The Road to Revolution

Constitution of 1824After Mexico won its indpendence

it divided into states◦Texas becomes Coahuila y Tejas

Mexican Constitution of 1824Mexico wrote a new constitution

and modeled it after U.S. Constitution◦President and Vice President (4 year

terms)◦Bi-Cameral Congress◦Supreme Court◦Catholic Faith is State religion◦Each state drafted its own state

constitution and was given certain state’s rights

President BustamanteWas not following the

Constitution of 1824 and instead gave the national government more power than the states◦This was the exact opposite of what

was outlined in the Mexican Constitution

Fredonian RevoltHaden Edwards was given a land

grant to settle Anglo Americans in Texas◦When he got to his land he found

people living there◦Edwards told the settlers they had to

prove they had a grant and they could stay

Fredonian RevoltThe settlers appealed to the

Mexican governorThe governor backed the settlers

Fredonian RevoltHaden’s brother Benjamin took

over Nacogdoches with a few men and declared it the free Republic of Fredonia.

EffectMexico sent in troops to

recapture Nacogdoches◦The Edwards brothers appealed to S

F Austin for support◦He refused to help them and sided

with the Mexican officials◦The Edwards brothers fled and for a

short time tensions between Mexico and the settlers were eased

Mier y Teran ReportThe Mexican government was

concerned that there were too many Anglos in Texas

They were afraid they would lose Texas to the United States◦General Manuel Mier y Teran was

sent to report on the State of Texas

Mier y Teran ReportGeneral Mier y Teran reported

that U.S. influence was growing and Anglo settlers greatly outnumbered Mexican Settlers

This was unnerving for Mexico so….

Law of April 6, 1830The Mexican Congress passed

the Law of April 6, 1830This act went against

Constitution of 1824◦It laid out very specific state’s rights◦Americans could no longer come to

Texas◦All Empresarial claims were

cancelled◦Slavery was abolished – in hopes it

would deter any more Anglos from coming to Texas

Unrest in TexasCitizens in Texas were very upset

◦Many of the settlers had come to Texas to get their new life started and left their families behind in the US

◦They had planned on bringing the rest of their families to join them

◦They also believed that the Mexican government was overstepping their power by telling the states what they could do

Unrest in Texas

• Sensing the citizens uneasiness, Mexican officials sent troops to Texas.

◦Texans very much resented the presence of Mexican troops overseeing their day to day lives.

The Rise of Antonio Lopez de Santa AnnaPresident Bustamante had

proven he was a centralist◦Supporter of strong national

government Ignored Constitution of 1824Angered Texans and was not in

good favor with the State

Santa Anna’s Early CareerWas a cadet in Spanish MilitaryServed in mission to defeat the

Gutierrez-Magee expeditionShifted his loyalty from Spain to

Mexico at the perfect time….….Gained favor with the new

government

AmbitionMade everyone think he was

opposed to the Centralist◦“Was actually a centralist himself”

Began a Revolution against Bustamante

Mexican Soldiers returned to Texas to fight

In PowerStephen F. Austin told Santa

Anna that the Texans supported him◦They believed he supported their

viewsAgain he was lying to gain powerSanta Anna becomes the leader

of Mexico

AnahuacGeorge Fisher was a Mexican official

charged with customs duties.◦Main job was to stop smuggling

First ordered all ships to report to the mouth of the Brazos to be checked◦Did not work

Then ordered all ships to report to Anahuac at Galveston Bay before going to their destination

ProblemsGalveston Bay was very much

out of the wayMany had to go 200 miles inland

to get papers to leaveMany captains ignored this order

viewing it as unfair.

John Davis BradburnMexican official directed to enforce

lawsArrested Francisco Madero for issuing

land titles◦Madero had not issued them to

Americans, so he was not breaking the law

Bradburn then ordered the settlement Liberty be dismantled◦Forced the settlers to rebuild Liberty and

provide materials to do so.

William T. LoganShowed up looking for his two

slaves that had run away.◦Bradburn was housing them

Hired lawyer William B. Travis to help him while he went to Louisiana to get his legal documents.

Travis told a guard Logan had returned armed.

Bradburn Freaks!!!Logan never came and Bradburn

looked sillyBradburn unlawfully arrested

Travis and his law partnerSettlers rose up and were ready

to forcefully take Travis backBradburn told them he would

release them if the settlers would retreat.

Bradburn Freaks!!!Settlers retreated, Bradburn did

not release TravisBradburn reinforced while

settlers were not there

Turtle Bayou ResolutionsTexans drafted the Turtle Bayou

Resolutions while John Austin went to obtain a cannon.

Resolutions said:◦Colonist were loyal to Mexico◦Supported Santa Anna◦Loyal to Constitution of 1824

No More BradburnBefore Austin’s return Colonel

Jose de las Piedras showed up to survey the situation

Saw how messed up everything was

Dismissed BradburnReleased Travis and his partnerEnded the argument peacefully,

but this was an omen for violence to come.