TEXAS’S INDEPENDENCE

• During Spanish rule, only a few thousand Mexicans settled in Texas region

• Region dominated by Spanish missionaries, which dwindled after Mexican Independence

• Problems with Natives caused Mexicans to be disinterested in region

MEXICO WON INDEPENDENCE (1821)

• Mexico wanted to Improve Economy–Increase trade with US–Increase manufactured goods in Mexico–Laws which tied North provinces to US trade rather than rest of Mexico

• Protect territory from Native Attacks

• Prevent Border Violations

MEXICO INVITES U.S. SETTLERS

Tejanos – American/Mexican settlers generally raised livestock prior to 1830

Natural resources and good farm land

Land Grants by Mexican government = cheap large plots of land

Manifest Destiny

= Soon European/Anglo population surpassed Mexican

REASONS US SETTLERS CAME

Growing American settlements: Stephen F. Austin created a settlement of 300 families in

Texas in 1825

Cultural Diff erences English instead of Spanish Issue of Slavery Religion

Mexico Sealed Borders in 1830 from US Immigration

Heavy Tax on importation of American Goods

Mexican troops rode into Texas to enforce Mexican Law lacked suffi cient troops to police borders well

RISING CONFLICTS WITH MEXICO

• Despite closed borders, Anglo population doubled between 1830 and 1834–Tejano population 4,000 to 30,000 Anglos

• Mexican politics increasingly unstable–President Santa Anna suspended constitution–Convinced that Mexico could not be a democracy

• Austin arrested and imprisoned after Austin traveled to Mexico city to petition for greater self-government for Texas .

GROWING PROBLEMS BETWEEN TEXAS AND MEXICO

Austin returned to Texas in 1835 was convinced war was the only recourse

Santa Anna marched toward San Antonio with 4,000 troops to make Texans obey laws

Austin called Texans to arms

NO CHOICE BUT WAR

Texans occupied a mission fort known as The Alamo

Felt the Alamo would prevent Santa Anna from moving further North

Feb 23 to March 6, 1836 – Santa Anna’s men attached the fort

Mexican succeeding in scaling fort after 12 days, all 187 US defenders and hundreds of Mexicans died (guessed at 1,500.)

THE ALAMO

Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836

Santa Anna killed another 445 rebels at Goliad

Rebels retaliated by killing 630 of Santa Anna’s men near the San Jacinto River, captured Santa Anna

Only set him free after he signed Treaty of Velasco, which granted Texas IndependenceMexico refused to recognize TexasGB and France did

THE LONE STAR REPUBLIC IS ESTABLISHED

Most Texans hoped US would annex Texas, but American public split Southerners sought to extend Slavery Northerners feared unbalance in Senate in favor of

Slave States, feared prompt war with Mexico

John Quincy Adams (as president wanted to Purchase Texas) opposed in 1838, also rejected by President Tyler’s Sec of State Daniel Webster in 1842

President James K. Polk, a slaveholder, firmly favored annexation, and Texas joined Dec. 29, 1845.

ANNEXATION OF TEXAS