Events Leading to the Texas Revolution PDF

# Events Leading to the Texas Revolution ## The Fredonian Rebellion (1826) - Haden Edwards received his empresario contract from the Mexican government in 1825. - The contract gave him permission to settle 800 families near Nacogdoches. - Edwards found that a number of Mexican families, other Ameri...

# Events Leading to the Texas Revolution ## The Fredonian Rebellion (1826) - Haden Edwards received his empresario contract from the Mexican government in 1825. - The contract gave him permission to settle 800 families near Nacogdoches. - Edwards found that a number of Mexican families, other American settlers, and Cherokee were already living on the land and had done so for years. - Some of the "old settlers" had lived in Nacogdoches for over 100 years. - Haden Edwards was furious and demanded that people pay him additional fees for land. - Edwards's actions enraged many of the old settlers, who complained to the Mexican government, which sided with the old settlers. - In October 1826, the Mexican government canceled Edward's contract, declaring that he was not fulfilling its terms. - A group of Edwards's supporters took action. Edwards, his brother Benjamin, and their supporters, including some Cherokee, declared themselves free from Mexican rule. - They arrested the alcade (mayor) of Nacogdoches and took control of the town. - They planned to establish the Republic of Fredonia. - On December 21, 1826, they issued the Fredonian Declaration of Independence. - Most Texans, both Tejanos and Anglo settlers alike, opposed The Fredonian Rebellion. - Stephen F. Austin, supported the Mexican government's decision and sent his militia to fight with the Mexican army against the Edwards brothers. - In a letter written to Haden Edwards, Stephen F. Austin said, "It appears as though the people in your quarter have run mad or worse." ## The Mier y Teran Report (1829) - The Fredonian Rebellion served as an alarm clock to the Mexican government. - The government reacted by sending an investigator to Texas. - General Mier y Teran spends two months visiting Anglo-American settlements in Texas. - His report alarmed the Mexican government even more. - A majority of the people living in Texas were from the United States. - Americans kept their own customs and not followed through on their promises to learn Spanish or adopt the Catholic religion. - Mier y Teran recommended that the Mexican government send more troops, encourage more Mexican and European settlers to move to Texas, and encourage the settlers to trade with Mexico and not the United States. - Around the same time as General Mier y Teran's report, the Mexican government passes a decree (rules similar to laws) to end slavery in Mexico. - Although slavery was still legal in Texas, under the decree, many Texans feared that slavery would be abolished in Texas as well. - Anglo-Americans living in Texas feared the Mexican government was only a few steps away from abolishing slavery in Texas. ## The Law of April 6, 1830 - The Mexican government reacted swiftly to Mier y Teran's report by passing several new laws for Texas. - Outlawed further immigration from the United States. - Any empresario contracts that had not been completed were cancelled. - Encouraged European and Mexican colonists to move to Texas to dilute the influence of American settlers. - Added taxes to any goods coming in from the United States to encourage trade with Mexico. - Established new forts and sent soldiers to live in Texas to enforce the new laws and collect taxes. - Prevented any Americans from living close to the border of the United States. - One of the most controversial rules came from Article 10 which stated: - No change shall be made with respect to the slaves now in the states, but the Federal government and the government of each state shall most strictly enforce the colonization laws, and prevent the further introduction of slaves. ## Events at Anahuac (1832) - As Austin predicted, the Law of 1830 proved to be disastrous for Texas. - The Mexican government sent troops into Texas and built garrisons (forts) across the state. - One of these garrisons was located in Anahuac and under the leadership of Colonel John Bradburn. - John Bradburn was an American who had supported the Mexican government during the Mexican revolution and was rewarded by being placed in command of the garrison at Anahuac. - As commander of the garrison, Bradburn was expected to enforce the law of April 6, 1830. - The Americans living in Anahuac deeply resented Bradburn, and actions by both the Americans living in Anahuac and John Bradburn caused a conflict. - John Bradburn was accused to helping enslaved Africans escape. - He was also resented for trying to collect taxes on American goods coming into Texas. - In May of 1832, Bradburn arrests two lawyers he claimed were interfering in his duties. - William B. Travis and Patrick Jack were thrown into prison. - Over 200 settlers from neighboring towns rushed to their defense. - As the situation escalated into fighting, Bradburn requested additional Mexican forces be sent to Anahuac. ## The Turtle Bayou Resolutions (1832) - Realizing they needed more ammunition and a cannon, the American colonists attacking Anahuac retreat to the Turtle Bayou, just north of Anahuac. - There, the Americans learn important news - another revolution is occurring in Mexico! - Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna is leading a revolution against the current government. - The Americans declare their loyalty to Santa Anna in the Turtle Bayou Resolutions. - In this document, the Americans who are planning an attack on Anahuac, declare that they are not just trying to defeat Bradburn, but they are actually trying to support Santa Anna in his revolution against the Mexican government. - When Mexican reinforcements arrive, they too are supporters of Santa Anna. - John Bradburn is relieved of command of the garrison and the fort is shut down. - William B. Travis and Patrick C. Jack are released from prison. ## The Election of Santa Anna (1832) - While events were unfolding in Texas, the Mexican troops fighting in the revolution were successful. - Santa Anna had led his forces to victory. - Santa Anna was a member of the Federalist Party. - His forces were fighting against the Centralist Party led by President Bustamante. - Texans supported Santa Anna because they believed he would support the Mexican Constitution of 1824. - President Bustamante was unpopular in Texas because his government had passed the anti-slavery decree of 1829 and the Law of April 6, 1830. - With Santa Anna and the Federalist Party now in charge of the Mexican government, many Americans saw hope for the future. ## The Conventions of 1832 and 1833 - The Americans were pleased with the election of Santa Anna as president. - They decide to hold a convention (official meeting) in October of 1832 to create a list of changes they would like to see in Texas. - Stephen F. Austin was elected president of the Convention of 1832. - At this convention, American colonists ask for renewed immigration from the United States, an exemption from the taxes placed on imported goods, and for Texas to be made a separate state from Coahuila. - Statehood for Texas was an important issue for the American colonists. - As a state, they could create more of their own laws instead of following the laws passed by a government far away in Mexico City. - They also felt that statehood was important for another issue, slavery. - As an State independent from Coahuila, they could pass laws that supported slavery, instead of the laws that were placing restrictions on slavery in Texas. - The members of the Convention of 1832 never actually sent their demands to the Mexican government. - So American colonists met again in the Convention of 1833. - This convention included different delegates than the Convention of 1832. - Sam Houston was elected president of the Convention of 1833. - This convention creates a list of demands similar to the Convention of 1832, with one exception. - Rather than just requesting separate statehood, the members of this convention actually write a constitution (laws that create a government) for the proposed Mexican state of Texas. - Stephen F. Austin is chosen to travel to Mexico City and present the demands to the Mexican president, Santa Anna. ## The Arrest of Stephen F. Austin (1834) - Stephen F. Austin arrived in Mexico in July of 1833 after a 3 month journey from Texas. - He was unable to meet with Santa Anna. - A cholera epidemic was killing thousands of people and the government was in chaos. - Santa Anna was away from Mexico City fighting against another Mexican state that was rebelling. - After months of waiting to meet with the president, Stephen F. Austin wrote a letter to the people of Texas suggesting they go ahead and form a state government. - In November of 1833, Stephen F. Austin was finally able to meet with Santa Anna. - Santa Anna agreed to a few of the Americans demands, like allowing immigration from the United States, but he refused to allow Texas to become a separate state. - Recognizing that he could do no more, Stephen F. Austin began his journey home. - Stephen was unaware that his letter home had been intercepted and even worse, that the Mexican government viewed it as treason. - Stephen was arrested in the city of Saltillo and brought back to Mexico City as a prisoner. - Two and a half years would pass before Stephen was finally able to return to Texas. - Stephen had left Texas in 1833 and wouldn't return until September of 1835. - In addition to his lengthy travel, he was in prison for over a year. - While in prison in Mexico City he was kept in solitary confinement and then later released to house arrest. - His opinion of the Mexican government would be completely changed by his arrest and imprisonment. - When he left Texas in 1833, he was wanting to repair relations between Texas and Mexico. - He returned and advocated war. - Stephen claimed that Santa Anna had turned into a dictator. Stephen said, "War is our only recourse. There is no other remedy. We must defend our right, ourselves, and our country by force of arms." ## The Consultation (1835) - All was not calm while Stephen F. Austin was imprisoned in Mexico City. - Once again, Americans living in Texas (now called Texians) were upset with the Mexican government over taxes being collected on incoming goods from the United States. - William B. Travis led a group of men to protest the arrest of a fellow Texian. - These actions angered General Martin Perfecto de Cos, Santa Anna's brother in law and commander of the Mexican forces in Coahila y Tejas. - General Cos demands the arrest of Travis and the other Texians involved in the dispute. - The Texians were alarmed with General Cos's demands. - They decided to hold a meeting to discuss what should be done about a possible invasion from Mexican soldiers hunting Travis and others. - Stephen F. Austin returns from Mexico in time to hear about the meeting. He said that the Texians must unite to organize a system of defense. - He adds, "Until some competent authority is established to DIRECT, all that can be done is to recommend this subject to the people: and advise every man in Texas to prepare for WAR, and lay aside all hope of conciliation."