Chapter 8 Lesson 2 The Colonies Grow

Chapter 8 Lesson 2

The Colonies Grow

Multiple Choice

What year did Mexican National Era begin?

• 1745

• 1821

• 1492

• 1996

Mexico's Government and Constitution

• Mexican independence in 1821 started what was known as the Mexican National Era. During this time, Augustin Iturbide was overthrown, which created a new government.

• The government was split between the Centralists and Federalists. The Centralists wanted a stronger central government, where the Federalists wanted states to share the power with the central government. The Centralists opposed this new party.

• The Federalists created the Constitution of 1824, that divided Mexico into 19 states and 4 territories. Texas would be combined with another Spanish province known as Coahuila y Tejas, unless it could increase its population to become a separate state.

• They were given one representative, Baron de Bastrop.

New Colonization Laws

• Austin was in Mexico after Iturbide was overthrown, so he negotiated with the new Mexican government about colonization laws.

• The Constitution of 1824 allowed the states to make decisions about land grants, but the federal government still had some guidelines.

• Under the new law, though, instead of traveling to Mexico City, they only have to travel to Saltillo, the capital of Coahila y Texas to receive land grants.

• New guidelines included: restrictions on the amount of land and location of land, as well as anyone moving to the area must become citizens of Texas.

Multiple Choice

What was the capital of Coahila y Texas?

• Austin

• Saltillo

• San Antonio

• Goliad

The State Colonization Law of 1825

• To increase the population in hopes of becoming its own state, Saltillo passed its own colonization law.

• Settlers could gain titles for themselves or empresarios, and they encouraged immigrants to settle as well. Most settlers chose to use empresarios because they spoke Spanish or had a translator, and knew more gaining land through contracts.

• Certain advantages were given to men who were married or men that married a Mexican woman, and, as before, you had to have good moral character and be a Christian (Catholic).

Immigration

• Most settlers chose empresarios because they had the best land and could speak Spanish or had translators.

• An empresario was given a set amount of land, 23,000 acres, to start. He must bring a minimum of 100 families in 6 years.

• If an empresario did not meet his contract within the 6 years, it would be cancelled.

Fill in the Blank

How many families did an empresario have to bring to keep from getting their contract cancelled?

Austin's Many Colonies

• Austin fulfilled his original contract of 300 families and was able to get 4 additional contracts.

• Austin's colony became the most successful Anglo American empresario in Texas.

• In 1824, the town of San Felipe de Austin became known as the unofficial capital of Austin's colony.

Multiple Choice

What became the unoffical capital of Texas?

• San Felipe de Austin

• Houston

• Brazos

• Nacogdoches

More Contracts for Austin

• Austin was given several more contracts, one for 500 in 1825, 100 in 1827, and 300 in 1828.

• One contract giving him permission to settle east of the Colorado River. It became known is the "Little Colony" and it's headquarters was the town of Bastrop along the San Antonio Road.

• In 1831 he partnered up for his last contract with a man named Samuel M. Williams for 800 families.

• Some disputes over land between Sterling C. Robertson caused a problem, but were later resolved with Robertson winning.

Multiple Choice

Where did the "Little Colony" Make it's headquarters?

• San Antonio

• Goliad

• Bastrop

• Houston

Austin's Success

• Austin was very successful for multiple reasons: fortunate timing, good leadership, and excellent land.

• His father helped by securing the land he needed to get started, and his ability to speak Spanish and knowledge of Spanish businesses and government made him even more successful.

• Austin had prime land, giving him an extra advantage at attracting new settlers.

• They had access to lumber, water, rich soil, and means of transportation.

Multiple Select

Check all that apply: Why was Austin so successful?

• good timing

• prime land

• speaking Spanish

• fresh water

Green DeWitt

• DeWitt and his partner, James Kerr, got permission to settle 400 families with his partner next to Austin's colony.

• The law of April 6, 1830 stopped immigration from Texas, keeping him from meeting his contract.

• Gonzales was the only town and DeWitt did not gain financially from his colony.

• DeWitt died, likely from Cholera, HOWEVER, he is still considered one of the most successful empresarios.

Martin De Leon

• Martin De Leon was given a grant to establish 41 Mexican families along the Guadalupe-being the only one to do so.

• De Leon's wife contributed dowry to help settle more land and build the town of Victoria.

• He was known by natives as Capitán Vacas Muchas because of his success at raising cattle.

• He died of cholera in 1833, but him and Austin were to only two to fulfill their contracts.

Multiple Choice

Who established a primarily Mexican colony?

• Stephen F. Austin

• Green DeWitt

• Martin De Leon

Stories of Success

• Irish natives James Power and James Hewetson brought Irish immigrants to settle along the Gulf Coast.

• Many other empresarios brought settlers to Texas. They included David G. Burnet, Haden Edwards, Joseph Vehlein, and Arthur Wavell.

• Lorenzo de Zavala sold a land grant to Noah and Nancy Tevis. The Tevis family would go on to establish Beaumont.

• During this the Mexican National Era, colonies successfully grew in Texas.

Multiple Choice

What was one of the biggest reasons Austin was so successful as an empresario?

• he fought off the Native Americans

• he chose prime land

• he was everyone's friend

• he was American

***Points to Remember***

-During the Mexican National Era, Texas colonies began to grow quickly.

-The Mexican National Era began in 1821 with the start of Mexican independence.

-Most settlers chose services through empresarios to gain land grants in Texas.

-Centralists believed in a strong central government.

-Stephen F. Austin founded the most successful Anglo American colony in Texas.

-The Constitution of 1824 combined Texas with another Spanish province, creating Coahuila y Tejas.

-The colonization law of 1824 allowed the states to make their own decisions about land grants.

-There were other successful empresarios including Martin de Leon and Green DeWitt.

- Green DeWitt's colony was next to Austin's, and although he didn't fulfill his contract because of the Law of April 6 1830, he was still considered successful in increasing Texas population.

-Martin de Leon, or Capitan de Vaca, was the most successful in colonizing 41 Mexican families.