Texas History
Fort Burrows
1827 - 1836
6.1- Cultural Differences in Colonial Texas
READ pgs 130-136
Main Idea:
Differences between Mexico and the United States brought Texas settlers and the Mexican government into conflict.
Why does this Chapter matter to you andme today, 180 years later?
In the 1820s and 1830s, tensions between Texan settlers and the Mexican government brought Texas and Mexico to the brink of war. Had the events of this period taken a more peaceful turn, the vast area that is now the state of Texas probably would not be part of the US. This twist of history would dramatically change the lives of Texans today. Although Mexico is a democracy, its political system and government organization differ from those of the United States. The transfer of Texas would also have considerably altered the economies of the US and Mexico.
Timeline:
1827Mier y Teran explores and spies on Texas for Santa Anna
1828Andrew Jackson elected President of US ( friend of Sam Houston)
1829Mexico abolishes slavery
1830Law of April 6 – Empresarios contracts canceled (page 138)
1833Convention of 1833 drafts the 1st state constitution for Texas
1834SFA goes to prison in Mexico; he wrote a letter back to Texas advising them to write a new state constitution and prepare for possible revolt
Vocabulary:
minister– a person sent to another country to represent his or hergovernment
civilians – people who are not in the military
self-government – people that believe in taking an active role in making laws and decisions
Setting the Scene:
Henry Ward, a representative in Mexico from Britain, wrote in 1825. “ Six hundred North American families are already established in Texas; their numbers are increasing daily, and though they recognize the authority of the Mexican government, a very little time will enable them, the Mexican government, to defy any attempt to enforce it.”
Distrust Between Mexico and the Texans
1829– Mexico abolishes slavery – to slow down or eliminate the migration of
US settlers to Mexico Texas
1830 – April 6, 1830 Canceled Empresario Contracts
1834 – Mexican leaders Imprison SFA
Mexican Fears
The population of the United States was growing fast in Texas
The US was a rising power
Mexico feared that the US wanted to expand into Texas and then take control
United States Actions
In 1819, the United States dropped its claims to Texas WHY ?______.
Since Mexico was allowing settlers from the US into Texas, many people from the US assumed Mexico did not need or want Texas
Then, in 1825 the US minister – Joel Poinsett - went to Texas and negotiated the purchase of Texas from Mexico
The US offered to buy Texas for $1 million from Mexico
Mexico turned down the offer, and now distrusted the US even more
Different Views - US settlers coming into Texas
The American experience
Believed the common people, civilians,should rule a country through a democracy, not through military rule
Self-government - people should take an active role in making laws and decisions
Government should not favor any religion
People should be free to choose their own religion - not be forced to be Roman Catholic
Slavery should be allowed
The Mexican Experience–Three (3) centers of power in Mexico:
The military should run the country - Strongest army
The Catholic Church should take a ‘strong’ role in Mexico’s government and society
Leaders of the Mexican Revolution should be the leaders of the country
Mexican Beliefs
The military could put someone in jail without a trial or even a reason
The Catholic Church was the only religion in Mexico; its leaders played an important role in government and society
Slavery should not be allowed
The leaders of the Mexican Revolution liked the ideas of liberty and equality from the US
These 3 groups fought for control of Mexico and the Texas settlers were caught in the middle
Samuel Maverick, 1835, represented the Alamo garrison at the convention that declared independence from Mexico
Samuel Augustus Maverick (July 23, 1803–September 2, 1870) was a Texas lawyer, politician, land baron and a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence
His name is the source of the term "maverick", first cited in 1867, which means independent minded
In 1844, the tax rolls showed that Maverick owned 35,299acres by title in Bexar County and Bexar Territory, with an additional 20,077 by survey, as well as 21 town lots. The following year he also purchased 11,000more acres
Settlers Practice Independence
Settlers in Texas had to 1) become Mexican citizens, 2) give up U.S. citizenship and 3) convert to Catholicism
Many settlers made the required oaths, but few actually followed up on their meanings
Settlers had little contact with the Mexican government or Mexican leaders
TheAnglosdid not think of themselves as Mexicans because they brought their American culture and practices with them
they still considered themselves to be from the US
they spoke English - set-up their own schools - traded with the US
Life in Texas was very similar to life in the United States in many ways
NOTE: Because of these differences, the present system in Texas was about to collapse
What American Settlers in Texas Believed / How Things Were Done in MexicoCivilians should control the country / Military Leaders did nothave to answer to the civilians
Church leaders should not be in the government / Leaders of the Catholic Church could be in role in making government
People should make their own laws / Common people played little role in making laws
They had the right to own slaves / Slavery was against the Mexican Law
1.American settlers believed that ______should rule the country.
A. military leadersB. civilians
C. Catholics D. rebels
2.Why were Mexicans insulted when the United States wanted to settle Texas?
A. they thought the United States was an inferior country
B. they thought the United States would try to take over Mexico
C. they were insulted that Americans thought they could succeed where Mexico had failed
D. they were not insulted at all
3.What was the relationship between Mexico and the US in the 1820s?
______
______
4.What ideas about government did settlers from the United States bring toTexas?
______
______
5.Did settlers in Texas think of themselves as part of Mexico?
______
______
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