2. Map of the United States (c. 1830)

3. Mexico had given a large tract of land to Stephen
Austin to settle with at least 300 Americans
The northern area was dominated by violent
Native Americans – Apache and Comanche
Mexicans did not want to settle close to these
tribes
The Mexican government gave the land away to
anyone with a settlement plan

4. Stephen F. Austin
(1793-1836)

5. Mexico gave land to Empresarios
Mexican citizens charged to settle the land
Empresarios brought in settlers and gave them pieces of
land
Settlers had to become Mexican citizens and convert to
Roman Catholicism
Austin was the most successful Empresario
Persuaded over 1,500 Americans to settle

6. Americans did not assimilate into Mexican culture as
was hoped
Empresarios felt the government was not giving them
enough control
Mexico closed its borders to settlers in 1830
A tax was put on goods imported from America to
discourage trade

7. New laws infuriated the settlers
Their settlements could not grow
They could not get goods they were accustomed to
Mexican government (considered foreign) was telling
them what to do

8. Two conventions were called by Texans
Austin was appointed President
Demands were made to open the borders and loosen
taxes
A constitution was drawn
Austin took demands to Mexico City, talks failed
Austin encouraged Texas to form its own government
and was arrested for treason
President Antonio López de Santa Anna declared
himself dictator and refused to talk to Texans

9. Antonio López de
Santa Anna

10. Austin was released from jail and went back to
Texas to organize and army
Mexican army was poorly lead and disorganized
Texan army had element of surprise and achieved
early victories, took control of San Antonio
Sam Houston took command of the Texans and
began training them
Santa Anna assembled a 6,000 man army to put
down the rebellion

11. Sam Houston
"The Raven"
(1793-1863)

12. Santa Anna’s army arrived in San Antonio to take the
city back
180 Texans locked themselves in an old Spanish
Catholic mission called the Alamo
The Texans held off Santa Anna’s army for 13 days
In that time, the new Texan government formally
declared independence

14. On March 6, 1836, Santa Anna’s army stormed the
Alamo
After 6 hours and 600 Mexican casualties, the Alamo
fell

16. Goliad was a town southeast of San Antonio
Mexican troops surrounded a Texas army of more
than 300
The Texas army surrendered
Santa Anna demanded execution
On March 27, 1836, Mexican troops executed the
entire regiment
The defeat enraged and united Texans

17. Turning point in the war
Santa Anna’s army did not see the Texans as a threat
The Mexican army was sleeping when they were
ambushed by Sam Houston
Hundreds of Mexicans were killed and over 700 were
taken captive
Among those taken captive was Santa Anna himself
Houston forced Santa Ana to agree to Texas
independence

18. Map of Texas (c. 1844)

19. In September of 1836, the Texas citizens elected Sam
Houston as their President
They also agreed to annexation by the US
Northerners were opposed because Texas would be a
slave state
Andrew Jackson did not want to increase tensions and
did not annex Texas
Texas remained an independent nation until 1845

21. Map of Mexico (c. 1847)