The Texan Revolution

1. The Texan Revolution

2. Mexican Geography

4. I. Background Information • A. Spanish Conquest • 1. Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortez conquered Mexico for Spain in 1519. • 2. “New Spain” was one of Spain’s most valuable colonies in North America • 3. In 1821, Mexico won independence from Spain

5. B. Mexican Rule • 1. Texas (Tejas) was part of Mexico • 2. the capital of Mexico was over 500 miles from Texas and the Mexican government had little control over the territory • 3. many Mexicans were concerned that the United States or Great Britain would take control of Texas or they could lose the land to the Comanche • 4. The Mexican government tried to encourage people to move to Texas by offering cheap land.

6. II. Real Estate Problems • A. Moses Austin • 1. a businessman from Ct, had a successful mining and lead business in Missouri • 2. in 1821, had a deal arranged with Spain that granted him permission to establish a community in Texas • 3. Austin died before the trip could begin, but his son (Stephen F. Austin) would take over the expedition

8. B. Dealing with Mexico • in an attempt to populate Texas, the Mexican government offered land to U.S. settlers. The settlers must agree to the following stipulations • 1. They had to promise to become Mexican citizens and pay taxes to the government • 2. they had to follow all Mexican laws • 3. They had to convert to Catholicism • 4. Stephen F. Austin leads 300 Americans into Texas by August 1825. Mexico promised they could live tax free for a short period of time

10. III. Conflict • A. Issues • 1. slavery was illegal in Mexico, and many Texans were slave owners • 2. fearing American dominance of Texas, Mexico banned any future immigration from the U.S. • 3. many Americans refused to assimilate to Mexican culture • 4. Mexico began to demand that American settlers pay their taxes

11. B. Mexico Reacts • 1. Santa Anna, the dictator of Mexico, sends troops to Texas to enforce Mexican laws • 2. American settlers begin to feel that their rights are being restricted by Mexico • 3. In 1835, the battle of Gonzales marks the beginning of the Texan Revolution

13. IV. Revolution • A. The Republic of Texas • 1. in March of 1836, leaders from Texas declare independence from Mexico • 2. Sam Houston is appointed commander in chief of the Texan army

15. B. The Alamo • 1. Texans gain an early victory by capturing San Antonio in December of 1835 • 2. an old Spanish mission, the Alamo becomes the fort used to protect the city • 3. Santa Anna leads 6,000 men to capture the fort. A siege begins on February 23rd • 4. On March 6th, the Alamo is stormed by Mexican troops. All Texan defenders are killed • 5. On March 27th, the 300 defenders of Goliad another Spanish mission are all executed after surrendering to the Mexican army.

19. C. Victory • 1. borrowing tactics from George Washington, Sam Houston had his forces retreat from the superior Mexican army • 2. At the battle of San Jacinto, Houston’s army catches the Mexican army by surprise and wins a decisive battle and captures Santa Anna. • 3. Mexico agrees to grant Texas independence.

20. V. Annexation • A. For Annexation • 1. more land and natural resources for the United States • 2. can grow more cotton • 3. Southern States would have another slave holding state in the Senate

21. B. Against Annexation • 1. Some Northerners did not want slavery to expand • 2. many feared that Mexico would declare war against the United States if Texas was annexed • 3 Northern Senators did not want to see another slave state admitted into the Union