Chapter 8: Americans Settle in Texas

Section 4: The Empresarios

Bellwork

How did Austin’s colony affect

immigration to Texas?

Mexico’s New Colonization Laws

•Colonization Law of 1824

–Allowed each Mexican state to set up its own policies

–Restricted new U.S. immigrants from settling near the nation’s borders or along the coast

Mexico’s New Colonization Laws

•1824: State of Coahuila y Texas formed

Coahuila y Texas Flag

Mexico’s New Colonization Laws

•Tejanos wanted to see Texas grow

–Settlers would improve the economy

–Provide extra defense against the Indians

Mexico’s New Colonization Laws

•Tejanos wanted to see Texas grow

–New settlements would raise land values

–New markets for Tejano merchants

Mexico’s New Colonization Laws

•1825: State Colonization Law of 1825 enacted—opened Texas up to more immigration

•Empresarios—business people who promoted migration to Texas colonies

Mexico’s New Colonization Laws

•The empresarios made promises of

cheap lands in order to attract

settlers to Texas.

To which modern day occupation could the

empresarios be compared?

Real Estate Agents

Mexico’s New Colonization Laws

• State Colonization Law

– Empresarios received 67,000 acres of land for every 200 families they brought to Texas

– The head of each household could receive 4,428 acres for $30

– No taxes for 10 years

The Dewitt and de León Colonies

•Green Dewitt’s colony:

–1825: receives grant to settle 400 families in Texas

–Located colony within the Gulf Coast Plain and the Post Oak Belt

The Dewitt and de León Colonies

•Green Dewitt: made Gonzales the capital of his colony

Green Dewitt

The Dewitt and de León Colonies

• Martin de León’s colony:

– 1824: received permission to establish a colony along the lower Guadalupe River

– Main town was Victoria

– 1834: 300+ people in settlement

The Dewitt and de León Colonies

•Martin de León: brought primarily Mexican settlers to Texas

Martin de León

Austin’s Contributions to Texas

•Mexican government granted 40+ empresario contracts

•1834: 21,000+ settlers lived in Texas

Austin’s Contributions to Texas

•Austin: most important of the empresarios

•Brought more than 1,500 families to Texas

Austin’s Contributions to Texas

•Stephen F. Austin: known today as the Father of Texas

Stephen F. Austin