G.T.T “Gone to Texas ” - PowerPoint Presentation

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G.T.T“Gone to Texas”

Anglo Colonization of Texas

Vocabulary Terms

A

nglo American

– a person whose ancestors moved from Europe and live in the U.S.

Empresario

– An agent who makes all arrangements to bring settlers to a colony

Tejano

– a person of Mexican descent living in Texas

Moses Austin

Moved to

George Morgan’s colony in present-day

Missouri to run a lead mine

Lost fortune

during the Panic of 1819Decided that helping colonists locate in Texas was the best way to make money and pay off his debts

Moses’ Plan

He wanted to bring

300 families from the United States into Texas

to begin a colony.

Spanish officials were suspicious at first, Moses traveled 800 miles to get approval. He was originally rejected… With the help of

Baron de Bastrop in San Antonio, he would eventually get approval.Austin returned to the east to begin recruiting colonists while awaiting approval when he became ill. He learned from Erasmo Seguín his plan had been approved while on his deathbed.

Asked that his son, Stephen, carry out his dream of bringing U.S. settlers to Texas

Stephen F. Austin“The Father of Texas”

Stephen F. Austin dropped his plans for a legal career and went to Texas to fulfill his father’s wishes.

Mexico had won its independence since Moses’ grant to bring settlers

.

Stephen F. Austin

now had to get approval from the new Mexican government… and he did.

Major Empresario Land Grants Coahuila y Tejas 1825-1832

Next,

Austin chose the site for his colony

. He decided on the

land between the Lavaca and San Jacinto Rivers. Includes Brazos & Colorado

Not heavily forested so easy to clearReceived enough rain for crops

Americans Coming to TexasWhy Did They Come?

Spain had first opened Texas to Anglo-Americans in 1820

, one year before Mexico claimed independence from Spain. Its traditional policy forbade foreigners in its territory, but

Spain was unable to persuade its own citizens to move to the far-away “wilderness” of Texas.

Mostly, people were willing to come for the cheap and abundant land

- 1 acre in USA = $1.25 / 1 acre in Texas = $.04-$.12Some were escaping problems in the United States and some were purely seeking adventure and personal gain

Searching for Colonists

Austin knew that the success of the colony depended on the character of the colonists. The terms of the empresarial grant stated that colonists had to be…

Persons of good character

Catholic or willing to become Catholic.

They were also required to pledge loyalty to

Spain Settlers began to arrive in 1821- these families were known as the “Old Three Hundred” Farmers = 177 acresRanchers (raise livestock) = 4,428 acres

Essential Question:

What was the difference between Spanish settlements in the 1700’s and Anglo settlements in the 1800’s like the ones established by Austin and other empresarios

?

Spanish settlements in the 1700’s consisted of missions and trading posts

Most Anglo settlements in 1800’s Texas were

permanent farming and ranching communities on huge grants of land

Austin = Great Leadership

Biggest challenge came in 1822- Austin learned that

Mexico had gained independence from Spain

in September of

1821

.The grant had been issued by Spain, therefore he now needed permission from Mexican officials for the colonyTraveled to Mexico City to obtain approval - took a yearWhile there he learned Spanish and gained trust of Mexican leaders. Awarded grants under the national colonization laws of 1823 and 1824Established his capital on the west bank of the Brazos River, it was named

San Felipe de Austin

.

Austin was the colonists’ main representative to Mexican officials, he translated laws and communicated government policies to the settlers

The colony prospered due to Austin’s leadership

Known as the “Father of Texas”

Other EmpresariosAustin was the first Empresario but not the only one.

By 1830 about 30 people had also brought settlers to Texas

.

Green DeWitt

DeWitt/Kerr 400 families next to Austin’s colony

Contract not metNo school/Church2nd in numbers success although huge struggles

Martín De León

Native Mexican

Navarro is land commissioner

Mexican settlers

W/Austin only to fulfill contract

Founded cattle industry

Hardships

Disease

was one of the most common challenges

Few doctors

and most had little medical training.

Native American attacksStephen F. Austin formed a small militia to ride throughout the colony and prevent raiding parties. Patrol was later organized into the Texas Rangers.Tension develops between the colonists and the Mexican government

Conflicts would lead to the colonists’ demand for independence

By 1830’s Texas had a population greater than 20,000 people and was growing.

Cotton and Cattle industries were beginning to grow rapidly as well.

Open Door to Texas

Because of the empresarios, many people began moving into Texas.

The inscription G.T.T. (Gone To Texas) became a common sight on abandoned cabins.

“Gone to Texas”  was a phrase used by Americans immigrating to Texas in the 19th century

often to escape debt incurred during the Panic of 1819. After Davy Crockett was narrowly defeated for re-election in Tennessee, he famously said, "You may all go to h***, and I will go to Texas," and followed through on that pledge.Most settlers that came emigrated from the U.S. but some came from Mexico and Europe.

Large population of Tejanos settled in San Antonio de Bexar.

Powerful Tejanos in Texas include Erasmo and Juan Seguin, Lorenzo de Zavala, and Jose Antonio Navarro

African American population of Texas grew as well.

Slavery was illegal in Mexico after 1829 but law was not enforced

Mexican law offered protection and legal rights to free African Americans

.