Post on 26-Dec-2015
Moses Austin
Baron de Bastrop
• Moses Austin was the first Anglo American to secure permission from Spain to bring American settlers into Texas
• Bastrop was a personal friend of the Spanish governor and an old friend of Austin’s
• Baron de Bastrop helped Austin convince the Spanish governor that his plan was not an excuse for Americans to take Spanish land
Moses Austin Paves the Way
Stephen F. Austin Background
Erasmo Seguin
• Background:• Grown up on the frontier• Transylvania University in Kentucky• Missouri territorial legislature• Circuit judge in Arkansas
• Austin was determined to carry out his fathers plan
• Citizen from San Antonio that went with Austin to see the Spanish Governor to discuss the plans for settlement
Stephen F. Austin Continues his Father’s
Work
Where and why did he choose the location he chose?
• Austin spent Sept 1821 exploring Texas
• Decided the region between the Brazos and Colorado River would be the best place for the colony• Abundant water and natural
resources• Fertile soil• Mild climate• No other settlements
Austin Sets Colonies Boundaries
Survey
Ways to pay?
Requirements of settlers
• Austin surveyed, measured, the land to determine grant sizes and boundaries so settlers could get legal rights to property
• 12.5 cents per acre• Austin was willing to extend credit to new
settlers, allowing them to pay over time
• Requirements:• Become citizens of their new country• Take an oath of allegiance to Spain (later
Mexico)• Become catholic• Be of good moral character
Advertising for Colonists
Attraction to colony?
March 1822
• Prospect of gaining good farm land for low prices
• Went to San Antonio to report to the Spanish Governor, but realized Mexico had won its independence from Spain
• Austin’s settlement was not recognized his right to colonize
• Austin goes to Mexico City to try to get the new government’s approval
Good Land and Low Prices Attract Settlers
Austin’s stay in Mexico
Empresario
• In Mexico city, Austin found confusion and problems with the new government
• Mexican Law 1823: New government law about settlement• Austin could now give people,
including himself, more land and settle 300 families
Austin Impresses Mexican Leaders
List problems in the colony
Militia
• Drought• Disagreements over ownership of land• Karankawas and Tonkawas raided
settlements and stole horses and cattle
• Austin raised a militia, temporary army unit, to protect the colony against the raids
Problems Develop in the Colony
The Old 300
San Felipe de Austin
• 300 families that came from Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Missouri who were the first to settle in the new area
• New capital in Austin’s colony located on the west bank of the Brazos
Men and Women of The Old 300
Augustin de Iturbide – Mexican Emperor overthrown
by Federalists in 1823 Federalists- Group of people who formed the new
government (believed in sharing power between the states and the national government
Centralists- believed that power should be concentrated in the federal government of Mexico city
Federalists Constitution of 1824- Written by Feds, divided Mexico into 19 states with 4 main territories
Coahuila y Tejas is formed
The Constitution of 1824
Restriction of colonization- passed in 1824 by
Congress: 3 important new laws1.) no one could receive more than
48,708 acres of land2.) no colony could be established
within 10 leagues of the coast nor within 20 leagues of international boundary without Mexican permission
3.) if you bought land contract, you must PERMANENTLY stay
Mexico passes Colonization Law!
After a payment of $30, family received as
much as 4,428 acres Single men – up to 1,107 acres When they married – additional 3,321 acres If they married a Mexican women – bonus of
1,107 acres Shortage of friars, meaning religion laws were
not a scrict
How the laws worked
Stephen F. Austin- By 1828, he had received 4
additional contracts under the new colonization law (500 new families)
In 1827 established the town of Bastrop – “Little Colony”
Final land contract – 1831 – With the help of Samuel M. Williams – land Northwest of original colony (This caused a big debate over land with Nashville Immigrants lead by Sterling C. Robertson!)
The Most Successful
Learned to speak Spanish Dealt well with Mexican authorities With help of militia, Indians became less of a
threat Most fertile soil in all of Texas
Why Austin was so successful
Second most successful Empresario Brought 400 families (Anglo) into Texas in
1825 Founded the town of Gonzales, became
colonies Headquarters Native American raids!!
Green DeWitt
Successful Mexican Empresario Expert rancher and horseman who brough 100
to 200 families MEXICAN into Texas and settled along the Guadalupe River
Wife, Patricia de la Garza de Leon, had family values through DOWRY aka valuable goods
Founded the town of Victoria
Martin de Leon