions in Spanish Texas Rights: Could sue for military survivors benefits Could buy/sell land Restrictions: Could not hold political office or vote Religion discouraged divorce Society ostracized women adulterers However, it turned a blind eye to men adulterers 12. Tejanos Education Was a growing concern in the Tejano community Tejanos used fund-raisers to support education locally Laredo and Nacogdoches opened schools in the 1820s Bexar and Nacogdoches had the highest proportion of students per capita in Texas However, education declined due to economic conditions and the turmoil of the 1830s 13. Tejanos Militias Primary form of defense for Tejanos Led by local officials and followed an offensive strategies Frequently attempted to displace Indians Very different from Anglo militias Tejanos had strategy and order Anglos haphazardly formed militias for retaliatory purposes By the 1830s, Tejano militias were highly efficient 14. Native Americans Eastern Indians decimated by war and disease With Spanish missions defunct, the Karankawas lost their last sources of refuge Karankawas became targets of Anglos who wanted their land Austins colony launched an offensive against them in 1827, pushing them farther south along the coast During the 1830s, the Karankawas numbered less than 800 They survived by stealing from Anglos and sometimes working for settlers as laborers or domestic servants 15. Native Americans Plains Tribes maintained traditional ways Comanches, Apaches, and Nortenos still retained their traditional lifeways Relied on hunting and small-scale fishing for survival Gender differences Women gathered food and tended crops Men (Warriors) sabotaged Anglo settlements to stop whites encroaching on their land and stole livestock Trading Plains Indians traded with the Anglos Indians specifically wanted American-made weapons Anglos bought livestock and other property that the Indians previously stole 16. Native Americans Decline of the Caddos Traditionally lived in farming communities Anglo encroachment: Provided alcohol to the Caddos; began to destroy their society Anglo empresarios began to establish colonies in Caddo territory Survival Attempted to farm Also traded beaver, deer, and otter pelts for weapons and household goods in Louisiana By the late 1820s, the Caddos numbered less than 300 families 17. Native Americans Arrival of the Cherokee Pressure from Americans in Georgia and Alabama forced Cherokees to migrate to northeastern Texas Cherokee Chief Bowles located the tribe along the Trinity River Issues with the Plains Indians forced the Cherokees to move to present-day Van Zandt and Cherokee counties Around 80 families arrived by the late 1820s Cherokees farmed, raised livestock, and traded with settlers in Nacogdoches Chief Bowles attempted to acquire legal titles to their land from the Mexican government They never received it 18. Cherokee Chief Bowles (Duwali) 19. Centralists back in power Santa Anna returns from retirement in 1834 Removes the acting President of Mexico Vice President Valentin Gomez Farias Santa Anna left Farias in charge, but felt he was way too liberal Farias was forced to flee to the United States Comes back to power with a Centralist agenda Santa Anna abolishes the Federalist Constitution of 1824 Holds election of a new congress ran by Centralists Turns all former states into military departments Liberals denounce his new regime Several revolts occur Santa Annas military crushes opposition unmercifully 20. Santa Anna Farias 21. Centralists back in power Liberal Response Attempt to raise money to oppose the Centralists in 1835 Two laws are passed to sell 400 leagues of public land to raise money to oppose Santa Anna Texan Response Many disapproved of investors acquiring real estate simply for profit Centralists feared that the investors would raise a militia to oppose Santa Annas govt 22. Travis Anahuac raid William B. Travis leads a raid on Anahuac after getting news that Mexico was preparing to send troops into Texas Forces the surrender of 44 Mexican troops Reasons for invading Immediate cause: Travis had issues with import tariffs that left many unable to pay for needed goods Social cause: Travis, a member of the War Party, felt that the Anahuac raid would rally people to support Texas independence from Mexico Response: Some responded favorably to Travis actions However, committees of correspondence were still divided about Texas independence (sounds a lot like the Second Continental Congress) Most in Texas were still waiting for Mexicos response before making a decision 23. Mexicos Response Many Centralist political and military leaders saw Travis raid as clear indication of a Texan revolt The local Anahuac govt refused to arrest Travis Liberal Mexican leaders go into hiding Lorenzo de Zavala, now a prominent Federalist fled to Texas To escape arrest by the Centralist regime Wanted to be close to his East Texas land possessions 24. Relations unravel Committees of correspondence August 1835 communities call meetings to decide whether to work with the Mexican govt or openly rebel September 1835 Stephen F. Austin arrives in Texas, recently released from prison Threw his support behind the War Party and separation from Mexico General Cos arrives 20 September 1835 Cos and troops land at Copano Bay March to Goliad and reinforce it Continue marching to Bexar Rumors circulate that Cos and Centralist forces intend to free slaves, oppress Texans, and lay waste to the region 25. Battle of Gonzales 30 September 1835 Mexican Lieutenant Castanada arrives at Gonzales to take a cannon the Mexicans loaned the settlers to fight Indians Castanada feared crossing the Guadalupe River would cause a conflict Attempted to negotiate by shouting across the river Finally gave up as Texans refused to comply and left 2 October 1835 Texans fire on Centralist troops with the cannon in question; a small skirmish ensues Texans drape a flag stating, COME AND TAKE IT! on the cannon Mexican forces do not fare well; Texans call for Mexican surrender Castanada is forced to retreat The incident becomes largely perceived as the Lexington of Texas by Americans One week later, the Texans take Goliad and obtain a large cache of military supplies 26. Texans Capture San Antonio Late Oct. 1835 -- Austin and Texan volunteers move into San Antonio Quarantine the city which was under the control of General Cos (800 to 1200 troops) 5 December 1835 Ben Milam and Edward Burleson lead 550 men on a surprise attack Milam dies during the battle 11 December 1835 Cos army is defeated They were cut off from supplies and reinforcements Cos retreats to Mexico and promises to honor the Constitution of 1824 27. Edward Burleson Benjamin Milam 28. Consultation of 1835 3-14 November 1835 -- 58 delegates from 12 Texas communities met at San Felipe de Austin Branch T. Archer elected president of the Consultation Sam Houston elected as Commander of the Regular Army Declared commitment to federalism (based on the Constitution of 1824) Wanted to win support from Mexican liberals and assistance from the U.S. Texans affirmed the need for Texas independence Consultation empowered the new govt to seek financing for the expected war 29. Samuel Houston Branch T. Archer 30. Mexican Army Moves into Texas February 1836 Mexico hastily recruits soldiers for the impeding conflict Lowe classes, political opponents of Santa Anna, and 300 Mayan Indians recruited March1836 Santa Anna and General Jose Urrea move their armies toward Texas Santa Anna moves toward San Antonio Urrea moves toward GoliadJose de Urrea 31. Texas Military Issues Officers had issues maintaining order and discipline Enlisted men showed more respect for immediate, local leaders Did not follow chain of command Army was primarily volunteers Fought when needed, but left to care for their families and property after a crisis ended Texas Government Issues Problems in the military echoed problems in govt Individualistic Texans could not agree on the best course of action for independence Some still felt sympathy for Mexico Some did not know whether to join the War or Peace Parties Some argued land claims were the paramount issue 32. Felix Huston, Brigadier General Fatigues Texas Army Uniform, Fall 1836, variant 2 Texas Army Uniform, Fall 1836, variant 1 33. Texas Declaration of Independence 1 March 1836 Delegates met to declare independence, adopt a new govt, and constitution Grievances in the Declaration Santa Anna had overthrown the Constitution of 1824, substituted it with tyranny Mexican govt subjugated Texas to Coahuila and Texas did not have a voice in govt Denied Texans a right to a trial by jury Denied Texans the right to religious freedom Denied Texans the right to bear arms Mexican failed to establish a system of education for Texans The Declaration went further to denounce Santa Anna for using military justice to supplement civilian justice 34. Causes of the War Traditional Interpretation the Texas rebellion was a courageous act of liberty-loving Texans against an intolerant and undemocratic Mexican govt Constitutional Interpretation the Texas rebellion was primarily a constitutional conflict against the Centralist Party, which consistently followed a discriminatory policy against the Texans Revoking the Constitution of 1824 meant war 35. Causes of the War Economic Interpretation land-trafficking thesis; influential men moved to Texas to turn a profit on land transactions When Mexico moved against Texas in 1835, those men threw their support behind the rebellion to maintain and preserve their land interests Economics/Federalism thesis war was started to preserve long-standing political values and recent economic achievements Federalism fostered immigration, political liberty, slavery, and economic progress Santa Annas Centralist govt threatened Texas notion of govt by the people and individualist entrepreneurship Thus, the rebellion intended to protect individual liberty, slavery, and agricultural advances Anglos made in Texas 36. Causes of the War Inferiority Thesis Anglos refused to assimilate or conform to Mexican rules, customs, and Catholicism Relatively isolated, the Texans attempted to govern themselves They refused to pay duties, objected to troop increases in the Mexican army (designed to make Texans respect Mexicos laws) Ethnocentrism (racism) was the cause of the conflict Texans viewed Mexicans as a politically and culturally inferior people living under a broken govt 37. Causes of the War Inferiority Thesis Anglos arrived in Texas conditioned to think negatively of Mexican people Mexicans darker skin and Catholicism set off U.S. Anglos views that they were biologically inferior and culturally flawed Anglos were conditioned to believe in the U.S. interpretation of Manifest Destiny Their job was to rescue the underdeveloped region from a backward people and an instable government Basically, the goal was to make Texas a state in the U.S. as quick as possible 38. Causes of the War War and Racism thesis Racism was not an issue until the war started People lived so removed that contact between Anglos and Tejanos coexisted fairly well; had the same economic and political goals The war itself spurred anti-Mexican prejudice The conflict made Anglos view Mexicans as decadent, brutal, and subhuman. (Santa Anna certainly did not help correct this) Prejudice evolved from a need to justify the conflict and domination over Tejanos 39. Fall of the Alamo Mexican Forces: Santa Anna (18,000) Texan Forces: William B. Travis (182 to 189) 23 February 1836 Santa Anna arrives in San Antonio to find the Alamo fortified by Texan forces He begins to lay siege for a final assault 6 March 1836 around 0500, 1800 of Santa Annas troops begin moving toward the Alamo The deguello, a bugle call signaling no quarter is sounded 40. The Alamo Texans were armed with 21 artillery pieces and a team of expert marksmen led by volunteer Davy Crockett Texans repelled the first wave of Mexican troops that attempted to breach the walls Within 10 minutes, Santa Anna was forced to commit his reserves as Texans continued to fend off Mexican forces 41. Fall of the Alamo Mexican reserves finally overtook the Alamo and Texan volunteers were forced to fall back inside the compound The battle ended within 20 minutes Mexicans continued to slaughter Texan survivors for another hour after the battle ended Santa Anna gave orders to spare no ones life, but several from the Alamo survived Susannah Dickinson, her child, and a black slave belonging to Travis survived 42. Fall of the Alamo Within minutes of the battles end, Santa Anna captured and executed 6 or 7 Texas volunteers Among them was Davy Crockett Overall, Santa Anna lost 500 to 600 men in the siege At least 180 Texans were killed 43. The Goliad Massacre Mexican Forces: Urrea Texan Forces: James W. Fannin Urrea was advancing toward Goliad from Matamoras His army had already met resistance at San Patricio, Agua Dulce, and Refugio 19 March 1836 Fannin decided to abandon the garrison at Goliad and move his army toward Victoria Lack of supplies at Goliad made for a bad defense James W. Fannin 44. The Goliad Massacre As Fannin and his army retreated, they were intercepted by Urrea at Coleto Creek 20 March 1836 Fannin was forced to surrender. Urrea marched the Texan army back to Goliad Urrea sends a request to Santa Anna for clemency for the Texas prisoners Santa Anna responds with an execution order 27 March 1836 Urreas men executed 340 Texas Fannin was forced to watch his men executed and was the last to die 30 Texans managed to escape The bodies were stacked and burned 45. Texan Response to the Alamo and Goliad Old allegiances to immediate leaders were dissolved Sam Houston received a greater deal of respect and unity of command was acknowledged Houston was training troops in mid-March 1836, began to move away from Santa Annas army Troops began to rally around the Texan cause Remember the Alamo and Remember Goliad became common themes 46. The Runaway Scrape Anglos and Tejanos began a mass exodus from their homes and property in Central Texas Taking only what they could easily carry and limited amounts of livestock They headed toward the Texas-Louisiana border seeking refuge Cold weather, floods, and mud intensified the refugees hardship as they attempted to stay ahead of the Mexican army 47. The Battle of San Jacinto Mexican Forces: Santa Anna (1,360) Texan Forces: Sam Houston (910) 20 April 1836 Santa Anna caught up with Sam Houstons forces at the San Jacinto River Santa Anna effectively boxed in Texan forces, but was shut off on 3 sides by Texans The San Jacinto was on Santa Annas right and was surrounded by swampy terrain behind him Orderly retreat for Santa Anna was almost impossible 48. The Battle of San Jacinto 21 April 1836 1530 to 1600, Houston and Tejano forces led by Juan Seguin attacked Santa Annas army Within 18 minutes, Houstons men had full control of Santa Annas camp The Mexican army became disorganized and lost ground Texans chased them as they fled into the river and swamp, killing any Mexican soldier they could find During the battle, Texans rallied behind the battle cries, Remember the Alamo and Remember Goliad 49. The Battle of San Jacinto Texans killed Santa Annas men until nightfall Mexican casualties: 630 dead, 208 wounded, 730 prisoners Texan casualties: 8-9 injured, 17-30 injured Santa Anna was forced to surrender 50. Treaties of Velasco 22 April 1836 Santa Anna was captured by Sam Houstons army Began negotiating an agreement to spare Santa Annas life in exchange for Mexican retreat from Texas 14 May 1836 Santa Anna signs the Treaties of Velasco Acknowledging Texas independence from Mexico Vowed to remove all Mexican forces from Texas Accepted Texas boundary at the Rio Grande River Promised to ensure Mexicos recognition of Texas Mexico refused to accept the Treaties However, they did not have the means to wage another offensive Texas independence had been won