Texas Colonies Texas Colonies and and

Stephen F. AustinStephen F. Austin

Picture : Brazos River

Background: Colonies in TexasBackground: Colonies in Texas

• Spain wanted people living in Texas but had a

difficult time getting many people there.

• Except San Antonio, the civil settlements were

not large and closer to Mexico than Louisiana.

• There was a need for population that would

soon be fulfilled.

Moses AustinMoses Austin

• American born in Connecticut, lived in Missouri

• Owned a bank in Missouri; had problems after Panic

of 1819

• Felt Spanish territory (Mexico) was a good opportunity

to re-establish business prospects

• Met with Texas governor Martinez who did not trust

Americans due to filibuster threats

• Moses Austin leaves the meeting discouraged

Bastrop and ColoniesBastrop and Colonies

• Moses meets an old friend, Baron de Bastrop, who

offered to help him with Governor Martinez.

• Bastrop helps Moses formally request land to bring

settlers to in Texas.

• Martinez approves of the colonies and Moses returns

to Missouri.

• He becomes seriously ill on the journey home and

calls for his son Stephen to see him.

Stephen F. AustinStephen F. Austin

• Son of Moses Austin

• Trained lawyer and spent time

in Missouri and Louisiana

• As a promise to his dying father

agrees to build colony

• Begins the process by meeting

with officials in San Antonio

Famous Portrait of Stephen F. AustinFamous Portrait of Stephen F. Austin

Austin Prepares for the ColonyAustin Prepares for the Colony• August 1821, Austin meets

with Erasmo Seguin to begin planning the colony.

• He explores east Texas looking for a suitable place for the colony.

• He chooses an area between the Brazos and Colorado rivers.

• The area had rich farm land, water, timber and mild climate.

Ready the Colony!Ready the Colony!

• Austin now goes to Louisiana to advertise for settlers.

• He reports proposed location of the colony and land terms to Governor Martinez in Texas.

• Finances and a ship, The Lively, are secured in New Orleans with Joseph Hawkins.

• Austin sets the terms and price for purchase into the colony as well as applicant’s requirements.

Brazos river

Map of Texas coastline

Colonists’ RequirementsColonists’ Requirements

Applicants to the colony must meet the following:

• Willing to become loyal Mexican citizens

• Join Catholic Church• Law-abiding citizen• Have reputation as hard

working • No history of drunkenness or

vagrancy

All others need not apply

First attempt to settle ColonyFirst attempt to settle Colony

• The Lively took the first colonists to Texas.• The ship landed on the Brazos instead of

the Colorado where Austin settled in 1822.• Many of these settlers returned to U.S. • On the second trip to Texas The Lively

wrecks outside Galveston; many supplies lost and colonists struggle.

• Austin goes to San Antonio to report to Martinez and seek help and finds a surprise…..

A New AgreementA New Agreement• Austin must travel to Mexico City to renew the colony’s contract

with the new political leaders of Mexico.

• Austin spent most of 1822 in Mexico City trying to convince the

new leaders to approve the colony.

• In January 1823, the Imperial Colonization Law was passed

which secured the colony and allowed for new settlers to join.

• Austin gains the respect and trust of Mexican officials during his

meetings and returns to Texas in April 1823.

The Colony GrowsThe Colony Grows

• Austin establishes the first headquarters of the colony to help discouraged settlers and secure order.

• He establishes a set of laws to guide the colony based on American and Mexican laws. Austin was also the only legal authority in the colony.

• By Fall 1824, the colony’s contract was almost complete as 297 families had settled in the colony.

• This group became known as “The Old Three Hundred.”

The Old Three HundredThe Old Three HundredThese people were:• Mostly Americans from

south United States• Farmers with some

education• Some slaveholders

Some important members:• Samuel May Williams• John P. Coles• Jared Groce• Jane Long They become the foundation

of colonization of Texas. Gravestone of David McCormick, member of Old Three Hundred. He is buried in Brazoria

County

Further DevelopmentsFurther Developments

• 1824, San Felipe de Austin, near the Brazos, becomes the official capital of Austin’s colony

• It becomes the financial and political capital of the colony and becomes second largest business center in Texas. San Antonio is the 1st

• The new areas of the colony grew between 1825 and 1831. “The Little Colony” was separate from Austin and was home to 100 new families.

Other Empresarios and ColoniesOther Empresarios and Colonies1824- Many changes in Mexican Government

• Constitution of 1824• National Colonizational Law of 1824 • Texas and Coahuila combined to create new state of

Coahuila y Texas

The success of Austin’s colonies allows others to become empresarios. Some were:

• Green DeWitt- had colony near Guadalupe river and founded town of Gonzalez

• Martin de Leon- founded Victoria, mainly had colonists from Mexico

Austin’s LegacyAustin’s Legacy

• Austin’s colony settled over 1500 families.• San Felipe de Austin and Bastrop were important

business centers during the colonial times in Texas.• Mexican officials trusted him and his colonists.• He is known today as the “Father of Texas.”

Thank You, StephenThank You, Stephen

• Think about Texas without the contribution of Stephen F. Austin……

• We all need to tell him:

THANK YOU