THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS

A Timeline

Americans in Mexican Texas

1821 Spain gave Moses Austin a land grant in Texas.

He died before he could set up the colony, but his son Stephen Austin took on the responsibility

México won independence from Spain. Austin went to Mexico City to confirm the land grant Mexican government approved it and encouraged

Austin to bring settlers to develop the land and control Indian attacks

300 Families moved to Texas and many were cotton plantation owners who brought slaves

Conflict with Mexico

1830 About 20,000 Americans had moved to Texas

Many of these settlers were Protestant and spoke no Spanish

Mexico barred Americans from continuing to move here Were afraid the Americans would want to make Texas part of

the United States Started enforcing laws they had long ignored

Example: Banning slavery

1833 General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna became Mexico’s

dictator – a ruler with absolute power and authority

Texans Take Action

1835 Texans felt it was time to take action

Had the support of Tejanos – people of Mexican descent born in Texas

Gonzales – Clashed with Mexican troops and defeated them

Caused Santa Anna to rally troops and continue the fight

March 2, 1836 Republic of Texas declared independence and

appointed Sam Houston commander of the army

Siege at the Alamo

1836 Texans had taken a position at an old

mission called the Alamo

Siege of the Alamo

1836 Texans were outnumbered and poorly equipped Mexican troops began a siege

March 6, 1836 At dawn the Mexicans began a full attack The Texans lost and most of the survivors were

executed April 21, 1836

Texans wanted revenge for the fall of the Alamo Battle of San Jacinto – Texans won the battle and

captured Santa Anna forced him to sign a treaty that gave them independence

The Lone Star Republic

September 1836 Sam Houston was elected president of

Texas 1830’s

Texans want to join the United States but Andrew Jackson was afraid it would lead to war with Mexico Were not annexed (added)

1840’s About 140,000 lived in Texas including

Americans, Mexicans, and African Americans