New policies towards Texas

We will learn about the new policies in Texas following the
Mexican War of Independence.

I will compare and contrast the purpose and methods of settlements in
Texas using a Venn diagram graphic organizer.

New Policies towards Texas

settlement

Vocabulary Terms

Buffer: Zone of
protection between
frontier territories.

Empresario: an agent
who makes all the
arrangements to bring
settlers to a colony.

Open Ended

Analyze the image and draw conclusions based on your observations:

Texas as a buffer

● Mexico gaining their independence from Spain

marked the beginning of Mexican National period in
Texas.

● The value of Texas and the other frontier territories

was not in their resources or their people. Instead, it
was based on their location. These frontier territories
could serve as a buffer (zone of protection, between
Mexico and its northern neighbors).

● Officials in Mexico City were deeply concerned about

attacks on their country. They feared that the United
States or Native Americans could invade at any time.

● If there was an invasion, they would have to pass

through the northern frontier first, giving the Mexican
army enough time to respond to the threat.

Open Ended

What did the Mexican government fear would happen if Texas remained unpopulated?

The search for more Texans

● The creation of independent Mexico in 1821

marked the beginning of the Mexican National
period in Texas which lasted until 1836.

● Texas population was greatly reduced by the

Mexican War for Independence. As a result,
there were not enough people and the Mexican
government looked for ways to bring new
settlers to the area and turned to a new source
of settlers: Anglos (new white settlers from the
United States) to move into Texas by giving
them land.

● Mexico passed several laws allowing and

regulating Anglo settlements

Colonization law of 1824

● In 1824 the Mexican Congress passed a law allowing Anglo

settlers to move to Texas. The law set guidelines for new
settlers.

� Article 1: The Mexican Nation offers to those foreigners who may

be desirous of settling in her territory security for their persons
and property, providing they obey the laws of the country

� Article 4: No lands lying within 20 leagues of the boundaries with

any foreign nation, nor within 10 leagues of the coast, can be
occupied by settlers. (20 leagues x 3= 60 miles) meaning: This
law allowed foreigners to settle on any vacant public land in
Mexico, but restricted foreigners from settling within twenty
leagues of the border with another country and within ten
leagues of the coast.

� All immigrants were to be exempt from paying all taxes for four

years. The 1824 colonization law did not say that immigrants
must be Catholic.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements is NOT true about the Colonization Law of 1824?

• Must obey the laws

• allowed Anglo settlers to move to Texas

• Settlers cannot settle on the coast

• All immigrants were exempt from paying taxes for 4 years

• Must be or convert to Catholicism

Spanish Settlement

● Purpose of Spanish settlement was to secure Spanish

control in the New World through colonization by
claiming land, searching for gold, spreading the
Spanish culture and Catholic faith.

● Obtain resources such as gold and silver
● How did they do this? By creating a colony of Spain, they

resettled other Spanish colonists such as the Canary
Islanders

● The Spanish established the mission-presidio system by

building missions, presidios, ranches and towns
throughout Texas with each having their own purpose.
The Spanish had hoped that Native Americans would live
in the missions and adopt the Spanish way of life.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a method of Spanish settlement?

• increasing population

• economic opportunities such as searching for gold

• colonization

• missions, presidios, towns and ranchos

• spreading Spanish culture and Catholic faith

Mexican settlement

● Like the Spanish, the Mexicans sought to increase

settlement in Texas for defense. Rather than building
presidios, the Mexican government left the settlers to
defend themselves.

● Economic opportunities: The government hoped that free

or cheap land would draw people willing to risk some
danger.

● Purpose of Mexican settlements was to increase the

population and encourage Mexicans to moveto northern
Mexico.

● How did they do this? By granting Empresario grants,

supporting towns already in the area and establishing
large ranches.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a method of Mexican settlement?

• Empresario grants

• increase population

• economic opportunities

• Land, business, and ranches

• missions and presidios

Anglo settlement

● Among those who were willing to accept the risk were many Anglo

farmers and businessmen from the United States. Unlike the
Spanish and Mexican governments, Anglo settlers went for
economic opportunities such as large farms/ranches to grow cash
crops and small businesses, a new start, or to escape debt and own
land.

● Purpose of Anglo settlements was to increase population in Texas
● How did they do this? The Mexican government passed the National

Colonization Law of 1824, through Empresario grants, Colonists
settled in Northern Texas and through farming and agriculture

● Many were Anglo businessmen who established settlements, farms,

and ranches. Many built ports along the coast to ship good back to
the US.

● Unlike the Spanish, most Anglo settlers had little interest in sharing

their culture with the Natives and many sought to drive out the
Natives out of their settlements.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a method of Anglo settlement?

• Empresario grants

• spreading Catholic faith

• escaping debt and economic opportunities

• owning land and establishing businesses

• increasing population

Match

Match the following terms:

• Frontier

• buffer

• secularize

• Empresario

region marking the farthest edge of settlement by a country

zone of protection between frontier territories

move missions from religious to civil control

An agent who makes all the arrangements to bring settlers to a colony

• region marking the farthest edge of settlement by a country

• zone of protection between frontier territories

• move missions from religious to civil control

• An agent who makes all the arrangements to bring settlers to a colony

Multiple Select

What were the effects of the National Colonization Law of 1824 on Texas? Select ALL that apply.

• Anglo businessmen built ports to ship goods back to the U.S.

• Anglo settlers had little interest in sharing their culture with the Natives

• Many Anglos sought to drive out the Natives out of their settlements. 

• Population in Mexico and Southern Tejas increased