Texas Independence. April 20, 2012

Transcription

1 Texas Independence April 20, 2012

2 DO NOW 1. Why would people move to Texas? (According to the quote and graph?) 2. Why might people choose to go to Texas instead of Oregon?

3 Guided Notes Native Americans were colonized by Europeans explorers particularly Spain in what is today Mexico. Spain had a huge impact on Mexico leaving behind a legacy of Spanish culture and technology Mexico wanted its independence and fought for 11 years to get it. Now the story continues in Mexican Texas.

4 Guided Notes Mexican leaders began to worry about the interest that the United States had in Texas. Some were afraid that Texians were trying to fight for independence. A soldier named Mier y Teran was sent to make sure that Texas was still under control, but what he found worried him even more. Mier y Teran saw that as he traveled north, Texas became less and less Mexican. For each Mexican person living in Texas, there were ten foreigners (Anglo-American settlers from the United States). More settlers arrived every day. For Texas settlers, the Mexican government was far away and did not affect their lives.

5 Guided Notes Send Mexican settlers to Texas Stop immigration from the U.S. Send Mexican Troops to Texas Mexico s Efforts to Keep Control over Texas Increase trade with Texas Collect Taxes

6 Guided Notes These actions taken by the Mexican government, in addition to other events, will lead to a war between Texan colonists and the Mexican government. On April 6, 1830, the Mexican government sent out a decree that the Anglo-American Texans did not like. This decree stopped immigration from the United States, so no more American settlers could come. Texas settlers thought that this was unfair. They wanted: Their families to be able to come To be able to trade with the United States to make money

7 Guided Notes At this point in time, both sides grew increasingly nervous about each other. The Mexican government thought that the United States wanted to take over Texas and the settlers wanted to break away. The Texans thought the Mexican government was not being fair to them Stephen F. Austin, the Father of Texas tried to work out the problems between the Mexican government and Texas settlers, but he was unsuccessful. Santa Anna, the leader of Mexico, would not agree with the Texas settlers. This tension would eventually lead to the Texas Revolution, where Texas fought for independence from Mexico.

8 Stop & Jot Why did the Decree of April 6, 1830 anger Texans? What were Mexico s actions to keep control over Texas?

9 WHO IS MORE RESPONSIBLE??? Who was more responsible for the Texas Revolution, the Mexicans or Texans? Directions: Read and analyze each document carefully and then decide who you believe was more responsible for the Texas Revolution the Texans or the Mexicans?

10 Source #1 Volumes sufficient to fill in multiple warehouses have been written about the Texas Revolution of 1836 in the century and a half since it culminated [ended] in the seventeen minute Battle of San Jacinto. Few topics have inspired such polarized [extreme opposite] feelings. Many blame Mexico s loss of her northernmost regions on a conscious premeditated [preplanned] conspiracy of Anglo-Americans in the united States to steal Texas by whatever means possible. At the other end of the continuum are those why blame the Mexican people for the misrule of Texas and the ruthless dictatorship of Santa Anna for provoking a fully justified rebellion by Anglo- Americans and Tejanos. While such extreme positions are far too simplistic to explain the events of , the continue to be voiced today a century and a half after the fact.

11 Source #2 I would sooner lose an arm than live under tyranny. -Meaning of the flag created by Texans at Goliad According to this document who was more responsible for the Texas Revolution, the Mexicans or Texans?

12 Source #3 Although a minor vent, the Fredonian Revolt attracted the attention of the Mexican government. Concerned about the Texas situation, the Mexican government sent a group to investigate conditions in Texas. General Mier y Teran was sent to inspect Texas. He reported that the Mexican influence in Texas was decreasing. In East Texas, the Anglos outnumbered the Mexicans five to one. Teran expressed his concerns and even said that Texas could throw all of Mexico into revolution if something wasn t done. His findings alarmed the Mexican government. Mexico made a dramatic chance toward Texas. On April 6, 1830, the Mexican government issued a decree (law). This decree was written to give Mexico more control over Texas. Mexico ended all immigration from the United States. Mexico suspended all empresario grants. No new slaves could be brought to Texas. To keep down the Anglo-American influence, the Mexican government encouraged settlers to come to Texas from Mexico and Europe. More soldiers were brought into Texas and customs duties (taxes) were be collected on goods coming from the United States. As more troops from Mexico came into Texas, the Mexican government built more forts. The Texans protested.

13 Source #4 Immediately proceeding the Battle of Gonzales, Mexican General Cos ordered that all weapons given to the Texans be given over to Mexican authorities. Following these instructions in Gonzales, Mexican Colonel Ugartechea demanded that the Texans give up their small brass cannon. The Texans refused and challenged the Mexicans to Come and Take It. When the Mexicans tried, the Texans fired on the Mexicans. There was a battle, and the Mexicans retreated. On October 2,1835, the Texas Revolution began. According to this document who was more responsible for the Texas Revolution, the Mexicans or Texans?

14 HOMEWORK Who was more responsible for the Texas Revolution, the Mexicans or Texans? Directions: Describe in detail the question above. Be sure to include who you believe was more responsible for the Texas Revolution, the Mexicans or Texans, use at least 2 documents from this packet, and analyze the evidence. Answer each question, minimum of six sentences required for full credit.

15 EXIT TICKET From which country did Texas claim independence? Why were there so many Americans in Texas before the fighting began? What was one grievance the Texans had against the foreign government? Why was the foreign government afraid of the Texans?