G.T.T“Gone to Texas”

Anglo Colonization of Texas

Vocabulary TermsAnglo American – a person who lives in the U.S. whose ancestors moved from Europe.

Empresario – An agent who makes all arrangements to bring settlers to a colony

Tejano – a person of Mexican descent living in Texas

Background Info…

Americans Move WestAfter the United States gained freedom from Great Britain in 1783, Anglo Americans began searching for new areas to settle.

Moses Austin

• Operated a lead mine in Missouri, lost his fortune, had a lot of debt.

• Decided that helping colonists locate in Texas was the best way to make money and pay off his debts

It was my idea…all

mine!

Mose’s Plan• Traveled 800 miles to Texas from Missouri in 1821

with the plan to bring 300 U.S. families to Texas to establish a colony…. He first needed permission form the Spanish government.

• Spanish officials were suspicious and originally said NO!, However, Moses knew people… people higher up that could ask for him.

• Confident that he would get approval, Austin returned to the east to begin recruiting colonists while awaiting approval when he became ill.

• He learned his plan had been approved while on his deathbed.– Asked that his son, Stephen, carry out his dream

of bringing U.S. settlers to Texas

Stephen F. Austin“The Father of Texas”

• At age 27, Stephen F. Austin dropped his plans for a legal career and went to Texas to fulfill his father’s wishes.

• He visited San Antonio de Bexar and met with the Spanish governor there. Moses Austin’s empresario grant was transferred to Stephen’s name.

Yup…

He thinks he’s so cool when he

hangs out under this tree

Major Empresario Land Grants Coahuila y Tejas 1825-1832

Next, Austin chose the site for his colony. He decided on the land between the Lavaca and San Jacinto Rivers. Established his capital on the west bank of the Brazos River, it was named San Felipe de Austin.

- Not heavily forested so easy to clear- Received enough rain for crops

Anybody want to go to

Texas?

Meh…

Me! Me! Me! I got no place else to go!

Americans Coming to TexasWhy Did They Come?

• Spain had first opened Texas to Anglo-Americans in 1820, one year before Mexico claimed independence from Spain. Its traditional policy didn’t allow foreigners in its territory, but Spain was unable to persuade its own citizens to move to the far-away “wilderness” of Texas.

• Mostly, people were willing to come for the cheap and abundant land - 1 acre in USA = $1.25 / 1 acre in Texas = $.04-$.12

• Some were escaping problems in the United States and some were purely seeking adventure and personal gain (W.B.T.)

Searching for Colonists• Austin knew that the success of the colony depended on

the character of the colonists. He traveled to New Orleans to recruit future colonists in Texas. He was looking for people willing to accept hard times and that would provide for themselves.

• The official terms (Spain says…) of the empresarial grant stated that colonists had to be

1. Persons of good character

2. Catholic or willing to become Catholic.

3. They were also required to pledge loyalty to Spain

• Settlers began to arrive in 1821- these families were known as the “Old Three Hundred” and they could get…

• Farmers = 177 acres

• Ranchers (raise livestock) = 4,428 acres

Essential Question:– What was the difference between Spanish settlements in the

1700’s and Anglo settlements in the 1800’s like the ones established by Austin and other empresarios?

Spanish settlements in the 1700’s consisted of missions, presidios and

trading posts all centered around the missions/churches.

Most Anglo settlements in 1800’s Texas were permanent farming and ranching communities on huge grants of land

Hardships• Disease was one of the most common challenges

– Few doctors and most had little medical training.• Native American attacks

– Stephen F. Austin formed a small militia to ride throughout the colony and prevent raiding parties.• Patrol was later organized into the Texas

Rangers.• Tension develops between the colonists and the

Mexican government– Conflicts would lead to the colonists’ demand for

independence

Austin the Great Leader• The colony prospered due to Austin’s leadership• Biggest challenge came in 1822- Austin learned that

Mexico had gained independence from Spain in September of 1821.– The grant had been issued by Spain, therefore he

now needed permission from Mexican officials for the colony

– Traveled to Mexico City to obtain approval - took a year

• While there he learned Spanish and gained trust of Mexican leaders. Awarded grants under the national colonization laws of 1823 and 1824

• Austin was the colonists’ main representative to Mexican officials, he translated laws and communicated government policies to the settlers– Known as the “Father of Texas”

Other Empresarios

• Austin was the first Empresario but not the only one.– by 1830 about 30 people had also brought

settlers to Texas.• By 1830’s Texas had a population of almost

20,000 people and was growing.– Cotton and Cattle industries were beginning to

grow also.

Open Door to Texas• Because of the empresarios, many people began moving into Texas.

(Texas Fever)– The inscription G.T.T. (Gone To Texas) became a common sight on

abandoned cabins.• “Gone to Texas”  was a phrase used by Americans immigrating

to Texas in the 19th century often to escape debt incurred during the Panic of 1819.

• After Davy Crockett was narrowly defeated for re-election in Tennessee, he famously said, "You may all go to h***, and I will go to Texas," and followed through on that pledge.

• Most settlers that came emigrated from the U.S. but some came from Mexico and Europe.– Large population of Tejanos settled in San Antonio de Bexar.

• Powerful Tejanos in Texas include Erasmo and Juan Seguin, Lorenzo de Zavala, and Jose Antonio Navarro

– African American population of Texas grew as well.• Slavery was illegal in Mexico after 1829 but law was not enforced• Mexican law offered protection and legal rights to free African

Americans.