The Texas Revolution There are many reasons why the hearts and eyes of Texans glow when asked about their home state. Texas pride seems an infectious emotion among the population of the southern state. This could stem from any number of things but there is one facet of Texas’ history that warrants a great deal of pride, and that is the Texas Revolution. The event breeds pride partly because no state in the US can boast of individual sovereignty preceding statehood. Although the rebellion occurred before Texas’ annexation, without any aid from an official United States Army, the confrontation will forever be celebrated as a quintessential piece of American history. Almost 50 years had passed since the British left and the United States …show more content…
Each empresario signed a contract with the Mexican government ensuring a number of requirements would be met. To keep Texas in Mexico’s grasp, the migrants would be obligated to swear allegiance to Mexico before immigrating. Also, the migrants needed to provide certificates of good moral character from their local authorities. The empresario would be held accountable for the construction and decoration of Catholic churches and Spanish-speaking schools ("De Witt Empresario Contract" 173-175). The most famous empresario of this time was Stephen F. Austin. Austin was born in Virginia and grew up in Missouri. When he had completed his schooling in Connecticut, he returned to Missouri where he held many lucrative government positions. Some of his posts included: board member of the territorial legislature of Missouri for 6 years, director in the Bank of St. Louis, and judge of the federal circuit of Arkansas (Barker 20). In 1822, Austin headed to Mexico to strike up a land grant with the government. Due to the radical changes in the Mexican government going on at the time, he was forced to stay there for the next year to guarantee the grant would be passed. Austin was in Mexico for just one year, and he saw it ruled by a regent (under Spain), an emperor, and a military triumvirate (Barker 23). Finally the grant was passed and he made his way to his new colony in present-day southeast Texas. This would not be the last time he
Texas is a unique place with a colorful history of legendary cowboys and tall tales. The state stretches over the middle section of the southern United States. Texas has experienced shifts in governmental control within the United States. French, Spanish, Mexican, and Confederacy, and all having once been in charge, not to mention the time Texas spent as an independent republic. Texas has had many battles and wars within its borders, resulting in seven different constitutions within a span of fifty years between each document.
In “Populist Dreams and Negro Rights: East Texas as a Case Study,” Lawrence Goodwyn keys in on the triumphs of the People 's Party in Grimes County, Texas. I discovered Populism in Grimes County is the narrative of an interracial alliance that had its beginning in Reconstruction and persevered for more than an era. I resolved why the long post-Reconstruction period emerges as the social request that has been composed progressively along racial lines; the time period encroached as a brief gleaming light in parts of the South. I learned how some white Southerners have generally been a spread for the district 's skepticism and other issues. Goodwyn establishes a viewpoint about the possible results for a greater number of individuals voting in a free society. I understand that the variables of pressure and coercion caused an end to influence at the polling stations; there was corruption occurring with vote counts. The Grimes County story significantly describes this disappointment; however in the understanding, it gives into the hidden legislative issues of black disfranchisement and the accomplishment of a solid single-party political environment in the American South it is not one of a kind.
Stephen Austin was born on the Third of November in the year of 1793 at Austinville, Virginia. His family was one that made their wealth through the booming industry of lead mining. When he became fourteen years old, Austin went to study at Transylvania University in Kentucky; after two and a half years of study, he would never finish as his father needed his assistance to run his store. Also, this experience in running a store would provide Stephen F. Austin with “the excellent business habits and knowledge of human nature,” which would be useful for his future career as well as the title as the Father of Texas (Father of Texas, 14). His experience from this métier would be necessary for the formation of
Stephen f. Austin looked around for a new business opportunity, eventually deciding to go to New Orleans in the late 1820 to study law. His father moses had a dream of leading the first anglo american families into texas however at that time texas was still a part of mexico so his father moses had to go to mexico to get permission to emigrate the first anglo american families into texas but in 1821 soon after moses stephen’s father returned when Stephen was 27 Moses became very ill and his only wish was that his son would take on and the chance to bring the first anglo american families to texas that was his father’s dream so even though he was reluctant to take on his father’s dream he knew it was what his father wanted so he went ahead with his father's dream of leading the first anglo americans to the unknown wilderness of texas, so after the death of his father Austin traveled to san antonio where he received permission from governor Antonio Martinez to proceed under his father's prior arrangement. Austin was given the title empresario or land grant agent after he received this title the next step was to choose land so Austin chose land between the Brazos and the San Jacinto river . It was some of the best farmland in the area. Austin and Governor Antonio Martinez decided that
In 1835, a small number of settlers in the territory of Texas, rebelled against the newly established government of Mexico. While they claimed that the government in Mexico had unlawfully usurped authority, establishing a tyrannical dictatorship, there were serious economic and social issues that sparked the conflict. But what is most interesting about the Texas Revolution is the relatively small numbers of soldiers involved. The Texians, as the settlers called themselves, numbered in the hundreds, while the Mexican forces never numbered more than a few thousand. Despite their numerical inferiority, the tactics of the Texian commander, Sam Houston, proved to be successful and Texas won provisional independence.
1821, Austin's father, Moses Austin, had received a permit from the Spanish to settle 300 families in Texas, but he died in Missouri a short time later before he could realize his plans. Stephen F. Austin took his father's place and traveled to San Antonio, where he met with the Spanish governor Antonio María Martínez, who acknowledged him as his father's successor.The most selected land by the colonists were along the rich bottomlands such as the Brazos,Colorado,and San Bernard river.
Every Texan knows the legends of Stephen F. Austin that lead him to become the “Father of Texas.” Few Texas would try to say anyone else deserves this honor even though Texas is not short of larger than life legends. Such names include Lorenzo Zavala, Thomas Rusk, Juan Seguin, William Travis, James Bowie, and Sam Houston. Even “In his eulogy for Austin, Houston called him, "The Father of Texas"” (Areas of Interest). But despite this many would argue that Houston deserves the title.
Moses Austin would not live to see it come to fruition as he was attacked my highway men and died shortly thereafter. That would fall on his son, Stephen F. Austin, who is often referred to as the “Father of Texas”. Austin and the other settlers were drawn to the territory by grants and deferred taxation provided by the Spanish government; however, in 1821 Mexico declared independence from Spain. Austin was concerned that the new independent Mexican government would not recognize the previous arrangements made with his father. He would have to travel all the way to Mexico City to make his case, and in 1823 the Mexican Congress confirmed Austin’s grant.
Every event in history contains a cause and effect. Every cause and effect is unique in its own way. Whenever deciphering certain events in history it’s important that those researching, keep an open mind to all intertwining factors. The Texas Revolution is an important and crucial event within the history of the United States and having a full understanding of the Texas Revolution is of extreme importance to understanding Mexican-American relations. Issues to be researched in understanding the Texas Revolution will deal with political, lawful, and social relations between the Texas colonists and the Mexican Republic. Understanding the politics, laws, and social relations between the Texas colonist and the Mexican Republic provide a crucial in-look as to why the Texas colonist revolted against Santa Anna and his Mexican Republic. Leading up to the beginning, as well as throughout the Texas Revolution, there are significant and credible amounts of crucial events that take place that provide a supporting backbone in justifying the Texas colonists and their revolt. It is these inhumane events, supported by the doctrine of the Mexican Republic with their politics, laws, and social relations with the Texas colonist, which would ultimately lead to the justification of the Texas colonist and their fight for their natural rights and for the Texas Declaration of Independence.
So, what was the Texas Revolution? During the reign of Antonio López de Santa Anna, colonists in the Mexican province of Texas rebelled against the increasingly centralized Mexican government. While ulterior motives were unclear, a primary goal among the Tejanos and Anglos in the area was the Independence from the “tyrannical government” of Mexico. This revolution led to the formation of the Republic of Texas. Furthermore, allowing Texas to be annexed into the United States of America at a later date.
Texas political culture is one that can be described as a combination of three main ideas: individualistic, traditionalism and moralism. Considering Texas and its overwhelming 254 counties we can see these main ideas undoubtedly. The 254 counties each have their own general set of ideas, attitudes and beliefs. The whole state of Texas is simply not just considered individualistic, traditionalism, or moralism, it is considered all three. Individualistic, traditionalism and moralism are all strong values that coexist in our society and they all affect how we as the people live our lives. A political culture shapes a region’s politics.
Yet another reason why Texans might have revolted was that they were trying to preserve and maintain the political values and economic gain while under the Constitution of 1824. It gave Texas a steady population flow of American migrants moving onto Texas soil. It also gave them political liberty, freedom to own slaves and a steady economic progression. But Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, president of Mexico, wished to impose a stricter rule which could also explain why Texas felt the need to separate from Mexico.
The Texas Revolution is a historical war that began in October of 1835 and ended in April 1836. Even before the war began, there existed hostilities between the groups of colonists and the official forces. This was culminated with the by the political and social differences that fueled the revolution. The conflict was majorly witnessed between the Mexican rulers and the Anglo-American residents of Texas (Tshaonline.org, 2015). Several accounts have been given by various eyewitnesses on the events of the Texas Revolution.
Santa Anna was elected President of Mexico in 1833. In 1834 he repealed the constitution and established himself as a dictator, which played a major factor in the Texas Revolution. With the constitution repealed, the Texians did not have the same benefits as they did when they first settled in Mexico. Under the oppressive rule of Santa Anna, the Texians began to rebel (Callcott, 2010).
In the 1830’s, Texas fought for their independence from Mexico. This sparked the Mexican revolution. There were three main reasons why Texans wanted independence: Mexico outlawed slavery, high taxes, and the Mexicans wanted everyone to join the Catholic Church. One of the major players in Texas was Stephen Austin. He had 300 land grants which he gave to the Texans. After some time, Stephen Austin went all the way to Mexico to present petitions for a greater self-governing government for Texas. Even though Stephen Austin was known as the father of Texas, the President of Mexico harshly denied his request.