10.1: Political Unrest in Texas

10.1: Political Unrest in Texas

Open Ended

Q: Of all the solutions presented in our warm-up, which one do you think would be most successful?

In today's lesson, you will learn how certain events in Texas led Mexican officials to pass some unpopular laws and about how Texans reacted to those laws.

The Fredonian Rebellion

Haden Edwards received an empresario contract to settle 800 families near Nacogdoches from the Mexican government in 1825.

When he arrived there, he found that many people had been living on the land for years.

The Fredonian Rebellion, cont'd.

• Edwards contract required him to respect the property rights of all settlers who had legal titles to their land.

• However, he disagreed with this rule. Edwards required all settlers to show him the titles to their land. Many could not.

• Edwards demanded that those who could not show their titles pay him (again) for land that they already had owned for hundreds of years.

Poll

Haden Edwards gives you an ultimatum: Move off of his land or purchase a new title from him. How do you respond?

• Pay him. After all, it's the right thing to do.

• I'm not sure. It's a tricky situation.

• Why should I move? My family has lived on this land for over 100 years!

The Fredonian Rebellion, cont'd.

• Edwards actions enraged many of the settlers.

• To make matters worse, Edwards son-in-law was elected alcalde (governor) of the settlement in a questionable election.

• They complained to the Mexican government, which sided w/ the settlers.

The Fredonian Rebellion, cont'd.

The Mexican government cancelled Edwards contract, declaring he was not fulfilling its terms.

A group of Edwards supporters took action. They gathered a small group of settlers and declared a small part of East Texas as the "Republic of Fredonia," free and independent from Mexican rule.

Most Texans--including many Tejanos and Anglos alike--opposed the rebellion. Stephen F. Austin, who supported the Mexican government, sent out the militia. The rebellion was quickly put down.

Multiple Choice

Was the Fredonian Rebellion successful?

• Yes

• No

The Mier y Terán Report

• The Fredonian Rebellion was a minor event, but it attracted a lot of attention.

• Even newspapers in the United States carried stories about the revolt.

• This American interest in the revolt greatly concerned the Mexican government.

Open Ended

In your opinion, why do you feel that Mexico was greatly worried that the United States was showing interest in the Fredonian Rebellion?

Limit your response to one sentence.

The Mier y Terán Report, cont'd.

To investigate their concerns, the Mexican govt. sends Manuel Mier y Terán on a tour of TX.

Officially (on paper), the purpose of his trip was to:

1-- Examine the resources and Indians of Texas

2: Determine the formal boundary of TX and Louisiana.

Multiple Select

Which of the following was NOT an "official" reason that Manuel Mier y Terán was sent to tour Texas?

• Examine resources of Texas

• Learn more about the Native Texas tribes

• See how many Americans were living in Texas

• Determine the formal boundary between TX and Louisiana

The Mier y Terán Report

• On his tour, Terán was secretly asked by the government to determine how many Americans lived in Texas and what their attitudes towards Mexico were.

• He traveled all across the state, ending up in East TX. Once there, he discovered that many of the Mexican government's concerns were legitimate.

The Mier y Terán Report, cont'd.

• After his tour of Texas was complete, Terán writes his report and sends it back to the president of Mexico.

• In his report, he noted the following:

• 1) American influence in TX grew stronger as one travels northward and eastward.

• 2) Around Nacogdoches, U.S. settlers outnumber Tejanos 10-1.

• 3) American influence, particularly in East TX, was growing stronger every day.

Open Ended

"I tell myself that it could not be otherwise than that from such a state of affairs should arise an antagonism between Mexicans and foreigners.... Therefore, I am warning you to take timely measures. Texas could throw the whole nation into revolution."

--Manuel Mier y Terán

In your opinion, what is Terán trying to tell the Mexican government about Texas after his tour?

Mexico fears Texas/U.S. interest is mutual between both parties

The Mier y Terán Report

Terán made the following recommendations based on his observations of Texas:

1: Increase trade between Texas and Mexico and discourage trade w/ the United States

2: Send more soldiers to Texas to keep order and increase Mexican control of the region

3: Mexico should encourage more Europeans and Mexicans to settle in Texas

Multiple Select

Which of the following was NOT a recommendation by Manuel Mier y Terán?

• Increase trade between Texas and Mexico.

• Send soldiers to TX to keep order and increase Mexican control.

• Encourage more Europeans and Mexicans to settle in TX.

• Allow the United States to trade with Texas settlers.

The Law of April 6, 1830

In response to Manuel Mier y Terán's report, the Mexican govt. passed the Law of April 6, 1830. This sweeping law was intended to strictly control the American presence in Texas.

1: Banned immigration from the U.S. and made it illegal for settlers to bring more slaves into Texas.

2: Suspended unfilled empresario contracts.

3: Place military bases and govt. offices along the TX/U.S. border.

4: Tax all U.S. imports into Texas (customs duties).

Poll

Customs duties placed taxes on all imports coming into TX from the United States. In your opinion, what was the main reason the Mexican govt. placed these taxes on U.S. goods?

• The import taxes would raise money for the Mexican government.

• Goods would be more expensive from the United States and would force Texas settlers to buy goods from Mexico.

The Law of April 6, 1830

Many people were angered by the new law. They felt it hurt the economy. They were also upset their friends and family in the United States could not move to Texas.

Stephen F. Austin disliked the law, but he tried to work with Mexican officials and encouraged colonists to respect the law.