Road to Revolution

Road to Revolution: 1821 to 1836 7th Grade Texas History

Key: • Important point • Vocabulary term

Question: Why is this period important? • Once Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, the new government needed people and money. In order to achieve this, Mexico allowed immigrants from the United States. • Over the next 10 years, Anglo settlers tried to maintain their own heritage rather than adapt to the Mexican culture. • This led to conflict between settlers and the government.

Question: What are important events prior to the Texas Revolution? Year

Event

1682

First missions established in Texas

1821 1824

American colonization in Texas begins Mexican Federal Constitution written

1830 1832

Law of April 6, 1830 passed Turtle Bayou Resolutions; Convention of 1832

1833

Convention of 1833; Imprisonment of Stephen F. Austin

Question: What are the signs of conflict between the Mexican government and Anglo settlers? • Mexican Constitution of 1824 • Forced settlers to become Catholic • Restricted (disallowed) slavery in Mexico

• Texans wanted laws that favored individual states (states’ rights), while many in Mexico favored laws that helped the entire nation (nationalists).

Question: What are the signs of conflict between the Mexican government and Anglo settlers? • Law of April 6, 1830 • • • •

Stopped U.S. immigration into Mexico Made importing slaves illegal Placed import taxes (tariffs) on goods from the U.S. Enforced the law by sending soldiers into Texas

• Texans felt the law violated the Constitution of 1824. The taxes were unfair because they only applied to U.S. goods, and the increased military presence created fear among Anglos and people of Mexican descent living in Texas (Tejanos)

Question: What are the signs of conflict between the Mexican government and Anglo settlers? • Turtle Bayou Resolutions (1832) • Written to show loyalty the Constitution of 1824 • Pledged support for Santa Anna, who gave the appearance of supporting states’ rights • Made necessary by small, brief fighting (skirmish) between Texan militia and Mexican troops • Santa Anna led a revolution against the supporters of strong national government and weak states (centralists) in 1832. This is shortly before the problems at Anahuac. Texans thought Santa Anna would defend the Constitution of 1824 and support their cause to be an independent Mexican state.

Question: What are the signs of conflict between the Mexican government and Anglo settlers? • Conventions of 1832 and 1833

• 56 people chosen to represent Texas (delegates) • Stephen F. Austin elected president of the Convention of 1832 • Pledged loyalty to (allegiance) the Constitution of 1824 • Asked that Law of April 6, 1832 be cancelled (repealed) • Wanted Coahuila y Tejas divided into two states • Texas Constitution drafted at Convention of 1833

Question: What are the signs of conflict between the Mexican government and Anglo settlers? • Arrest of Stephen F. Austin in 1833

• Austin presented Texans’ request for separate statehood, mail service, public schools, and the repeal of the Law of April 6, 1830 • When government delayed meeting, SFA sent letter to San Antonio recommending Texas begin preparing to become a separate state in Mexico. • Government officials intercepted the letter and accused SFA of treason (attempting to overthrow the government).

Question: How did Texas respond to the arrest of Stephen F. Austin? • By arresting SFA, Santa Anna proved he was not a supporter of states’ rights. • Santa Anna sent his brother-in-law, General Martin Perfecto de Cos, to enforce laws and squash resistance. • Texans split into two groups (factions) over how to handle the crisis. – The War Party thought armed resistance and freedom from Mexican control (independence) was the way to go. – The Peace Party, wanted to wait and see how Santa Anna would govern.

• When SFA returned to Texas from prison, he urged Texas to prepare for war with Mexico.