The document summarizes the government and society of Texas under Mexican rule after Mexico became a republic in 1824. It adopted a constitution that gave limited powers to the central government and broad authority to states, similar to the US Constitution. However, state lawmakers rather than citizens elected the president, and there was no separation of church and state. The constitution united Texas and Coahuila as a single state, but most Texans disliked this due to lack of local control and the distant capital. Tensions increased over slavery as US settlers brought slaves despite Mexican laws restricting and then banning the practice.

1. Chapter 9: Life in Early Texas Section 4: Government and Society

2. Bellwork Define “republic”

3. Texas under Mexican Rule 1824: Mexico became a republic and adopted a constitution.

4. Texas under Mexican Rule Stephen F. Austin: had advised the officials who had written the constitution Erasmo Seguin: represented Texas at the constitutional assembly and helped write the document

5. Texas under Mexican Rule Most Texans supported the Constitution of 1824.

6. Texas under Mexican Rule Similarities to U.S. Constitution: gave limited powers to the central government and broad local authority to the states

7. Texas under Mexican Rule Federalism —decentralized form of government

8. Texas under Mexican Rule Similarities to U.S. Constitution: Three branches of government President served as head of state

9. Texas under Mexican Rule Differences to U.S. Constitution: State lawmakers, not citizens, elected the president No separation of church and state or freedom of religion Roman Catholicism was the official religion of Mexico under the Constitution of 1824.

11. Texas under Mexican Rule Constitution of 1824 united the provinces of Texas and Coahuila into a single state.

12. Texas under Mexican Rule Most Texans disliked the united of Texas and Coahuila: They feared not having enough local control The state’s capital, Saltillo, was far away

13. Texas under Mexican Rule Most U.S. settlers wanted local control over rights and freedoms--used to U.S. political tradition. U.S. settlers often ignored or changed laws they disagreed with.

14. Texas under Mexican Rule Mexican official often paid no attention when U.S. settlers ignored their laws. Local government became a mixture of Mexican and U.S. practices.

15. The Issue of Slavery Slavery divided U.S. settlers and the Mexican government 1820s: Mexican & Coahuila y Texas governments passed laws restricting slavery

16. The Issue of Slavery Stephen F. Austin was in favor of bringing slaves to Texas . Some slaveholders who wanted to emigrate to Texas in the 1820s were worried that Mexico might make slavery illegal.

17. The Issue of Slavery 1827: State constitution outlawed slavery Jose Antonio Navarro helped pass a law allowing for contract labor—helped people get around the ban on slavery. Tensions over slavery continued to increase as U.S. settlement increased.

18. Mexican Constitution of 1824 Formed the state of Coahuila y Texas Gave states strong local control Roman Catholicism official religion Effects Effects Effects