7-1: Austin Establishes a Colony

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7-1 Austin Establishes a Colony
Created By Mrs. Phillips
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Moses Austin Paves the Way
Moses Austin was the first Anglo
American to get permission from
Spain to bring American settlers
to Texas. He lost his business in
Missouri during a depression in
1819. A depression is a period of unemployment
and low economic activity. Austin knew that many
Anglo Americans wanted good farmland at low
prices.

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NO!

In 1820, Austin and an enslaved African American
named Richmond set out on an 800-mile journey to
Texas to meet with Governor Antonio Martínez. At
first, the governor refused to allow Austin to
bring in American settlers because he thought it
was just an excuse for the U.S. to get more land.
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Governor Martinez Says YES!!!
However, Austin ran into an old friend, the Baron
de Bastrop outside Martinez office who just
happened to be a personal friend of Governor
Martinez. Baron de Bastrop helped convince the
governor to allow Austin to colonize Texas.
YES!
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Moses Austin Dies of Pneumonia
Unfortunately, Austin became ill and died of
pneumonia before his plans could be carried out.
His dying wish was that his son Stephen F. Austin
would colonize Texas in his place.
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Stephen Fuller Austin was 27 and
studying law in New Orleans when
he heard of his fathers death.
Austin had grown up on the
frontier and attended
Transylvania University
in Kentucky, served in
the Missouri legislature, and had
been a circuit judge in Arkansas.
Determined to carry out his fathers colonization
plan, Austin and Erasmo Seguin went to San
Antonio to see Governor Martinez.
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On the way, Austin explored Texas and decided
that the fertile area between the Colorado and
Brazos rivers would be a good place for a colony.
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This region had had fertile soil, abundant water,
natural resources, a mild climate, and no other
settlements.
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In his journal, he described Texas as having
the richest kind of black landcreeks of
excellent waterheavily timbered, beautifully
rolling.
What is a Primary Source?
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Austin made a request for additional land along
the coast. In order to be successful, Austin knew
he would need a port for landing the groups of
settlers and needed supplies.
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One early disappointment was the loss of the
Lively, a ship Austin had purchased to bring
supplies and people to the
colony. It wrecked on
Galveston Island.
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Advertising for Colonists
Austin began advertising for settlers to come to
his colony. The advertisements appeared in
newspapers in the southern states. One add said
the following

• No Drunkards!
• No Gamblers!
• No Profane Swearers!
• No idlers!

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• Each settler would receive
  640 acres for himself
• 320 acres for his wife
• 160 acres for each child
• 80 acres for each slave

1 acre
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How much did 1 acre cost?
12.5
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12.5 Cents Per Acre
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The majority of colonists in the 1820s were from
the United States.
U.S.
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In order to settle in Texas you had to meet
requirements
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1. You had to become a Spanish Citizen
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2. You had to take an Oath of Allegience
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• You had to join the Catholic Church
• (This was very hard to enforce due to a shortage
  of priests)

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4. You had to be of Good Moral Character
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The first settler to enter the land claimed by
Austin was Andrew Robinson. He set up a ferry
across the Brazos River. That site later became
the town of Washington-on-the-Brazos. Robinson
would later open a hotel and saloon in town.
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Most of the early colonists owned small
farms and a few cows or horses. Some early
settlers, however, brought slaves to Texas. The
wealthiest of the new colonists was Jared E.
Groce, a planter and lumberman from Alabama. He
brought 50 wagons and
90 slaves with
him.
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Mexico Becomes a Republic
In March 1822, Austin learned that Mexico had won
its independence from Spain and had a new
government.
NEW SPAIN
MEXICO
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This new government did not recognize Austins
right to colonize Texas, so Austin had to go to
Mexico City, which was 1,000 miles away, to again
ask for permission to settle Texas.
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In Mexico City, Austin
found much confusion.
However, Austin was
given a new colonization
contract under
the Mexican
Colonization Law of
1823, in which
the amount of land
given to each settler was increased.
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Austin would be able to settle 300 families.
Although Austins trip to Mexico City was long
and costly, he learned much about Mexican
customs, got to know many important Mexican
leaders, and learned the Spanish Language.
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Problems in the Colony
While Austin was in Mexico City,
a serious drought occurred. Some colonists gave
up and went back to the U.S. There were
disagreements among colonists and there
were Indian raids, but many people stayed
despite the troubles.
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Native Americans did not like the settlers
intruding on their territory. When they continued
to raid, Austin commanded a militia, a temporary
army unit, to protect the colony. By the end of
1824, relations between the Native Americans and
the settlers quieted.
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The Old 300
By 1825, Austin had
issued land titles to
almost 300
families. Austins
original settlers became
known as the Old 300.
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San Felipe de Austin
Austin chose a place along the Brazos River to
build a town that would serve as the capital of
his colony. It was named San Felipe de Austin,
honoring both the patron saint of
the governor of

Texas and
Stephen F. Austin.
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7-2 The Colonies Grow
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After the Mexican emperor was overthrown a new
type of government was formed by the Federalists
in Mexico. The Federalists believed in sharing
power between the states and the national
government. This Constitution was
similar to that of the
U.S.
Mexican Constitution of 1824
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While a Federalist believes in sharing the power,
a Centralist believes that that government power
should be concentrated within the national or
central government.
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It was decided that Coahuila and Texas would be
united as a Mexican state and called Coahuila y
Tejas. The capital of Coahuila y Tejas would be
Saltillo.
Saltillo
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The Colonization Law of 1824
The Mexican government made each Mexican state
responsible for their own settlement plans, but
there were certain rules that must be followed by
everyone.
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The Colonization Law of 1825

1. Families could receive 4,428 acres after first
   payment of 30
2. Single Anglo man receives 1,107 acres and
   another 3,321 acres if he marries. Another bonus
   of 1,107 if he marries a Mexican woman!
3. All settlers must follow the 4 RULES!

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Stephen F. Austin continued to be the most
successful empressario for several reasons. An
empressario is a land agent who brings settlers
to a new area.
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He demonstrated from the beginning his ability to
deal successfully with Mexican authorities.
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His colonists had little difficulty getting title
to their land and making improvements..
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Native Americans became less of a threat.
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In addition, Austin's contracts included lands
with some of the most fertile soil in Texas.
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The 2nd most successful empressario was Green
DeWitt. He brought
400 families into
Texas and his
colony was situated
west of Austin's first
colony. The town of
Gonzales was
established as headquarters for the
colony.
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Green DeWitt
2nd Most
Successful Empressario
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Another successful empresario was Martín de León.
De León, a native of Mexico, was an expert
horseman and rancher. He brought Mexican settlers
into Texas and settled 100-200 families along the
Guadalupe River near the coast. Patricia
de la Garza de León
helped her husband,
Martín, found the town of Victoria
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Slavery in Texas

• The Mexican government opposed slavery but the
  Anglo American colonists argued that slave labor
  was needed to clear land, cultivate cotton, corn
  and sugarcane and to make profit.
  

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