Chapter 7

Austin Establishes a Colony

Moses Austin

Baron de Bastrop

• the first Anglo American to secure permission from Spain to bring American settlers into Texas

• Baron de Bastrop helped Austin convince the Spanish governor that his plan was not an excuse for Americans to take Spanish land

Moses Austin Paves the Way

Stephen F. Austin Background

Erasmo Seguin

• Background:• Transylvania University in Kentucky• Missouri territorial legislature• Circuit judge in Arkansas

• Austin was determined to carry out his fathers plan

• Citizen from San Antonio that went with Austin to see the Spanish Governor to discuss the plans for settlement

Stephen F. Austin Continues his Father’s

Work

Where and why did he choose the location he chose?

• Austin spent Sept 1821 exploring Texas

• Brazos and Colorado River • Abundant water and natural

resources• Fertile soil• Mild climate• No other settlements

Austin Sets Colonies Boundaries

Survey

Ways to pay?

Requirements of settlers

• Austin surveyed, measured, the land to determine grant sizes and boundaries so settlers could get legal rights to property

• 12.5 cents per acre• Austin was willing to extend credit to new

settlers,

• Requirements:• Become citizens of their new country• Take an oath of allegiance to Spain (later

Mexico)• Become catholic• Be of good moral character

Advertising for Colonists

Attraction to colony?

March 1822

• Prospect of gaining good farm land for low prices

• Went to San Antonio to report to the Spanish Governor, but realized Mexico had won its independence from Spain

• Austin’s settlement was not recognized his right to colonize

• Austin goes to Mexico City to try to get the new government’s approval

Good Land and Low Prices Attract Settlers

Austin’s stay in Mexico

Empresario

• In Mexico city, Austin found confusion and problems with the new government

• Mexican Government officials LOVE SFA!

• Mexican Law 1823: New government law about settlement• Austin could now give people,

including himself, more land and settle 300 families

Austin Impresses Mexican Leaders

List problems in the colony  

Militia

• Drought• Disagreements over ownership of land• Karankawas and Tonkawas raided

settlements and stole horses and cattle

• Austin raised a militia, temporary army unit, to protect the colony against the raids

Problems Develop in the Colony

The Old 300

San Felipe de Austin

• 300 families that came from Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Missouri who were the first to settle in the new area

• New capital in Austin’s colony located on the west bank of the Brazos

Men and Women of The Old 300

Section 2

The Constitution of 1824

Augustin de Iturbide

Federalists-

Centralists

Federalists Constitution of 1824-

– Mexican Emperor overthrown by Federalists in 1823

Group of people who formed the new government (believed in sharing power between the states and the national government

believed that power should be concentrated in the federal government of Mexico city

Written by Feds, divided Mexico into 19 states with 4 main territories -Coahuila y Tejas is formed

Mexico passes Colonization Law!

Restriction of colonization- passed in 1824 by Congress: 3 important new laws

1) no one could receive more than 48,708 acres of land

2) no colony could be established within 10 leagues of the coast nor within 20 leagues of international boundary without Mexican permission

3) if you bought land contract, you must PERMANENTLY stay

How the laws worked

How state Colonization laws worked?

1. After a payment of $30, family received as much as 4,428 acres

2. Single men – up to 1,107 acres

3.When they married – additional 3,321 acres

4. If they married a Mexican women – bonus of 1,107 acres

5. Shortage of friars, meaning religion laws were not a strict

The Most Successful

Stephen F. Austin

Bastrop

Sterling C. Robertson

- By 1828, he had received 4 additional contracts under the new colonization law (500 new families)

“Little Colony”

Leader of Nashville Company who opposed Claims of Austin and Williams (the 5th contract) over land Robertson had been promised- he won the argument and got the land.

Why Austin was so successful

Why Austin’s colonies Succeeded

1. Learned to speak Spanish

2. Dealt well with Mexican authorities

3. With help of militia, Indians became less of a threat

4. Most fertile soil in all of Texas

Green DeWitt

Green DeWitt’s Success

Second most successful Empresario

Brought 400 families (Anglo) into Texas in 1825

Founded the town of Gonzales, became colonies Headquarters

Native American raids were a problem

Martin de Leon

Martine de Leon,Empreario

Patricia de la Garza de Leon

Successful Mexican Empresario

Brought 100 to 200 families Mexican into Texas and settled along the Guadalupe River

Native American raids were also a problem for the colony

Wife, she helped founded the town of Victoria with the money from her dowry.

Majority of immigrants to Texas were women Worked alongside men and farmed, hunted,

defended land, tended livestock Could not vote, hold public office, or serve on

jury Women like, Jane McManus, even became

Empresarios – brought German colonists

Add to the back of your notes

Women in the colonies