Conflicts Between Mexico and Texas Settlers

Conflicts Between Mexico and Texas Settlers

• The Mier y Terán Report recommended Mexico strengthen its control over Texas by sending more settlers and soldiers.
• The Law of April 6, 1830, prohibited US settlers from moving to Texas and importing slaves, also placed taxes on goods, which made life harder for settlers.
• The Mexican Government tried to control Texas by stopping US immigration, imposing taxes, and attempting to end slavery. They sent more soldiers to enforce their rules.
• Texas settlers were unhappy because Mexican laws limited their freedoms, stopped US immigration, and ended slavery.

Events Leading to the Texas Revolution

• The Turtle Bayou Resolutions were part of the push for a separate Texas government due to the suspension of the Mexican Constitution of 1824. Settlers wanted more independence.
• The Battle of Gonzales was the first battle in which Texan settlers defeated Mexican forces. This marked the beginning of the Texas Revolution.

The Fall of the Alamo and the Goliad Massacre

• The collapse of the Provisional Government was due to the war, land demands, and economic and social problems for the population.
• Famous defenders of the Alamo included James Bowie, William B. Travis, and David Crockett.
• Texans were eager to join Sam Houston's retreating army after the Alamo to gain revenge for the soldiers lost, and to defeat the Mexican army to win independence.
• The events following James Fannin's surrender at Goliad are significant.

The Structure of the First Independent Government in Texas

• The first independent government in Texas was a provisional government. David G. Burnet was the interim president, and Lorenzo de Zavala, the vice president.

The Role of Antonio López de Santa Anna

• Santa Anna was president of Mexico and led the Mexican army during the Texas Revolution.

Goals of the Delegates to the Conventions of 1832 and 1833

• The delegates wanted to change immigration policies and hoped to make Texas its own state within Mexico.

How the Texas Revolution and the American Revolution are Similar and Different

• Both revolutions were about people wanting independence from an unfair government. The Texas Revolution was against Mexico's control, while the American Revolution was against British rule, but both wanted more self-government.

The Significance of the Battle of Gonzales

• The Battle of Gonzales marked a clear break between the colonists and the Mexican government, starting the Texas Revolution. It is sometimes referred to as the Lexington of Texas.

The Significance of Presidio La Bahía

• Presidio La Bahía was an important fort during the Texas Revolution. It witnessed filibustering expeditions and played a role in the Mexican war for independence from Spain.

The Impact of the Suspension of the Mexican Constitution of 1824

• The suspension of the Mexican Constitution of 1824 sparked rebellions throughout Mexico, and Texas quickly joined the fight.

How the Arrest of Stephen F. Austin Worsened Relations

• The arrest of Stephen F. Austin worsened relations between Texas and Mexico. Texas wanted to separate from Mexico.

The Declaration of Independence and the Convention of 1836

• Texans called for the Constitutional Convention of 1836 to either form a new government or preserve the Mexican Constitution of 1824.
• The Texas Declaration of Independence was modeled after the United States Declaration of Independence, focusing on specific grievances against the Mexican Government, and Enlightenment principles.
• The Texas Constitution of 1836 included a bill of rights, declaring Texas a free and independent state with equal rights for free men, and protecting the writ of habeas corpus.

The Runaway Scrape

• Texan settlers fled during the Runaway Scrape to escape the Mexican army.

The Treaties of Velasco

• Hostilities would cease, Mexican forces withdrew from Texas beyond the Rio Grande, Santa Anna would not take up arms against Texas again, and both sides would exchange prisoners.

The Structure of the Republic of Texas Government

• The Republic of Texas government had three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

Issues President Houston Faced

• Public debt, relations with other nations, and ethnic groups, and military discipline.

Were President Lamar's Policies Successful?

• Lamar's foreign policy failed because he couldn't secure lasting peace with Mexico. His domestic policies were costly.

Problems Facing President Houston During His Second Term

• The treasury was empty, inflation was high, and Texas paper currency was worthless.

Conflict Between Mexico and The Republic of Texas

• The immediate cause of the Mexican-American War was a disputed boundary between the United States and Texas.

The Most Pressing Issues During President Anson Jones's Term

• Deciding whether to join the Union or remain independent.

Events Leading to Annexation of Texas by the United States

• The Battle of San Jacinto played a key role in Texas gaining its independence.

Impact of Immigration on Texas

• Immigrants contributed billions of dollars in taxes and boosted the economy, particularly because immigrants established farms.

Life in Texas Based on Location

• Town life centered on commerce and education, while farming and ranching focused on growing crops and raising animals

The Establishment of Religious Freedom in Texas

• The Constitution of the Republic of Texas included a bill of rights that ensured the freedom of religion.

Early Texas Government

• Documents that influenced Texas's first state constitution included the US Constitution. It used similar ideas like the separation of powers and the Bill of Rights.
• The branches of government were Legislative, Executive and Judicial.
• The leaders of Texas during the early statehood era included Sam Houston, Mirabeau B. Lamar, James Polk, Thomas Rusk, and José Antonio Navarro.

War with Mexico and the Aftermath

• The immediate cause of the US-Mexican War was the disputed boundary between the US and Texas on the Nueces Strip.
• Important individuals in the US-Mexican War included Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and Stonewall Jackson.
• The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war, established the Rio Grande as the boundary of Texas, and set other terms.

Growth and Expansion

• Tejanos faced lynching, discrimination, segregation, and political disenfranchisement after the Mexican-American War.
• American Indians clashed with Texans over land and resources as settlers moved into their hunting grounds.
• Immigrants came to Texas during the 1800s hoping for plentiful land.

Immigrants from Europe

• Many German immigrants hoped to find better lives and escape the rulers of Europe.
• German immigrants in Texas included artisans, academics, and professionals.
• French immigrants settled in Castroville, Texas, and immigrants (from all over) helped develop towns, schools, and roads.

Causes of the Civil War

• Slavery was an important cause of the Civil War in Texas because many Texans wanted to keep slavery and protect their farming practices.
• The growing divide between the North and the South was influenced by differences over slavery, economics, education, and culture.
• Factors that influenced Texas's decision to secede from the United States included dissatisfaction with Lincoln's position on states' rights.

The Civil War in Texas

• Nearly 90,000 Texans served in the military.
• Battles in Texas included Galveston (1861) and Sabine Pass (1863).
• Imports from northern factories ceased, transportation networks were damaged, and Union blockades hindered cotton exports.
• The Civil War caused many hardships for Texans.

Reconstruction in Texas

• To rejoin the Union, Texas had to accept new laws ending slavery, create a new state constitution, allow African American men to vote and state that they would remain a part of the United States.
• African American men were granted the right to vote but other rights were limited.
• Texas created a new constitution affirming voting rights for African American men.
• The war disrupted labor systems and undermined the economic power of prior elites.