Name: ______Per. ___ Date: ______
Chapter 13 Lesson 2 – Statehood for Florida and Texas (pg. 353 – 357)
Directions: Please read over the information provided for you on this lesson. We will be discussing in class on Tuesday, May 7th.
Key Vocabulary:
Tejano – a Texan of Latin-American, often Mexican descent [Example: a Tejano is a Mexican who calls Texas their home]
decree - an official order [ Example: Mexico issued a decree closing its borders to further settlement by American settlers]
barricade – to block off [ Example: to make the block safe for the children to play in the street, the road was barricaded]
annex (annexation) – to add a territory to one’s own territory or nation [Example: Texas was annexed and became part of the United States]
Summary of Lesson:
Facts and Information about Florida:
-Through conflict and negotiations, the United States gained Florida (Spain transferred Florida to the United States in 1821. At that time, Florida became an American territory)
-Florida offered new land for settlers and Americans to move into. Americans planted cotton and tobacco on plantations in northern Florida and the panhandle area (narrow strip in the northwest section of Florida)
-There were also small farms and cattle ranches in the central area of Florida
-Slaves made up about one-half (50%) of Florida’s population
-Florida joined the United States as a slave state in 1845
Facts and Information about Texas:
-Through conflict and negotations, the United States gained Texas
-In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain (Mexico controlled the land that is now Texas)
-Stephen Austin brought hundreds of American pioneers and families to settle in Texas. Soon, the American settlers outnumbered the Tejanos (Mexicans) living in Texas.
-The Americans were refusing to follow Mexico’s rules which were agreeing to learn Spanish and becoming Catholic (practicing the Catholic religion)
-Many American settlers had also brought African American slaves into Texas which Mexico threatened to ban or not allow to be brought there
-In 1830, Mexico closed its borders to further immigration by American settlers and families
-Sam Houston tried to make peace with Mexican leaders but these efforts failed (did not work)
-Texans began plans to break away from Mexico (they wanted independence from Mexican control)
-In 1835, the conflict grew violent; a small group of Texans were inside an old, Spanish mission building called the Alamo. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna – the general of the Mexican army attacked the Texans inside the Alamo with an army of 5,000 men. The Texans were defeated by the Mexican army at the Battle of the Alamo.
-Texans were inspired by their defeat at the Alamo. Texans rallied from this defeat with the cry of, “Remember the Alamo!” This defeat made Texans even more motivated to gain independence from Mexico.
-The Alamo defenders were defeated but they bought the Texans time to gather troops and supplies. They had also provided the Texans with a rallying cry: “Remember the Alamo!”
-Texans (and some unhappy Tejanos) declared independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836. They established the Republic of Texas. Texas would remain an independent republic for about 9 years.
-General Sam Houston led the Texan army to victory over Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto. Shortly after this defeat, Santa Anna agreed to sign a treaty recognizing the independence of Texas from Mexico.
-The reason why Texas remained a republic for around 9 years is because the United States Congress was not interested in adding another slave state to the Union (country). The addition of another slave state to the Union would upset the balance of slave states and free states.
-Northerners were against Texas joining the Union, southerners were supportive of Texas joining the Union.
-In 1845, Texas joined the United States as a slave state.