Chp.8 Notes:
Empresarios
Section 1:
Moses Austin:
•Moses Austin was the first Anglo American to secure permission from the Spanish authorities to bring American settlers to Texas. The Spanish government wanted people to come and live in Texas, and many Americans wanted cheap land.
•After Austin’s business failed, he traveled from his home in Connecticut to San Antonio to regain his fortune.
•At first, Governor Martinez turned down Austin’s request, because he thought America just wanted more land. The request was for 300 American families to come to Texas.
•In 1821, Austin’s friend Baron de Bastrop influenced the Spanish governor to give Austin the permission he sought.
•Unfortunately Moses Austin became ill and died before his plans could be carried out. His dying wish was that his son Stephen F. Austin would colonize Texas in his place.
Stephen F. Austin:
•Stephen F. Austin journeyed to San Antonio in August 1821 to carry out his father’s plan.
•He was 27 years old and studying law when his father died. Determined to carry out his father’s colonization plans, S.F. Austin and Erasmo Seguin went to San Antonio to see Governor Martinez.
•On the way, Austin explored Texas and decided that the fertile area between the Colorado and Brazos Rivers would be a good place for a colony. Austin advertised for settlers to come to his colony.
Austin’s Colony:
•Austin decided that the region between the Colorado and Brazos Rivers would make a good colony.
•Austin requested land along the coast to land the settlers and supplies.
•Austin promised 640 acres for each man, 320 acres for each woman, 160 acres for each child, and 80 acres for each slave.
•The land would cost 12.5 cents per acre.
•Settlers were required to become Texas citizens, take an oath of allegiance to Mexico, become Catholic, and be of good moral character.
•Austin’s advertisement attracted many people.
•Most early colonists owned small farms and a few cows and horses.
Mexico becomes a Republic:
•In March of 1822, Austin learned that Mexico had won its independence from Spain and had a new government. This new government did not recognize Austin’s right to colonize Texas, so Austin had to go to Mexico City, which was 1,000 miles away, to again ask permission to settle Texas.
•In Mexico City, Austin found much confusion. However, Austin was given a new colonization contract under the Mexican Colonization Law of 1823, in which the amount of land given to each settler was increased. Austin would be able to settle 300 families.
•Although Austin’s trip to Mexico City was long and costly, he learned much about Mexican customs, got to know many important Mexican leaders, and learned the Spanish language.
Problems with Austin’s Colony:
•When Austin returned to the colony, he found that many colonists had left because of drought. Others were waiting for the land to be surveyed.
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•Disagreement arose over ownership of some lands.
•Native Americans raided settlements and stole livestock.
•Austin had to raise a militia to protect his colonists.
•Some of the settlers gave up and went home
•Lively never showed up with supplies for Austin’s colony
Old Three Hundred:
•In 1825 the original settlers of the colony became known as the Old Three Hundred.
•Many had already been in Texas before Austin arrived.
Austin’s Colony’s Capital:
•Austin gave the colony a capital to serve as a government center.
•The capital was named San Felipe de Austin, along the Brazos River, honored the patron saint of the governor of Texas and Austin.
SECTION 2:
Constitution of 1824:
•On March 10, 1823 the Mexican emperor was overthrown, and a new type of government was formed by the Federalists in Mexico. The Federalists were people who believed in sharing the power between the states and the national government.
•It was decided that Coahuila and Texas would be united as a Mexican State and called Coahuila y Texas. The capital of Coahuila y Texas would be called Saltillo.
The Colonization Law of 1824:
•In 1824 the Mexican government passed laws to regulate colonization. Eachstate is responsible for their own settlement plans, but there were federal rules that still must be followed by the states.
•The law limited the amount of land anyone could receive and permitted only permanent residents to acquire land (max. 48,708 acres).
•It also stated that no colony could be established within 30 miles of the coast or 60 miles of the international boundary without permission.
•They also must live permanently in Mexico.
How it works:
•A family received up to 4,428 acres (one league) for $30.
•For every 100 colonists brought to Texas, an empresario received about 23,000 acres.
•The empresario had six years to bring in 100 families before a colonization contract was canceled.
The State Colonization Law of 1825:
•The State colonization law passed by the legislature in 1825.
•The legislature decided foreigners would be allowed to immigrate to Texas.
•Families could receive up to 4,428 acres after the first payment of $30.
•A single man could receive 1,107 acres, and if he married, he could get another 3,321 acres. A single man could also receive a bonus of 1107 is he marries a Mexican woman.
•All settlers must follow the rule of being a Catholic, be a citizen of Mexico, and be of good moral character.
Empresario Contracts:
•Empresarios would receive 23,000 acres for every 100 colonist that they brought to Texas.
•The empresario contract lasted for 6 years and could be canceled by the government.
Slavery in Texas:
•The Mexican government opposed slavery, but the Anglo American colonists argued that slave labor was needed to clear land, cultivate cotton, corn and sugar cane, and to make a profit.
The Most Successful Empresario:
•Stephen F. Austin received four additional contracts under the new colonization law of 1825.
•In 1828, Austin received special permission to settle 300 families in
a 10-league zone along the coast.
•Why he succeeded:
•Austin skillfully dealt with Mexican authorities, and his colonists easily received their titles. Native Americans became less of a threat.
•Austin’s grants contained some of the most fertile and best-watered land.
Green DeWitt:
•Green DeWitt was authorized to bring in 400 families, who settled west of Austin’s first colony with Gonzales as their headquarters. By 1831 DeWitt had issued 166 land titles.
Slowed due to Indian attacks.
Martin De Leon (from Mexico)
•Martín de León settled 200 families along the Guadalupe River.
•Patricia de la Garza de León helped her husband found Victoria in 1824. She used her own wealth to found the first church in town.
•Ranching area
Other Contracts:
•Irishmen James Power and James Hewetson settled Irish immigrants along the Gulf Coast in the town of Refugio, on the site of an old Spanish mission.
Who settled in Texas?:
•Most Texas immigrants were from the United States. Others were from Mexico.
Women Roles in Texas:
•Women helped build houses, tend livestock, and defend their land against Native Americans.
•Women could not vote, hold public office, or serve on a jury, but they could engage in land sales and sue for survivor benefits.
Education in the Colonies:
•Colonists provided education for their children themselves. Wealthy colonists hired private teachers, others sent their children to school in the U.S., but most established private schools.