The document summarizes the settlement of Texas and events leading up to its independence from Mexico in 1836. It describes how Mexico gave land to Stephen Austin to settle with Americans, but new Mexican laws in 1830 infuriated the settlers by restricting trade and immigration. This led Texans to declare independence and fight for sovereignty, culminating in key battles like the Alamo and San Jacinto, where Sam Houston defeated Santa Anna and forced Mexico to recognize Texas as an independent nation.

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)