Colonization Law of 1825

Mexico’s New
Colonization law

We will analyze Mexico’s colonization laws during

the Mexican National Period

I will analyze Mexico’s National Colonization Law of

1824 and the State Colonization Law of 1825

Republic
Federalist

A government in
which people elect
their leaders.

government which is
divided between the
president and individual
state governments.

Vocabulary Terms

​Federalist

Mexico’s new government

● After the Mexican War, Mexico became a republic

(a government in which people elect their leaders)
and adopted the Federal Constitution of 1824.

● The government was a federalist government

which is divided between the president and
individual state governments.

● The government was divided into 19 states and

five territories.

● Even though the Federal Constitution of 1824

created a representative government, it
specifically restricted the people’s right to freely
practice any religion.

Multiple Choice

While the Mexican Federal Constitution of 1824 created a representative government in Mexico, it restricted people's rights to -----

• own property

• build small businesses

• freely practice any religion

• settle north of the Rio Grande

Coahuila Y Texas

● One of the territories was reorganized and united with

Texas through the Federal Constitution of 1825. The new
state was called Coahuila y Texas. As a result, many Texans
were not happy with this union.

● Juan Seguin who represented Texas had argued against

the union. He feared that Coahuila which had a much
bigger population would dominate state politics. Texas was
also not ready to be a state on its own.

● Seguin stated that Texas should just be a territory.

However, when Texas leaders learned that Texas would not
be free to control their own affairs, they agreed to join the
union with Coahuila.

● In the end, Seguin was right. 10 out of 12 of the

representative members were from Coahuila. Only 2 were
from Texas.

Mexico’s New Colonization Law

Colonization Law of 1824 allowed each state to set it own
colonization policies,

1. restricted Anglo immigrants from establishing colonies near
the border and coast

2.new immigrants needed to obey Mexican law

3.Were exempt from paying taxes for 4 years.

Mexico was concerned with immigration. So Mexico
passed a new law: State Colonization Law of 1825

1.67,000 acres of land for every 200 families brought to Texas.

2.

The head of household could receive 4,428 acres of land for
just pennies an acre.

3.New settlers would not have to pay taxes for 10 years.

4.

The law’s only requirements were that settlers had to
become Catholics and Mexican citizens of good character.

The effects of the State Colonization Law of

1825

As a result, a huge wave of
immigration of Anglos came to
Texas and several new colonies
were established. It had opened
Texas to new settlement and
more immigration.

Many Americans and Mexicans
were migrating to Mexican
Texas in the 1820s was because
of the cheap land for farming.

Multiple Choice

What is one way Mexican officials tried to maintain Mexican culture when issuing land grants to Anglo empresarios?

• introducing Spanish food and culture to the new Anglo settlers

• requiring Anglo settlers to practice the Catholic religion

• administering Spanish language tests to settlers

• expecting Anglo settlers to speak only spanish

Multiple Choice

Why did many Americans and Mexicans migrate to Mexican Texas?

• freedom of religion

• cheap land for farming

• god, gold, glory

• set up missions and presidios

Successful
Empresarios

Not all empresarios had successful colonies. Only a few
empresarios managed to establish lasting colonies in
Texas such as:

Green De Witt is the 2nd most successful empresario
who established the colony of Gonzales along the
Guadalupe River. His colony became prosperous in
farming and ranching.

Tejano leader, Martin de Leon established the colony of
Victoria on the lower Guadalupe River where many
Mexican, Tejano, U.S. settlers and some Irish settled.
Despite the hardships such as Native American attacks,
Victoria soon became a successful ranching and trade
center.

Tensions between Tejanos and U.S. settlers

As a result of the boom in immigration, tensions between
Tejanos and U.S. settlers rose. Mexican migration to Texas
was limited, and Anglo settlers soon outnumbered Tejanos
3:1.

At first, Tejanos wanted to increase immigration because
they believed that American settlers would improve the
economy of Texas. Some wanted to develop the cotton
industry in Texas and needed experts and workers from the
American south. This led to a division among Tejanos over
the issue of slavery.

Other issues such as conflicts over property and livestock led
to tensions between Tejanos and Anglo settlers.

Match

Match the following terms to their definition

• empresario

• buffer

• Republic

• Federalist

• militia

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

Zone of protection between frontier territories.

A government in which people elect their leaders. 

government which is divided between the president and individual state governments. 

Army made up of citizens 

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

• Zone of protection between frontier territories.

• A government in which people elect their leaders. 

• government which is divided between the president and individual state governments. 

• Army made up of citizens 

Match

Match the following Empresario to their colony

• Stephen F. Austin

• Green De Witt

• Martin de Leon

San Felipe de Austin

Gonzales

Victoria

• San Felipe de Austin

• Gonzales

• Victoria