Name Class Date

Section 3, continued

/ Main Ideas
1. Texans hoped that a new government in Mexico would lead to changes in Texas.
2. The Conventions of 1832 and 1833 requested changes in immigration policy and statehood for Texas.
3. Stephen F. Austin was arrested while in Mexico to present the Convention of 1833’s requests.
Key Terms and People
reforms changes in policy
delegates representatives
Convention of 1832 a meeting of representatives from 16 Texas settlements who sought reforms from Mexican government
William H. Wharton delegate to the Convention of 1832 and president of the Convention of 1833
Convention of 1833 a meeting of 56 delegates from Texas to create petitions to bring to the Mexican government

Section Summary

the convention of 1832

Santa Anna defeated Bustamante’s forces in 1832. Texans were excited about the rise of Santa Anna, who had promised to restore the Constitution of 1824. Many settlers hoped that the central government might listen to their concerns.

Texan settlers called a convention to discuss possible reforms, or changes in policy. Each district in Texas was asked to send delegates, or representatives, to San Felipe on October 1, 1832. Delegates from 16 settlements arrived and began the Convention of 1832. They adopted several resolutions. These included a request that legal immigration from the United States be allowed and that Texas become a separate Mexican state. The convention chose delegates William H. Wharton and Rafael Manchola to present their resolutions to the Mexican government. However, the resolutions were never presented.

the convention of 1833

A group of impatient Texans called for another convention. The Convention of 1833 met at San Felipe on April 1. The delegates chose William Wharton as president. The delegates adopted many of the same resolutions as the earlier convention.

Stephen F. Austin was chosen to present the proposals to Santa Anna. He set out for Mexico City on April 22 to present the proposals to Santa Anna.

AUSTIN IS ARRESTED

When he arrived, he faced one problem after another. Santa Anna was away. Frustrated, Austin wrote a letter to the government in San Antonio. He advised Texans to meet “for the purpose of organzing a local government for Texas.”

Eventually, Santa Anna approved nearly all of the Texans’ requests. His work done, Austin left Mexico City. He was arrested on his way back to Texas, however, because Mexican officials had read his letter. They thought Austin had challenged Mexican authority. Austin was taken back to Mexico City and kept in prison for nearly a year.

CHALLENGE ACTIVITY

Critical Thinking: Sequencing Make a time line of events leading up to Austin’s arrest.

reforms / delegates / Convention of 1832
William H. Wharton / Convention of 1833

DIRECTIONS On the line provided before each statement, write T if a statement is true and F if a statement is false. If the statement is false, write a corrected statement on the line after the false statement.

1. Texas settlers wanted a list of delegates to present to the Mexican government.

2. William H. Wharton was elected president of the Convention of 1832.

3. Delegates from 16 settlements attended the Convention of 1832.

4. Stephen Austin was to present a list of reforms from the Convention of 1833 to Santa Anna.

DIRECTIONS On the lines below, list similarities and differences between the Convention of 1832 and the Convention of 1833.

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123 Guided Reading Workbook