CHAPTER 7 WORKBOOK
Moses Austin Paves the Way (pages 164–165)
Moses Austin moved from Connecticut in 1798 to what is now
Missouri. At that time, Missouri still belonged to Spain.At first, Moses Austin was very successful. However, in 1819, adepression in the United States ruined his business. A depression is atime in which money loses value and people lose jobs. He wanted toregain his fortune, and decided to talk to the Spanish governor about
colonizing Texas.In 1820 Austin and an enslaved African American named Richmondleft for Texas. With the help of Baron de Bastrop, Austin convincedGovernor Antonio Martínez to allow 300 American families to settlein Texas. Before Austin could carry out his plans, he became ill withpneumonia and died. He wanted his son to carry out his plans.
5. Why did Moses Austin want to colonize Texas?
Moses Austin wanted to colonize Texasbecause he lost his money in the depression and he wanted to regain his fortune.
Stephen F. Austin Continues His Father’s Work (pages 165–166)
Stephen F. Austin was on his way to help his father set up the colonyin June of 1821 when Moses Austin died. Stephen had been studyinglaw and working for a newspaper in New Orleans.Stephen F. Austin was determined to carry out his father’s plan. Hewent to see Governor Martínez. Governor Martínez welcomed him anddiscussed plans for settlement.
6. What did Stephen F. Austin do before he went to colonize Texas?
Stephen Austin had been studying law and working for a newspaper in New Orleans before he went to colonize Texas.
Austin Sets Colony Boundaries (page 166)
Austin decided that the region between the Colorado and the Brazos
Rivers was a good place for a colony. It had good soil, plenty of water,natural resources, a mild climate, and no other settlements.
Austin wrote a full report to Governor Martínez outlining the
boundaries he wanted for his colony. He also requested more land
along the coast. He knew he would need a port where settlers could
land and get supplies.
7. Why did Stephen F. Austin choose the area between the Colorado
and Brazos Rivers for the colony?
Stephen Austin chooses the area between the Brazos and Colorado Rivers for the colony because it had good soil, plenty of water, natural resources, and a mild climate.
Advertising for Colonists (page 167)
Austin advertised for settlers to come to his colony. Every man
would receive 640 acres for himself, 320 acres for his wife, 160 acresfor each child, and 80 acres for each slave.Austin surveyed, or measured, the land himself to decide on grant sizes and boundaries. Settlers would pay him 12.5 cents per acre.Austin would use the money to do the surveys. He also used themoney to advertise for new settlers, prepare the titles, and registerthe grants. Austin gave the settlers credit, giving them time to pay.Settlers coming to Texas had to become citizens of Mexico. Theyalso had to become Catholic and have good morals.
8. What was required of the new settlers when they moved to the
colony?
The new settlers of Austin’s colony were required to become citizens of Mexico, become Roman Catholic, and have good morals.
Good Land and Low Prices Attract Settlers (page 167)
Many people wanted to settle in Texas because it had good farmlandat low prices. In November 1821, Austin purchased a ship called theLively to take people and supplies from New Orleans to the new colony.Austin began to have problems. In February 1822, the Lively wreckedon Galveston Island. Many colonists and badly needed supplies werelost. In March 1822, Austin learned that Mexico had won its independencefrom Spain. The new government did not recognize Austin’s rightto colonize Texas. Governor Martínez told Austin to travel to MexicoCity. He would need to get approval from the new government.
9. Why did Austin have to travel to Mexico City?
Stephen Austin traveled to Mexico City to get approval for his land contract from the new government Mexico.
Austin Impresses Mexican Leaders (page 167)
After spending more than a year in Mexico City, Austin was given a
contract for colonization of Texas. Under this new contract in 1823, theamount of land each settler received was more than that granted byGovernor Martínez. Families who raised livestock and farmed couldreceive 4,605 acres. Austin would get 100,000 acres of land for hisservices as empresario, or land agent. He would still be able to settle300 families.
10. What are two ways that the new contract for colonization was
better than the first one?
Austin’s new contract under Mexico was better than the first one because each settler received more land and Austin would receive 100,000 acres of land as a land agent.
Problems Develop in the Colony (pages 168–169)
Many problems developed in the colony. Some colonists left Texas
because of drought. Others needed their land to be surveyed. People
disagreed over land ownership. Austin and Baron de Bastrop, the landcommissioner, settled claims to the land.Native Americans did not like the colonists on their territory. TheKarankawas and Tonkawas raided settlements and stole livestock.Austin had to raise a militia for protection. A militia is a temporaryarmy unit. Soon, relations between the settlers and the NativeAmericans became quiet.
11. What were the problems Austin faced when he returned from
Mexico?
When Austin returned from Mexico the colony had problems with drought, Native Americans, and land ownership.
Men and Women of the Old Three Hundred (pages 169–170)
By 1825, Austin had given land to nearly 300 families. The settlers inthe colony became known as the Old Three Hundred. Most had comefrom Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Tennessee. Theychose the best land for their homes and farms.Several members of the Old Three Hundred had been in Texasbefore Austin. Jane Long held a land title on the lower Brazos River.R. M. Williamsom, a lawyer, became a leader in the Texas independencemovement.Some women received land of their own. Rebekah Cummings cameto Texas with her children. Nancy Spencer and Elizabeth Tumlinsonstayed in Texas and became members of the Old Three Hundred afterNative Americans killed their husbands.
12. Where did most of the settlers come from?
Most of the Old Three Hundred to Austin’s colony came from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Tennessee.
The Colony Gets a Capital (page 170)
The colony was growing and needed a capital. Austin thought the
west bank of the Brazos River would be a good place. The town was
named San Felipe de Austin in honor of both Austin and the patron
saint of Texas Governor Luciano Garcia. In 1827, San Felipe becamethe capital for about 200 people.
13. Why was the new capital named San Felipe de Austin?
The capital of Austin’s colony was named San Felipe de Austin in honor of Austin and Governor Luciano Garcia.
The Constitution of 1824 (pages 172–173)
In March 1823, the emperor of Mexico was overthrown. Federalistsformed the new government. Federalists believed in sharing powerbetween states and the national government. Their rivals, theCentralists, believed that power should be in the central government ofMexico City. The Federalists wrote a constitution for Mexico in 1824.
10. What is the difference between a Federalist and a Centralist?
Federalists believed in sharing the power between states and national government and Centralist believed power should be in the central government.
Mexico Passes Colonization Law (pages 173–174)
The congress in Mexico City passed a colonization law in 1824. Itsaid the Mexican states were in charge of working out their own plansfor settlement. The federal government limited how much land a settlercould receive. It stated where a colony could be established, and whocould receive a land grant.
11. Who was responsible for planning new settlements under the
colonization law of 1824?
Under the colonization law of 1824 Mexican states were in charge of working out their own plans for settlements.
How State Colonization Laws Worked (pages 174–175)
In 1825, lawmakers at Saltillo passed their own law for colonization.Under this law, foreigners were invited to move to Texas. These settlerscould receive land as individuals or through an empresario.Families paid $30.00 for 4,428 acres of land, one league. Single menreceived less land. If a man married a Mexican woman, he received abonus of additional land.Although individual families were able to settle on their own, mostsettlers came as part of an empresario contract. This was because mostsettlers could not speak Spanish and needed the help of an empresario. Also, most of the best lands were held by empresarios.Empresario contracts lasted for six years. The empresarios needed atleast 100 families to settle on the land in six years, or their contract wascancelled.
12. What are two reasons settlers came to Texas with an empresario?
Two reasons settlers came to Texas with an empresario is that they did not speak Spanish and the empresario had the best land.
The Most Successful Empresario (page 175)
Stephen F. Austin was the most successful empresario. He received
four new contracts. The first one allowed the settlement of 500 more
families within his first colony. The second contract allowed the settlement of 100 families. They would live east of the Colorado River and north of the San Antonio Road, providing protection for travelers going to San Antonio. The town of Bastrop became “Little Colony,” the name given to the land covered by the new contract.
In 1828, Austin received permission for the settlement of 300 families along the coast. In 1831, Austin received his last contract. Austin and his partner, Samuel M. Williams, could settle 800 families in the area to the north and northwest of the first colony.
13 How did Austin’s second contract help travelers?
Austin’s second contract helped travelers by providing protection for travelers going to San Antonio
Why Austin’s Colonies Succeeded (pages 175–176)
Austin was successful for many reasons. He dealt well with Mexicanauthorities. His colonists had an easy time getting titles to their land.Native Americans became less of a threat. Austin also had some of themost fertile soil in Texas. Settlers were looking for fresh land to growcotton. Texas had what they needed. The land was well watered. Therewere enough trees for homes and fuel. There were roads and rivers thatprovided a means of transportation.
14. Why were Austin’s colonies successful?
Austin’s colony was successful because Native Americans were less of a threat, good soil, and trees for homes and fuel.
Green DeWitt’s Success (page 176)
Green DeWitt was another successful empresario. In 1825, he
brought 400 families to Texas. His colony was west of Austin’s first
colony and south of San Antonio Road. The town of Gonzales was
headquarters for the colony.
15. Who was Green DeWitt?
Green De Witt was another successful empresario.
Martín de León, Empresario (page 176)
Martín de León was another successful empresario. In 1805, he
established a ranch on the Aransas River. He received permission
to bring Mexican settlers to Texas. He settled 200 families along the
Guadalupe River. His wife Patricia helped found the town of Victoriain 1824. Bringing valuable goods, or a dowry to her marriage, Patriciagave gold, land, and furnishings to help build the first church inVictoria. She sided with the Texans during their war for independencefrom Mexico.Native American raids troubled the colony. However, the colonistsprospered by farming and ranching. By the 1830s thousands of cattlegrazed on the rich grasses. Victoria became an important center fortrade between Texas and Mexico.
16 What were two ways that Patricia de León supported Texas?
Patricia de Leon supported Texas by giving land and money for the first church in Victoria.
Other Contracts (pages 176–177)
James Power and James Hewetson settled Irish immigrants along the
Gulf Coast. Their central town was Refugio. John McMullen and JamesMcGloin established a colony of Irish settlers at San Patricio. Many other empresarios had contracts to bring settlers to Texas. Two
of them, David Burnet and Lorenzo de Zavala, became active in the
independence movement.
17. Where were Irish settlements located?
Irish settlements were located along the Gulf Coast.
Various Nationalities Settle in Texas (page 177)
The people in Texas during the 1820s were of different nationalities.More than 3,000 people were Mexican. Most Mexicans lived in theDepartment of Béxar. A department is a major administrative unit,similar to a territory. More than 2,000 African American slaves alsolived in Texas.Not all African Americans in early Texas were slaves. Greenbury
Logan, Lewis B. Jones, William Goyens, and Hendrick Arnold werefree African Americans. By the time of the Texas Declaration ofIndependence, 150 free African Americans lived in Texas.
18. How many African Americans in Texas were slaves, and how manywere free?
During the 1820s there were more than 2000 African American slaves and by 1836 about 150 free African Americans lived in Texas.
Women Play Important Roles (page 178)
Mary Austin Holley, Austin’s cousin, came to Texas in 1831. Shewrote about everyday life in Austin’s colony. Life was hard for early female settlers. They worked alongside the men building houses and raising livestock. They also defended their land. However, they had few rights. They could buy and sell land. They could sue for survivor benefits. But they could not vote, hold public office, or serve on a jury. In spite of the problems, women made important contributions. Holley’s books about Texas helped attract settlers. María Calvillo was the daughter and wife of ranchers. She became the sole owner of her father’s ranch, and improved and expanded her holdings. Jane McManus brought German colonists to Texas. Tamar Morgan, a slave, purchased her freedom and became a successful landowner.
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Why was life difficult for women in the colonies?
Life was difficult for women in the colonies because they could note vote, hold public office, or serve on a jury.
Education in the Colonies (page 179)
The Mexican government did not have money for public education.Therefore, the colonists educated their own children. Wealthy colonistshired private teachers. Others sent their children to schools in theUnited States. Most settlers joined together to establish private schoolsin new communities. By the 1830s almost every town in the new settlementshad one teacher.
20. How did children in the new settlements receive an education?
Most children in the new settlements received an education by the colonist. They went to the United States or private schools. They did not have public education.