Ch. 16.2 Texas Gaining Independence & Becoming a State

• With little population in Texas,– The new Mexican The new Mexican

government decides to government decides to recruit recruit empresariosempresarios from from America to move into Texas. America to move into Texas.

– What could possibly go What could possibly go wrong? wrong?

American Settlers Welcome

• 1821 – Mexican government

welcomed American settlers to Texas

• Must become:– Mexican citizens– obey Mexican laws– support Catholic Church

• Most settlers came from southern states– LA– MS– AL – GA

Stephen F. Austin

• Led settlers to Texas– First 300 families

– known as the “Old Three Hundred.”

– Families receive: • 640 acres

– An extra 320 acres for each child.

• Many families brought slaves with them

Conflict in Texas:American Point of View

• US settlers ignored Mexican law– Not interested in becoming

Mexican citizens• Considered themselves

Texans:

• Thought Texas was underrepresented in Mexican government

– Never got a say on the laws made by government

Conflict in Texas:Mexico’s Point of View

• Mexican officials said Texans didn’t show respect for authority:– Americans weren’t following

laws

– Slavery was outlawed but people brought slaves

• So, General Santa Anna should stop this from happening….right?

– Or can there be a compromise?

Negotiations??

• Stephen F. Austin tried to maintain peace between Texas & Mexico– Austin was thrown in jail

– After one year in jail, Austin said…

“War is our only recourse (option). There is no other remedy. We must defend our rights, ourselves, & our country by force of arms.”

Texas War for Independenceor

Texas Revolution• October 1835

– First battle

• Mexico: – Led by General Santa Anna

• Texans:– Had no military

• Only volunteers from USA and some tejanos

• Made a temporary government & pledged to overthrown Santa Anna

BATTLE OF THE ALAMO

• November 1835– Texan army captured

towns of Goliad & San Antonio

• Made a military base in an old mission church called the Alamo

• Santa Anna became outraged and marched to San Antonio– Wanted to destroy the

Texans

Battle of the Alamo• Feb. 23, 1836

– Santa Anna arrived at the Alamo with 3,000 soldiers

• Only 189 Texan troops– Including Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, William Travis

• Waited for reinforcements to come with Sam Houston from northern Texas

• Next 2 weeks:– Santa Anna surrounded the Alamo

• Wanted to starve the troops inside

• March 6, 1836 – Mexican army attacked…

Remember the Alamo

The Battle of the Alamo

What happens next?

• Gen. Santa Anna moves on to Goliad– Texans outnumbered &

surrender– Almost 400 soldiers

surrender• executed by Santa Anna

– Outraged Texans…• And their new leader

Sam Houston.

Battle of San Jacinto• Sam Houston

– Commander in chief of new Texas army,

– fought Santa Anna

• Houston’s troops were outnumbered & untrained– But were mad as hell!!!

• April 21, 1836 – Houston’s army attacked &

won the war!

Texas Becomes a Republic

• Santa Anna was forced to recognize Texas as a country– Gen. Houston released Santa

Anna to return to Mexico City

– Santa Anna was then thrown out of power by angry Mexican citizens

• Many Mexicans did not accept that Texas had become an independent country…

• Vowed to fight to regain it in the future….

The Republic of Texas• Sam Houston

– Elected president

• 1st Capital – Houston

• Moves to Austin when it becomes a state in the USA.

• The US, France, & Great Britain all recognized Texas as a country– But not Mexico

So what happens next…

• Mexico looks for a reason to take back Texas for the next 10 years

• Sam Houston tries to make his country strong– Eventually realizes its only

possible if Texas gets protection against the Mexicans…

• Stay tuned.

Review Questions

• What conflict did American settlers have with the Mexican government?

• What is the Alamo?

• Who is Sam Houston?