Day 2 Road to Revolution

Day 2
Differences cause tensions

Road to Revolution

In 1829 the president of Mexico issued a decree, or order, abolishing slavery. Texans tried to persuade Mexican officials to exempt, or excuse, Texas from the decree. Although never put into effect in Texas, the decree caused fear among many of the Anglo American slaveholders. They believed that it was only a matter of time before the decree would apply to them, too.

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Fill in the Blank

A decree, or order, carries the strength of a

Dropdown

Mexico outlawed slavery. Was it ever put into effect in Texas? ​ ​

Select answer

On April 6, 1830, the Centralist government in Mexico issue a law based on many of Mier y Terán's recommendations.

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Decree of
april 6, 1830

1. Suspend all Empresario contracts

2. No more U.S. immigration

3. No new slaves

4. More Mexican soldiers

5. More European immigrations

6. Tax on custom duties

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Law of april 6,1830

Multiple Choice

Why did the Mexican government issue the Decree of April 6, 1830?

• To encourage U.S. citizens to immigrate to Texas
• To declare war on the United States
• To prohibit further immigration to Mexico from European nations

• The Mexican government issued the decree based on Mier y Teran's investigation of Texas.

Multiple Choice

How did encouraging European settlers to come to Texas help Mexico maintain control over the region?

• By increasing the population with Europeans it would hopefully make Texas less Americanized

• By providing economic benefits to Mexico
• By promoting cultural assimilation
• By granting settlers political power

The first serious conflict over Mexico's actions occurred at a Mexican garrison in the port town of Anahuac. It’s commander, John Davis Bradburn, quarreled with the colonists living at Anahuac. Colonists accused him of taking supplies and refusing to give up runaway slaves. Bradburn believed in the strict enforcement of all Mexican laws.

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​Settlers Protest at Anahuac

The tax collector at Anahuac attempted to collect customs duties (taxes) on goods imported into Mexico from the U.S. This angered the merchants (Store Owners) because they would have to travel long distances to process the paperwork for such goods to cross the border into Mexico.

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The final blow occurred in May 1832. Bradburn arrested and imprisoned two lawyers, William B. Travis and Patrick C. Jack, for interfering in his efforts to enforce the laws. About 160 settlers marched to Anahuac, demanding Travis's and Jack's release.

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at anahuac

A small skirmish, or fight, occurred between the colonists and Bradburn. Bradburn agreed to release the prisoners if the colonists retreated from Anahuac, but not all the settlers withdrew so he refused to release them and called in extra troops. In need of more firepower, the colonists made camp at Turtle Bayou, between Anahuac and Liberty, and sent John Austin to Brazoria to bring back a cannon.

Multiple Select

Colonist accused Bradburn of

• taking supplies

• refusing to give up runaway slaves

• Arrest people without just cause

• giving colonist a tax break

While the colonists waited for John Austin and the cannon, they wrote a number of statements known as the Turtle Bayou Resolutions on June 13, 1832. In the formal statements, called resolutions the colonists:

1. We are loyal to Mexico.

2. We support the Constitution of 1824

3. We support Santa Anna over the current President Bustamante

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Turtle Bayou Resolutions

Multiple Select

Turtle Bayou Resolutions

• We are loyal to Mexico

• We support Bustamante over Santa Anna

• We support Santa Anna over Bustamante

• We support the Constitution of 182r

Before John Austin and his group returned with the cannon, Colonel José de las Piedras arrived at Anahuac.  While he sympathized with Bradburn, his men were outnumbered by the Texans, so he removed Bradburn from command and released Travis and Jack. Bradburn resigned and left Texas.

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Meanwhile, a clash occurred at Velasco John Austin tried to load their cannon on their ship. Mexican commander Colonel Ugartechea thought them to be rebels and would not let them pass. Fighting erupted between the Texans and the Mexican troops and lives were lost on both sides

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​clash at velasco

Ugartechea ran out of ammo and surrendered. Austin's group then sailed on to Anahuac with the cannon, only to discover that Travis and Jack had already been freed.

clash at velasco

Multiple Choice

Why did Colonel Ugartechea have to surrender?

• Colonel Ugartechea surrendered because he was injured and unable to continue fighting.
• Colonel Ugartechea had to surrender because he was outnumbered and outgunned by the opposing forces.
• Colonel Ugartechea surrendered because he ran out of ammunition.
• Colonel Ugartechea surrendered because he received orders to do so.

Multiple Choice

Why is the battle at Velasco significant?

• It resulted in a peaceful resolution between the two sides.
• It was a minor skirmish with no historical significance.
• It had no impact on the Texas Revolution.
• It showed that the Texans were willing to fight for what they believed in even if it meant people would lose their lives.