Mexico Becomes Independent II

Mexico Becomes Independent

Lesson 2: Challenges to Spanish Rule

In this lesson, you will...

learn why Mexico wanted independence from Spain, and the role Texas played in the fight for independence.

McGraw Hill Texas History

For this lesson, you will be reading:
Chapter 7: Mexico Becomes Independent
Lesson 2: Challenges to Spanish Rule

Remember to use your AVID notes for this lesson.

Colonists in New Spain were excluded from the best jobs.

In 1804 the Spanish king seized money and property from colonial churches.

More and more colonists began to resent Spanish rule.

​

On September 16, 1810, a priest in Dolores, named Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, issued a grito, or call, for a rebellion against the Spanish.


Hidalgo wanted better opportunities for all Mexicans.

Although Father Hidalgo was captured by the Spanish, the movement for independence did not end.

José Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara, a follower of Hildalgo, traveled to Washington, D.C., in 1811 to ask the United States for help. He was told he would find support in Louisiana. So he left Washington and set sail for New Orleans.

In New Orleans, Gutiérrez de Lara began recruiting soldiers. He recruited Lieutenant Augustus Magee, an American West Point graduate. Magee was made military commander of what was now called the Gutiérrez–Magee Expedition. Gutiérrez was the overall commander.

Open Ended

What were the effects of Father Hidalgo’s call for rebellion?

By August 1812 the Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition had gained many followers and was now called the Republican Army of the North.

Its soldiers included Tejanos, Native Americans, and Americans.

The Republican Army crossed the Sabine River into Texas and easily captured Nacogdoches.

Then the army marched to Goliad, gathering new volunteers along the way. The Republican Army captured Goliad in early November.

However, a large Spanish force arrived and held the rebel army under siege for three months. When Magee died suddenly, American Samuel Kemper took command. The Spanish forces suffered heavy losses and retreated to San Antonio, where they were defeated by Kemper.

The victorious leaders issued a declaration of independence for Texas, causing problems within the ranks of the Republican leaders.

Green Flag of the Gutíerrez-Magee Expedition.

Open Ended

What led to conflict within the Republican Army after its victory at San Antonio?

In August 1813 the Republican Army fought the Spanish near the Medina River, south of San Antonio.

Commanded by General Joaquín de Arredondo, the Spanish won a complete victory.

Most of the rebels were killed in battle or after surrendering.

​

The Spanish also tracked down and killed colonists in San Antonio who had helped the Republican Army.

In fear, colonists deserted the towns of Goliad and Nacogdoches.

The Spanish crackdown was so brutal that Texas remained Spanish for another seven years.

​

The rebels who had gone to Galveston Island made plans to keep fighting the Spanish.

In 1816 rebel leaders declared that the port of Galveston was now part of the Mexican republic.

​
The rebels asked French pirate Louis Michel Aury to patrol the Gulf.

The rebels named Aury the commander of Galveston.

The next year he helped revolutionary leader Francisco Mina move his forces into Mexico.

Open Ended

What is a republic?

Aury returned to Galveston Island only to find it held by another pirate, Jean Lafitte.

The pirate claimed to support Mexican independence.

Like Aury, Lafitte was more interested in taking the valuable cargo that Spanish ships were carrying.

At times, Lafitte’s pirates attacked American ships until the U.S. Navy stopped them.

​

Multiple Choice

Which filibuster army captured Nacogdoches, Goliad, and San Antonio before being defeated?

• Jean Lafitte's

• James Long's

• Charles François Lallemand's

• the Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition

Multiple Choice

On _____, 1810, Father Hidalgo y Costilla issued a call for independence from Spain.

• May 5

• September 16

• July 4

• March 2

Multiple Choice

Father Hidalgo's execution inspired many followers to work for _____ from Spanish rule.

• liberation

• neutrality

• capitulation

• annexation

Multiple Choice

In 1811 Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara traveled to Washington, D.C., to ask the United States help toward what goal?

• fighting Native Americans

• settling more people in Texas

• defeating the Mexican independence movement

• freeing Texas from Spanish rule

Multiple Choice

The Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition was also known as the _____.

• Gutiérrez Guerrilla Army

• Magee Marauders

• Republican Army of the North

• Texas Revolutionary Army

Multiple Choice

The Battle of Medina resulted in the defeat of what filibuster?

• Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition

• Jean Lafitte

• James Long

• Joaquín de Arredondo

Multiple Choice

A(n) _____ is a government in which the people elect representatives to make governmental decisions.

• direct democracy

• republic

• monarchy

• anarchy

Multiple Choice

In 1819 filibuster _____ led a group of 300 rebels into Texas and captured the town of Nacogdoches.

• James Long

• Jean Lafitte

• Louis Michel Aury

• David Long

Multiple Choice

_____ Island was an ideal base of operations for rebels and pirates to attack Spanish ships in the Gulf of Mexico.

• Bolivar

• Corpus Christi

• Galveston

• Lafitte

Multiple Choice

Charles François Lallemand tried to make a French settlement where in Texas?

• along the Brazos River

• along the Trinity River

• on the Gulf Coast

• along the Rio Grande