Empresarios & Entrepreneurs

1. Empresarios & Entrepreneurs

2. Martin De Leon • Only Mexican empresario to found a colony in Texas • Wanted to start a colony on the Guadalupe River – grew into present day Victoria, Texas • Received an unusual contract: • No requirement for number of families • No marked borders • Settled 162 families; all but 16 were from Mexico

3. Green DeWitt • 1825 – received a contract to bring 400 families along the Lavaca, San Marcos, and Guadalupe Rivers by 1831 • Some of his land was also land owned by DeLeon. Mexico sides with DeLeon and moves DeWitt farther West. • He founds the town of Gonzales.

4. Other Empresarios • Robert Leftwich • 1822 – came from Tennessee to settle 800 families along the Brazos River • Sold his contract to: • Sterling C. Robertson • Brought families in 1830 • Mexican law prevented them from settling • Stephen F. Austin and Robertson argued over the land but Robertson eventually settled 600 of his 800 families in 1835

5. de Zavala, Vehlein, & Burnet • de Zavala, Vehlein, and Burnet each received land grants but did not have the means to bring settlers to Texas • They sold the rights to bring settlers to the Galveston Bay and Texas Land Company – but not the land • The company brought settlers to Texas and told them they had land (they didn’t) so what they sold the settlers (called scrip) was worthless • This caused great confusion but eventually the land company brought nearly 1000 families to Texas

6. The Irish • James, James, James & John • Immigrants from Ireland came to settle Texas but faced many problems, including: • 150 died of cholera on the journey to Texas • Border disputes with other colonies, especially De Leon’s colony

7. Haden Edwards • Haden Edwards won a contract in 1825 to bring 800 families to Nacogdoches • Mexican officials told Edwards that people already lived there but he did not pay attention • He told the settlers who were already there that they had to prove they owned their land. If they couldn’t, they had to pay Edwards for the land.

8. Haden Edwards • The Mexican government disliked Edwards • Thought he took too much power for himself • They cancelled his contract • Many others in Texas do not trust Edward • Greedy, Bad Leader • Stephen F. Austin troubled by him

9. Fredonian Rebellion • Edwards led a revolt and declared Texas an independent nation and called it the “Republic of Fredonia” • Promised to divide Texas into two parts • One part for Native Americans • The other part for white settlers • Few people backed Edwards • Soldiers from Mexico and Austin’s militia quickly end the revolt

10. End of the Empresarios • In 1820, the population of Texas was less than 3,000. By 1835, a census showed the population had risen to nearly 25,000 – system worked! • Settlers never become loyal to Mexico and never accept their system of government • They wanted to rule themselves and not take orders from officials in far off Mexico City

11. End of the Empresarios • Texas now has two regions: • North: Anglos from the United States • South: Tejanos –people with Mexican ancestry who live in Texas • Empresarios had been the government of the colonies • Mexico creates the Department of Nacogdoches to give settlers a stronger voice in government • The settlers want changes!