Texas Almanac, 1968-1969 Page: 57
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COLONIZATION; REVOLUTION
Era of Anglo-American ColonizationOnly three outposts of civilization lay be-
tween the Rio Grande and Sabine in 1821, 300
years after white men first set foot on Texas
soil. They were San Antonio, Goliad and
Nacogdoches. The white population was not
more than 7,000 and it had declined during
the preceding 30 years.
Moses Austin Visits Texas
Moses Austin of Missouri, native of Con-
necticut, who had been interested in lead
mining in Virginia and Missouri, had busi-
ness difficulties and decided to move to
Texas. He traveled in 1820 to San Antonio
to seek permission to establish a colony of
Americans in Texas.
At San Antonio, through the intercession
of Baron de Bastrop, he was permitted to
file a formal application with the viceroy of
Mexico. He returned to Missouri overland,
dying soon after reaching his home, but his
dying request was that his son, Stephen F.
Austin, carry out his plans. Austin had re-
ceived word that his request of the Spanish
Government had been granted.
Austin's Colony
A native of Virginia, Stephen F. Austin
had received a college education and had
joined his father in Missouri. At the time of
his father's death, he was in New Orleans
studying law. Stephen F. Austin traveled to
San Antonio and came to an agreement with
Governor Martinez relative to the establish-
ment of the colony. This was in August, 1821,
and Austin was 28 years old.
He was given permission to settle 300
families. First settlements were made late
in 1821 at Columbus on the Colorado and
Washi ngton.on-the-Brazos.
At this point, Mexico became independent
of Spain, and Austin journeyed to Mexico
City where he secured new confirmation of
his grant, despite the conflict and confusion
there.
Empresario System
Under the new law the government con-tracted with empresarios or agents for the
introduction of no fewer than 200 families of
colonists. He was given wide authority over
his colonists in establishing commercial cen-
ters, maintaining militia and administering
justice. Under this empresario system coloni-
zation of Texas made extraordinary strides
during the next decade.
Austin's colony grew rapidly and San
Felipe de Austin (in present Austin County)
was laid out on the Brazos as the colony's
seat of government.
Austin's first grant was for 300 families.
This quota-known as "the Old Three Hun-
dred," and having a place in Texas history
somewhat similar to that of the Jamestown
and Plymouth settlers in United States his-
tory-was soon filled. More than 1,000 land
titles were issued to Austin in the next dec-
ade and population of his colony exceeded
5,000.
Other Colonies
There were a number of other empre-
sarios who were fairly successful. Green De
Witt, also of Missouri, introduced several
hundred families west of the Colorado, found-
ing Gonzales in 1825. Another empresario was
Hayden Edwards who received a grant for
settling 800 families around Nacogdoches.
Other American empresarios were Benjamin
Milam, Gen. James Wilkinson, Sterling Clack
Robertson, Joseph Vehlin, Robert Leftwich,
David Burnet and the firms of McMullen and
McGloin, and Power and Hewitson. Mexican
empresarios included Martin de Leon who
settled a number of families on the Guada-
lupe, founding Guadalupe-Victoria, the pres-
ent Victoria, and Lorenzo de Zavala, who
was to play an important part In later
history.
There was sufficient success to bring a
constant stream of settlers to Texas, prin-
cipally from the United States. Between 1821
and 1836 the population grew from about
7,000 to 35,000-50,000.Revolution-Texas Wins Independence
While the colonization movement was suc-
cessful, it soon brought complications for
Mexican sovereignty. Difference in race and
language, plus the rapid increase in Anglo-
American settlers, created suspicion among
Mexican authorities.
Also, revolution succeeded revolution in
Mexico from 1821 to 1836, with no adminis-
tration serving out its legal term.
Texas was geographically isolated from
the center of Mexican commercial and po-
litical control. Mexico City was 800 miles
from San Antonio and a vast wilderness lay
between. On the other hand, it was easy to
direct Texas commerce toward the United
States, either overland or through the ports
of Galveston and New Orleans.
There were some who came to Texas
hoping to see the day when the westward
advancing boundaries of the United States
would overtake them. But there is nothing to
show that the great majority of the colonists
had any other intention than permanent
citizenship in the Republic of Mexico. The
Mexican government, which was being over-
thrown by armed force at frequent intervals,
was so unstable that it was unable to main-
tain just and consistent government. The
central government's policy toward Texas
was determined by scheming politicians in
Mexico City who had no knowledge of Texas.
If Santa Anna or any other dictator had
made nominal efforts to retain the friendship
of the Anglo-American Texans there might
never have been armed revolt.
Fredonian Rebellion
As early as 1826, trouble developed be-tween American and Mexican settlers at
Nacogdoches. Hayden Edwards had been
given a grant at Nacogdoches, where Gil
Y'Barbo and his followers had lived for sev-
eral decades. A conflict arose and Mexican
authorities at San Antonio decided in favor
of the Mexican settlers. Edwards organized
the Republic of Fredonia and declared Texas
independent of Mexico. Though Edwards
was quickly driven out, his action was cause
of disquiet at Mexico City.
Law of 1830
The Mexican Congress enacted the Law
of 1830, forbidding further settlement of
Americans in Texas except in two colonies,
providing for establishment of Mexican con-
vict colonies, and levying duties on all im-
ports. It was intended to lessen Anglo-Amer-
ican population, increase Mexican population
and break up the increasing trade between
Texas colonists and the United States.
The Law of 1830 increased the Texans'
dissatisfaction with some provisions of Mexi-
can constitutional law. Neither the National
Constitution of 1824 nor the Constitution of
the State of Coahuila-Texas of 1827 granted
certain rights accepted as inalienable by the
Anglo-Americans, notably trial by jury and
the right of ball. Furthermore, particularly
obnoxious was the requirement that settlers
in the colonies be Catholics. Most of the
American settlers were Protestants,
Battle of Anahuac
Typical of the difficulties was the trouble
that arose at Anahuac. Mexican Army offi-
cer Col. John D. Bradburn, former Ameri-
can, was charged with interfering with an
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Texas Almanac, 1968-1969, book, 1967; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth113809/m1/59/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.