The Road to Revolution

Mexican Constitution of 1824

Mexico wrote a new constitution and modeled it after U.S. ConstitutionPresident and Vice President (4 year terms)

Bi-Cameral CongressSupreme CourtCatholic Faith is State religionEach 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 statesThis 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 settlersHaden’s brother

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

Effect

Mexico 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 Report

General 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, 1830

This 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 Texas

Citizens 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 Continued• 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 Anna

President Bustamante had proven he was a centralist◦Supporter of strong national government

Ignored Constitution of 1824

Angered 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 expedition

Shifted his loyalty from Spain to Mexico at the perfect time….

….Gained favor with the new government

Ambition

Made 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 views

Again he was lying to gain power

Santa 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 way

Many had to go 200 miles inland to get papers to leave

Many captains ignored this order viewing it as unfair.

John Davis BradburnMexican official directed to enforce laws

Arrested 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. Logan

Showed 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 silly

Bradburn unlawfully arrested Travis and his law partner

Settlers rose up and were ready to forcefully take Travis back

Bradburn told them he would release them if the settlers would retreat.

Bradburn Freaks!!!Settlers retreated, Bradburn did not release Travis

Bradburn 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

Turtle Bayou ResolutionsSettlers sent John Austin to Brazoria

to bring back a cannon. Turtle Bayou Resolutions

◦Colonists pledged their loyalty to Mexico and Santa Anna.

◦Remember: Santa Anna was a centralist posing as a nationalist!

No More Bradburn

Before 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.

Battle of Velasco

John Austin has the cannon and he’s on his way back to Brazoria. ◦He and his men sail down the Brazos River toward the Gulf of Mexico.

They arrive in Velasco.◦Colonel Urgartechea refuses to let the men pass through Velasco with the cannon.

◦Fighting breaks out!◦First time Mexican and Texan troops fire at one another.

Convention of 1832Texans met in San Felipe de Austin and

drafted a set of resolutions.Texans pledge their support for the

Constitution of 1824.Called for a repeal of the Law of April 6,

1830 and the customs duty.◦Repeal: to take away

Wanted to allow U.S. immigration to Texas. Wanted the Mexican government to divide

the state of Coahuila y Tejas and grant Texas statehood.

Established a plan to create a militia.Donate government lands for public

schools.

Convention of 1833Same proposals at the

Convention of 1832 EXCEPT they drafted a new Constitution.◦Mexican state of Texas!

To the Mexican government, this looked like an act of defiance!

SFA is in Mexico

SFA leaves for Mexico to take the new resolutions to the Mexican government.

1833 – impatient SFA wrote a letter to his fellow Texans.◦The letter suggested the Texans establish a new state government.

◦New state government would make Texas separate from Coahuila but still a part of Mexico.

SFA meets with Santa Anna◦Santa Anna repealed the immigration law prohibiting immigrants from the U.S.

◦Promised fair taxes on goods imported from the U.S.

◦Rejected separate statehood for Texas.

SFA Arrested!

Austin’s letter to the Texans was intercepted.

He was accused of treason.He was imprisoned in Mexico City

for a year and never received a trial.

Conflict EscalatesTexans soon found out that Santa

Anna was a centralist and not a nationalist.

He had a new constitution written that placed all the power in his hands!

To squash any rebellion that might take place in Texas, Santa Anna sent General Cos to watch over Texas.

Battle of Gonzales

General Urgartechea hears there is a 6 pound cannon in the town of Gonzales.

Texans refused to return the cannon.When the Mexican army arrived, the

Texans fired on the Mexicans forcing them to retreat to San Antonio.

This battle showed that the Texans were willing to use military force if necessary.

The Battle of Gonzales is the battle that began the revolution!

Siege of Bexar (San Antonio)

Texans capture the city of San Antonio from General Cos.

Texans believed the crisis was over.

Santa Anna had other ideas!