Chapter 8 Section 1
Moses Austin and Texas
Moses Austin’s Texas Dream
• In June of 1798 he moved to
present-day Missouri where
Spanish officials allowed him
to mine lead there.
• Austin became a Spanish
citizen and built strong ties
with Spanish officials.
• By 1803 he became a
wealthy part owner of the
Bank of St. Louis.
• 1819- U.S. experienced a financial panic.
• Panic of 1819 led to a depression causing
many banks to fail. This included Austin’s
bank, and now he was ruined.
• He remembered that he had profited once
from moving to a Spanish land so he
decided to try that again.
• He could establish a colony of U.S.
families in Texas and charge them a fee,
hopefully regaining his wealth.
Moses Austin Goes to Texas
• On his way to Texas he
visited his son, Stephen F.
Austin, in Arkansas Territory.
• Stephen had doubts about his
father’s plan, but gave him
$50 and a horse.
• Moses took a slave named
Richmond as a traveling
companion.
• In late November 1820 the 2 men crossed
into Texas.
• On the way to San Antonio they admired
the land and hoped its fertile soil would be
good for farming.
• On December 23, 1820 they arrive in San
Antonio.
• Because of recent filibuster activity the
governor was suspicious of U.S. citizens.
• Austin was ordered to leave the city, so he
gathered his papers and left.
• By chance he saw someone he had met
several years earlier.
• The man’s name was Baron de Bastrop, a
Dutch businessman who had moved to
San Antonio.
Baron de Bastrop
• Austin told Bastrop about
his plan and the
governor’s order to
leave.
• Bastrop decided to help
and convinced Martinez
to allow Austin to stay in
town a few days.
• Bastrop rewrote the
colonization request.
• His arguments were
quite persuasive.
Baron de Bastrop’s Plan
• He pointed out Austin had been a loyal Spanish
citizen
• Colonizing Texas would improve the economy.
• It would protect from Indian attacks as well.
• It would protect the area from U.S. invasions
The Plan was a Success!
• Bastrop’s arguments were
persuasive
• Martinez promised to urge his
superiors to approve the plan
• Austin was confident his trip
was a success
• “The Governor was pleased to
say that if I returned I might
depend on his friendship.”
Going Back Home
• With their plan being a success, the two men
(Austin and Richmond) headed home
• A fellow traveler took all their supplies
• The two men had to walk the rest of the way
• Flooded streams and cold weather slowed their
progress
• By the time they reached shelter the two men
were very ill
Return to Missouri
• Even after they returned to Missouri
Austin’s health remained poor
• Despite the illness he still made
preparations for his new colony
• Spring 1821- Receive news the plan had
been approved!!!
• Austin received the right to settle 300
Catholic families from Louisiana
• However, Austin became extremely ill and
asked his wife to write to his son Stephen.