Events that led the Texans to Revolt

HEADING TOWARDS REVOLUTION

DIFFERENCES ARISE

• Many cultural differences between settlers and government officials.

• Most colonists did not make an effort to follow the laws.

• Many kept their own customs from the U.S.• Mexican government was concerned that Texas

was too independent.

STATE VS. NATIONAL

• Problems arose over the balance of power between state and national government.

• Constitution of 1824 established a states’ rights government-government where most powers are given to the state

• Constitution of 1824 placed Texas in the state of Coahuila y Tejas

• Nationalist (a person who believes the power should be in the national government) thought that a strong state government and so many settlers from the U.S. would encourage Texans to become independent.

EDWARDS BROTHERS

• In 1825 Haden Edwards received a land grant in Eastern Texas near Nacogdoches

• Many of Mexican descent were already living there.

• He told them if they could not prove legal ownership they had to leave

• This angered many people and worried Stephen F. Austin.

• Settlers wrote angry letters to Mexican officials, who sided with the settlers.

• Edwards overturned an election which angered more settlers so the Mexican government asked them to leave.

FREDONIAN REBELLION

• Edwards brothers teamed up with Cherokees and on Dec 16, 1826 declared Nacogdoches independent.

• Took over the Old Stone Fort and declared it the capital of Fredonia

• Stephen F. Austin sided with the Mexican government against the Edwards brothers.

• Mexican army along with Austin’s militia marched on Fredonia and in January 1827 the conflict was over.

• The Edwards brothers escaped into Louisiana.

CAUSES OF MEXICAN CONCERN

• Fredonian Rebellion - caused the Mexican government to become more concerned about Texas

• U.S. offers to buy Texas-Joel R. Poinsett offers to buy all or part of Texas for $1 million

• Mier y Teran Report- 1828

1. Anglo Americans outnumbered Mexican colonists 10 to 1

2. Influence of the US in Texas was growing

3. Colonist ignored laws about trading with the US

EFFECTS OF MEXICAN CONCERN

• In 1829 slavery was abolished in Texas

• Law of April 6, 1830

1. Outlawed immigration from the US to Texas

2. Cancelled all empresarial grants that had not been fulfilled.

3. Customs duties (taxes) on all goods entering Texas from the US

4. New fort and presidios established to stop illegal immigration

• Texans felt that under the Constitution of 1824 these things should have been decided by the state not the national government

CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP

• President Anastasio Bustamante had ignored the Constitution of 1824 and created a strong national government.

• This angered many colonists in Texas.

• Santa Anna took advantage of this and launched a revolution in 1832.

• Texan’s originally supported Santa Anna because they thought he supported states’ rights.

• Santa Anna really wanted all the power for himself.

CONFLICT BEGINS

• Galveston- George Fisher (Mexican official) angered shippers over customs duties

• Colonel John Davis Bradburn (Mexican official)- Starting enforcing laws that settlers did not agree with. Required settlers to provide materials and labor to build a new fort at Anahuac.

• Anahuac- William Barrett Travis and Patrick Jack (Texans) arrested

TURTLE BAYOU RESOLUTIONS-1832

• After the protest at Anahuac settlers camped out at Turtle Bayou

• Sent John Austin back to Brazoria to get a cannon

• Drafted a statement known as the Turtle Bayou Resolutions. It said:

• Pledged their continued loyalty to Mexico

• Supported Santa Anna

• Before any fighting could take place Colonel Jose de las Piedras (Mexican official) released Jack and Travis and dismissed Bradburn from command

BATTLE OF VELASCO

• John Austin (Texan) headed back to Turtle Bayou with the cannon and some men

• He was stopped by Colonel Domingo de Ugartecha and fighting broke out.

• First time shots were fired.

• 10 Texans and 5 Mexicans killed

• Mexican forces ran out of ammunition and had to surrender.

CONVENTIONS OF 1832

• 1832- Texans met to create a set of resolutions

• Pledge support to the Constitution of 1824

• Repeal of the Law of April 6, 1830

• Allow immigration from the US

• Repeal customs duties

• Better protection from the Native Americans

• Creation of public schools

• Requested Coahuila y Tejas be divided

• Officials in San Antonio refused to send the request on to Mexico City

CONVENTION OF 1833

• Same requests as Convention of 1832 but Texans also wrote a state constitution.• Many saw this as an act of defiance

against the Mexican government

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN

• July 1833-Stephen F. Austin went to Mexico City to present the Texans requests

• October 1833- He wrote a letter to Texans telling them to create a new state government that would make them separate from Coahuila but still part of Mexico

• November 1833- Austin met with Santa Anna who approved part of the proposal but refused separate statehood for Texas

• December 1833- Austin heads back to Texas but is arrested for treason due to the letter he wrote

• December 25, 1834- Austin released from jail but remained under house arrest in Mexico City for several months.

BEGINNINGS OF REVOLUTION

• General Martin Perfecto de Cos- sent by Santa Anna to command troops in the north, including Texas

• Captain Antonio Tenorio- sent by Cos to Anahuac. Had conflict and arrested 2 Texans

• William B. Travis- chosen by colonists (after they realized that their government had been overthrown) to lead troops to Anahuac.

• Stephen F. Austin- encouraged Texas to go to war because he felt it was their only recourse

• Cos and a small army head to San Antonio

• Colonel Urgartecha sends an army to seize a cannon at Gonzales

BATTLE OF GONZALES

• Texans at Gonzales refused to give up the cannon

• Mexican troops withdrew

• Colonists buried the cannon

• 160 Texan settlers came to Gonzales, dug up the cannon and flew a banner that said “Come and Take It”

• October 2, 1835- Texans fire the cannon and Mexican forces retreat

THE CONSULTATION

• Delegates gathered at San Felipe on November 4, 1835

• Declared that they were still loyal citizens of Mexico and fought only to defend themselves

• Set up a provisional (temporary) government

• Appointed Sam Houston as the commander of their military forces

SIEGE OF SAN ANTONIO

• October 1835- 300 organized into the Army of the People and elected Austin as their leader

• Austin led them to attack Cos in San Antonio

• Started a month long siege of San Antonio

• December 5- Texans attack San Antonio and 5 days later Cos surrendered