Texas
THE BLUE PART OF THE MAP SHOWS THE REGION OF TEXAS
THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, AND HOW:
There were multiple reasons that many Americans felt that Texas was so valuable. Much of the region was well suited for growing cotton, the Souths most valuable cash crop.
Moses Austin, a banker and business owner who dreamed of starting a U.S. colony in Spanish Texas. In 1821, Spanish officials granted Austin a huge piece of land. Later that year Moses Austin died, his son Stephen then took over his fathers dream. Stephen Austin arrived in Texas as Mexico declared its independence from Spain. Texas then was a part of Mexico. Mexican officials agrees to let Austin start a colony under certain conditions. Austin had to choose only moral and hardworking settlers, the settlers also had to promise to become Mexican citizens and to join the Catholic church. Austin agreed to Mexico’s terms. By 1827, there were 297 families in Austins colony.
As Austins colony grew bigger it began to rise tensions with Texas. By 1803, there were about 25,000 Americans in Texas, compared to 4,000 Texans of Mexican descent. The Americans were very unhappy. They had been used to governing themselves, and the resented taking orders from Mexican officials. They were unhappy that all the official documents had to be in Spanish, a language that most were unwilling to learn. Also multiple slaveholders were upset when Mexico outlawed slavery in 1829. The Tejanos (Texans of Mexican descent) had their own complaints. They were unhappy that many American settlers had come to Texas without Mexican permission. In addition, most Americans had little respect for Mexican culture. The Mexican government responded by closing Texas to further U.S. immigration.
Americans in Texas resented these actions. Two groups led by different people began trouble. One was led by William Travis calling for revolution. Another led by Stephen Austin asked the Mexican government to reopen Texas to immigration and make it separate from Mexican state. In 1833, Austin traveled to Mexico and resented the Texans' demands to the new head of the Mexican government. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna decide to not bargain with Austin but toss him in jail for promoting rebellion. After Austin was released in 1835, Texans rose up in revolt.
In late February 1836, a large part of Santa Anna's army reached San Antonio, Texas. About 180 Texan volunteers defended San Antonio in an old mission known as the Alamo. Davy Crockett, William Travis, and James Bowie shared command at the Alamo. As Santa Anna's troops began surrounding the Alamo, Travis sent messengers to other towns in Texas, pleading for reinforcements and vowing not to abandon the Alamo. The reinforcements never came. For 12 days, the Mexicans pounded the Alamo with cannonballs. Then at first light of dawn on March 6, Santa Anna gave order to storm the Alamo. Desperately, the Texans tried to fight off the attackers with rifle fire. For 90 minutes, the battle raged. By days end, every one of the Alamo's defenders were dead.
Sam Houston, the commander of the Texas revolutionary army, understood Texans' rage. But since Santa Anna continued to push on, Houston’s only hope was to retreat eastward. By keeping Santa Anna on his toes he hoped that it would become harder for him to supply his army and keep it battler-ready. This strategy worked brilliantly. In April, Santa Anna caught up with Houston. Santa Anna kept his troops up all night expecting there to be a surprise attack but it never came. Fairly relaxed he went to his tent to take a nap. Late that afternoon, Houston’s troops staged a surprise attack. Yelling, “Remember the Alamo!” the Texans overran the Mexican camp. Santa Anna fled but was soon captured the next day. In exchange for his freedom, he order all his remanding troops out of Texas. The Texas War for Independence was won.
After the war was won Texas remained independent for ten years. People in the United States were divide over whether to annex Texas. James K. Polk was a strong believer in Manifest Destiny and soon after he was elected, Congress voted to annex Texas.
There were multiple reasons that many Americans felt that Texas was so valuable. Much of the region was well suited for growing cotton, the Souths most valuable cash crop.
Moses Austin, a banker and business owner who dreamed of starting a U.S. colony in Spanish Texas. In 1821, Spanish officials granted Austin a huge piece of land. Later that year Moses Austin died, his son Stephen then took over his fathers dream. Stephen Austin arrived in Texas as Mexico declared its independence from Spain. Texas then was a part of Mexico. Mexican officials agrees to let Austin start a colony under certain conditions. Austin had to choose only moral and hardworking settlers, the settlers also had to promise to become Mexican citizens and to join the Catholic church. Austin agreed to Mexico’s terms. By 1827, there were 297 families in Austins colony.
As Austins colony grew bigger it began to rise tensions with Texas. By 1803, there were about 25,000 Americans in Texas, compared to 4,000 Texans of Mexican descent. The Americans were very unhappy. They had been used to governing themselves, and the resented taking orders from Mexican officials. They were unhappy that all the official documents had to be in Spanish, a language that most were unwilling to learn. Also multiple slaveholders were upset when Mexico outlawed slavery in 1829. The Tejanos (Texans of Mexican descent) had their own complaints. They were unhappy that many American settlers had come to Texas without Mexican permission. In addition, most Americans had little respect for Mexican culture. The Mexican government responded by closing Texas to further U.S. immigration.
Americans in Texas resented these actions. Two groups led by different people began trouble. One was led by William Travis calling for revolution. Another led by Stephen Austin asked the Mexican government to reopen Texas to immigration and make it separate from Mexican state. In 1833, Austin traveled to Mexico and resented the Texans' demands to the new head of the Mexican government. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna decide to not bargain with Austin but toss him in jail for promoting rebellion. After Austin was released in 1835, Texans rose up in revolt.
In late February 1836, a large part of Santa Anna's army reached San Antonio, Texas. About 180 Texan volunteers defended San Antonio in an old mission known as the Alamo. Davy Crockett, William Travis, and James Bowie shared command at the Alamo. As Santa Anna's troops began surrounding the Alamo, Travis sent messengers to other towns in Texas, pleading for reinforcements and vowing not to abandon the Alamo. The reinforcements never came. For 12 days, the Mexicans pounded the Alamo with cannonballs. Then at first light of dawn on March 6, Santa Anna gave order to storm the Alamo. Desperately, the Texans tried to fight off the attackers with rifle fire. For 90 minutes, the battle raged. By days end, every one of the Alamo's defenders were dead.
Sam Houston, the commander of the Texas revolutionary army, understood Texans' rage. But since Santa Anna continued to push on, Houston’s only hope was to retreat eastward. By keeping Santa Anna on his toes he hoped that it would become harder for him to supply his army and keep it battler-ready. This strategy worked brilliantly. In April, Santa Anna caught up with Houston. Santa Anna kept his troops up all night expecting there to be a surprise attack but it never came. Fairly relaxed he went to his tent to take a nap. Late that afternoon, Houston’s troops staged a surprise attack. Yelling, “Remember the Alamo!” the Texans overran the Mexican camp. Santa Anna fled but was soon captured the next day. In exchange for his freedom, he order all his remanding troops out of Texas. The Texas War for Independence was won.
After the war was won Texas remained independent for ten years. People in the United States were divide over whether to annex Texas. James K. Polk was a strong believer in Manifest Destiny and soon after he was elected, Congress voted to annex Texas.