Growing Te nsions Why It Matters Tensions increased between Texans and the Mexican government in the 1820s and 1830s. Some Texans believed that separation from Mexico—even if it meant war—was the only solution to their grievances. Other Texans believed it was possible to remain a part of Mexico. Stephen F. Austin’s imprisonment in Mexico City pushed many Texans into believing that war was necessary. The Impact Today Almost all conflicts have two results that last longer than the wars themselves. First, hatred and suspicion often remain on both sides. Second, acts of courage are remembered long after the war. The Texas Revolution had both results. 1823 ★ Santa Anna rebels against Mexico’s Emperor 1826 Augustín de Iturbide ★ The Fredonian Revolt 18231825 1826 1828 1825 1828 • World’s first public • Noah Webster published railroad opened in an American dictionary Great Britain 184 CHAPTER 8 Growing Tensions Cause-Effect Study Foldable Make this foldable to organize information and describe the events that led to growing tensions in Texas during the 1820s and the 1830s. Step 1 Fold one sheet of paper in half from side to side. Fold the sheet vertically. Step 2 Fold again, 1 inch from the top. (Tip: The middle knuckle of your index finger is about 1 inch long.) Step 3 Open and label as shown. ACTIONS by REACTIONS Texas or Mexico Draw lines along the fold lines. Reading and Writing As you read this chapter, The many buildings in this view of Mexico City in the 1830s indicate record information that you learn about the actions and reactions of Texans and the Mexican the city’s wealth and importance. government. Underline the actions and events you have listed that led to war. 1830 1833 ★ The Law of April 6 stopped ★ Convention of 1833 TEXAS immigration from U.S. prepared constitution HISTORY 1830 1831 1833 Chapter Overview Visit the texans.glencoe.com Web site and click on 1830 1831 1833 Chapter 8—Chapter • Baltimore & Ohio • Cholera epidemic • American Overviews to preview Railroad opened spread to central Europe Anti-Slavery chapter information. first stretch of track • London Bridge opened Society formed CHAPTER 8 Growing Tensions 185 The Difficulties Begin Guide to Reading Main Idea Reading Strategy Read to Learn While the Anglo American colonists Analyzing Results As you read this •about the Republic of Fredonia. were concerned about Mexican rule, section, make a web like the one •what Mier y Terán reported. the Mexican government was con- below, identifying ways the Law of •why the Law of April 6 was alarming cerned about the growing American April 6, 1830, changed colonists’ lives. to the settlers. influence in Texas. Section Theme Law Key Terms of April 6, 1830 Groups and Institutions The decree, exempt, customs duty Mexican government issued the Law of April 6 to offset the growing influ- Life Before Life After ence of Anglo American settlers. Preview of Events ✦1827 ✦1829 ✦1830 The Fredonian Revolt Mexican government Mexican government collapses issues decree issues Law of April 6, 1830 abolishing slavery The Mexican government, concerned about the growing American influence in East Texas, sent General Manuel de Mier y Terán (myehr ee teh•RAHN) on an inspection trip. “It is incredible,” he wrote in 1828, “that the export of deerskins in less than a year has risen to 40 thousand in number. The export of bearskins amounts to 1,500. Otter and beaver have almost been [wiped out] because of the relentless pursuit of American General Manuel de Mier y Terán trappers.” Differences Create Tension The opening of Texas to settlement in the early 1820s resulted in major changes. Trade expanded and the population grew. Farms and plan- tations produced corn, cotton, and sugarcane. At the same time, 186 CHAPTER 8 Growing Tensions settlers who already held legal titles. Many of the early settlers, however, did not have clear titles to their property. Edwards announced that all settlers must Some of the immigrants looking for new show their titles to him. All others would have homes in Texas had been expelled from the to move or acquire a title from him. This United States. During the 1820s and 1830s, angered many of the settlers, who included fam- the United States removed many Native Americans from their homelands. South- ilies from Louisiana. Also living in the area were eastern Native American people, such Cherokees and Mexicans whose ancestors had as the Cherokees, settled in Texas. Native lived there for decades. Political Chief José Americans from as far away as the Great Antonio Saucedo (sow•SAY•doh) sympathized Lakes came to Mexican Texas, with the settlers and told Edwards that he could looking for a new home. not charge them for new land titles. differences arose between Mexican officials The Republic of Fredonia and the Anglo American settlers. Benjamin Edwards, Haden’s brother, believed During most of the 1820s, when the Federalists that his only hope for solving the problem was to held power in Mexico, the colonists were left declare the colony independent from Mexico. He alone. Anglo American settlers received land made an alliance with Richard Fields, a Cherokee titles, cleared fields, and built their homes. They chief, and prepared for action. began to establish their own schools and news- papers. The colonists even brought in slaves, an action the Mexican government opposed. When the Centralist Party came to power in 1829, it put an end to these independent acts. It issued regulations to bring the states and provinces of Mexico more under the authority of the national government. Most of the Anglo American colonists considered these regulations to be unnecessary and unfair. A series of clashes eventually resulted in a revolution. Analyzing When the Centralist Party came to power, what changed for the colonists? Trouble Begins in East Texas The first clash between colonists and Mexican authorities came in 1826. The year before, the Mexican government had awarded a vast tract History of land in East Texas to an empresario named Haden Edwards. Edwards was permitted to set- Haden Edwards and his wife show determination tle 800 families in the Nacogdoches area. in their faces. Paintings from this period often Edwards arrived in Nacogdoches in Septem- showed people with their hands in their coats because it was easier for the painter not to paint ber 1825. He discovered that there were already the hands. Why would Haden Edwards need to many people living on his lands. His contract be a determined person? required him to recognize the rights of those CHAPTER 8 Growing Tensions 187 Causes and Effects of Mexican/Anglo Conflict Mier y Terán Investigates Although the Fredonian Revolt was a minor event and most colonists had refused to support • The State Colonization Law of 1825 Edwards, Mexican officials became worried. encourages immigration. They thought the Fredonian Revolt was part of • New Anglo American settlers far an American scheme to acquire Texas. Two hun- outnumber Mexican residents. dred Mexican soldiers, commanded by Colonel •Mier y Terán’s report warns of José de las Piedras (PYAY•drahs), were sent to possible loss of Texas. Nacogdoches to prevent new uprisings. Mexican fears about Texas continued to grow. The U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Anthony Butler, proposed that Mexico sell Texas to • In the Law of April 6, 1830, Mexico the United States. This only reinforced Mexican forbids immigration from the U.S. suspicions that the United States wanted Texas. • New limits on trade with U.S. spark The Mexican government sent an inspection Anglo protests. party to investigate, led by the soldier and sci- • Additional Mexican troops arrive in entist General Manuel de Mier y Terán. San Antonio. Mier y Terán observed that the Anglo American influence was strong in East Texas since Anglo American settlers outnumbered the Mexican settlers by at least five to one. The Law of April 6, 1830, was the turning point in relations between the Mexican government and colonists. In his report to the Mexican president, Mier y Terán expressed concern about the growing Analyzing Information Why did this law ultimately have a negative effect? American influence in Texas. He made recom- mendations to the government concerning the future of the area. Mier y Terán made it clear that if the Mexican government did not act at On December 16, 1826, Edwards led a once, Texas would be “lost forever.” small group of 15 to 30 armed settlers in taking Meanwhile, those colonists who held slaves the Old Stone Fort in Nacogdoches. They were worried about government efforts to abolish raised a red and white flag bearing the slavery. In 1829 the TEXAS words “Independence, president of Mexico HISTORY Liberty, and Justice” issued a decree, or and proclaimed the cre- order, abolishing slav- Student Web ation of the Republic ery. Texans tried to per- Activity Visit the of Fredonia. suade Mexican officials texans.glencoe.com Web Republic of The Edwards broth- to exempt, or excuse, site and click on Fredonia ers appealed for help Texas from the decree. Chapter 8—Student Web Activity to learn from Austin’s colony Although never put more about the and from the United into effect in Texas, the Fredonian Revolt States, but they received no assistance. Austin decree caused fear in Texas. even offered to help the Mexican government among many of the put down the revolt. When Mexican troops from Anglo American slaveholders. They believed that San Antonio approached Nacogdoches in it was only a matter of time before the decree January 1827, the Fredonian Revolt collapsed. would apply to them, too. Some of the Fredonians were captured, but most of them fled across the Sabine River into the Analyzing Why was Anglo United States.