Small Revolt- The Republic of Fredonia
The first clash between colonists and Mexican authorities came in
1826.
The year before the Mexican government awarded an empresario
contract to Haden Edwards to settle 800 families in the Nacogdoches area.
When Edwards arrived he discovered many Tejanos and other
settlers from U.S. (Anglos) already living on the land. His contract stated
that he was to give those settlers rights if they could show him a legal title
to the land. Most of the settlers did not have a title to the land. Edwards
gave them three options – (1) show a clear title to the land to him (2) you
could purchase a title from him (3) you could move away. This angered
many of the settlers.
Jose Antonio Saucedo, a political chief for Mexico would
not allow Edwards to charge these settlers, for any land titles.
This angers Haden Edwards and he decides to rebel against Mexico.
Haden Edwards and his brother Benjamin Edwards declared
their colony independent from Mexico. They made an alliance with
Richard Fields, a Cherokee chief and his people in East Texas.
Small Revolt- The Republic of Fredonia
December 16, 1826, Edwards led a
group of 15-30 men and took over the Old
Stone Fort in Nacogdoches. They created a
flag bearing the words “Independence, Liberty,
& Justice” and proclaimed the Republic of
Fredonia. This was the start of an event
known as the Fredonian Rebellion.
‘Fredonia’
The Edwards brothers asked for Stephen F.
Austin’s help and from the United States, but they
received no assistance. In fact, Stephen F. Austin offered
to help the Mexican government put down the
Fredonian Revolt with volunteers from his colony.
The Mexican army was sent to put down the rebellion. They
marched from San Antonio to Nacogdoches in January 1827, the
Fredonian Rebellion collapsed. Some were captured but most of those
involved crossed the Sabine River into U.S. land to escape the
Mexicans.
Inspection of Texas- Mier y Teran Investigates
Nacogdoches
The Fredonian Revolt was a minor event. Most Anglos and
Tejanos did not support Edwards or his rebellion. This event made
Mexican officials suspicious of the settlers. Many Mexican officials
thought that the Fredonian Revolt was a plan by Americans to take Texas
and join the United States.
200 Mexican soldiers were sent to Nacogdoches to prevent anymore
uprisings from the settlers.
The United States ambassador to Mexico made a proposal, that Mexico should sell
Texas to the United States. This event caused Mexico’s suspicions of Anglos wanting Texas to
join the U.S. to continue to grow.
The Mexican government sent an
inspection group to Texas led by Manuel de
Mier y Teran. While inspecting Texas, Teran
noticed that the Anglo influence was
strong. In most settlements, Anglos
outnumbered Tejanos 10:1.
Manuel de Mier y Teran
Inspection of Texas- Mier y Teran Investigates
Teran sent a report back to Mexico City.
In his report, he expressed his concern about the
American influence in Texas. He made
recommendations and stated that if the Mexican
government did not act at once, Texas would be
“lost forever” to the Anglo settlers. As a result of
Teran’s report Mexico will create the infamousLaw of April 6, 1830.
Slaveholders in Texas became worried about
the new laws that Mexico was passing. In 1829 the
president of Mexico issued a decree abolishing slavery
on all Mexican lands. Anglo colonists in Texas tried to
persuade the Mexican government to exempt Texas
from this decree.
Although slavery was exempted for a time, most slaveholders were fearful that Mexico
would eventually ban slavery in the province of Texas. An abolition of slavery would mean an
economic downfall to large, land owning Anglos in Texas.
New Laws- Law of April 6, 1830
On April 6, 1830, the Centralist government in Mexico issued a new law based on the
reports and recommendations from Manuel Mier y Teran’s inspection of Texas. A Centralist
believes all the power should be with the National government and State government power
should be limited.
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Law of April 6, 1830
No Immigration from the U.S. (No more Anglos)
Cancelled all unfulfilled empresario contracts.
Encouraged Mexican & European immigration
No more slaves could be brought into Texas
(Mexico)
Placed a customs duty (tax) on all goods from
the U.S.
Established new forts to prevent smuggling & to
enforce the new laws
Anglo citizens thought that this new law is unfair and discriminating toward whites.
Most Anglo prosperity depended slave labor for cash crops, and trade with the United States.
Many settlers in Texas had friends and family who wanted to come to Texas, but now would not
be allowed. This becomes an early turning point in bad relations with Texas colonists and the
Mexican government. Soon, Anglos and the Mexican government were very distrustful of each
other.
Protests- Settlers Protest Anahuac
The first serious conflict over Mexico’s new law of April 6,
1830 occurred at the port town of Anahuac. A small Mexican garrison
(soldiers) were stationed there to control the shipping and enforce the
collection of customs duties (taxes) on goods.
Colonel (Juan) John Bradburn was the commander of the
Mexican garrison at Anahuac. Bradburn fought with Texan colonists
living in Anahuac, due to accusations that he stole supplies and refused
to give up runaway slaves.
The tax collector at Anahuac attempted to collect customs duties on goods
from the United States. This angered the Texas merchants. Now, they would
have to travel long distances to file paperwork to give permission for imported
goods to cross the border into Mexico.
Protests- Settlers Protest Anahuac
In May 1832, Juan (John) Bradburn arrested and imprisoned two lawyers- William B.
Travis and Patrick Jack for interfering in his efforts to enforce the laws. About 160 Texas settlers
from Brazoria and San Felipe marched to Anahuac and demanded Travis’s and Jack’s release.
A small skirmish, or fight, takes place
between the Mexican garrison and the Texas
settlers. Bradburn agreed to release the two
prisoners if the Texan colonists would retreat from
Anahuac. Some settlers wouldn’t retreat, so
Bradburn didn’t release the prisoners and he called
for more Mexican troops to Anahuac.
After another skirmish with the Mexican garrison,
the Texan colonists needed more weapons. While the
colonists camped at Turtle Bayou, located in between Liberty
and Anahuac, a Texan colonist John Austin went to go get a
cannon.
Statements from the Colonists- Turtle Bayou Resolutions
While waiting for John Austin to return with a cannon, the rest of the Texas colonists
wrote down formal statements, called resolutions, that have come to be known as the Turtle
Bayou Resolutions.
Santa Anna was leading a revolt in Mexico against the Centralist’s Mexican President
Anastasio Bustamante. Bustamante was unpopular with colonists because he was not following
the Mexican Constitution of 1824. Santa Anna promised to support the Mexican Constitution of
1824, if he became the new president of Mexico.
Final result at Anahuac: Colonel Bradburn was removed from command by another
Mexican officer. Travis and Jack were released from prison. Mexican soldiers left Anahuac to
fight for Santa Anna in Mexico City.
More Fighting- Clash at Velasco
On June 26, 1832 a skirmish between Texan
colonists and the Mexican army occurred at Velasco, Texas.
John Austin and a group of Texan colonists loaded
a cannon onto a ship they picked up in Brazoria. A Mexican
commander Colonel Domingo de Ugartechea wouldn’t let
them pass at the Brazos River, this resulted in Texans and
Mexican soldiers fighting.
Fighting at the Battle of Velasco was bitter and men were
killed on both sides. When the Mexican soldiers ran out of ammunition,
Colonel Ugartechea and the Mexican garrison surrendered. After the
victory, Texan colonist John Austin sailed on to Anahuac with the
cannon. When he arrived he discovered that William B. Travis and
Patrick Jack had already been released from prison.
Colonists Assemble- Conventions of 1832 & 1833
Texan colonists wanted to discuss changes they wanted. Fifty-eight delegates from
different parts of Texas met at San Felipe on October 1, 1832 as part of the Convention of 1832.
Stephen F. Austin was elected president, or leader of the convention.
Dear Santa Anna
Please make these changes
• Texas should be a separate Mexican
state from Coahuila
• Anglo immigration be allowed from
the U.S. again
• Exemption from import taxes
• Better education facilities
• More protection from Indians
• Land titles to settlers living in East
Texas
-Best Regards
Texas settlers
For various reasons, these resolutions were not delivered to Santa Anna in Mexico City.
Colonists Assemble- Conventions of 1832 & 1833
A few months later, another group Texan colonists called for another
convention at San Felipe on April 1, 1833. Among the new delegates at the
convention was Sam Houston, representing Nacogdoches.
Sam Houston
The Convention of 1833 adopted resolutions like
those from the Convention of 1832. The Convention of 1833
also prepared a new Texas constitution, as a separate
Mexican state from Coahuila.
Mexican province of Coahuila y Texas
Stephen F. Austin, Dr. James B. Miller, and Erasmo Seguin were
chosen to carry the resolutions to Mexico City. Miller and Seguin did not
make the trip, so Stephen F. Austin went to Mexico City alone.
Austin Goes to Mexico City- Austin’s Mission is Stalled
April 1833, Stephen F. Austin left San Felipe and began
the long trip to Mexico City. After 3 months, he made it to the
Mexican capital. When he arrived, Santa Anna was out of town.
The Mexican government was not organized.
A cholera epidemic raged in Mexico City, thousands were
dying from the deadly bacteria. Austin waited until October and
learned Spanish. While he waited, Austin wrote a letter to authorities
in San Antonio, describing all of Mexico’s problems and encouraged
Texans to form their own government in the Texas colonies.
Austin is Imprisoned and Released
By November 1833, Santa Anna returned to the capital and met
with Austin.
Although Santa Anna agreed to some reforms, he would not
grant Texas a separate statehood from Coahuila.
Mexican province of Coahuila y Texas
Changes
-Santa Anna was willing to repeal, or do away
with, the law restricting Anglo immigration (Law of
April 6, 1830).
-Agreed to improve the court and postal system in
Texas.
Austin is Imprisoned and Released
In January 1834, Austin was traveling back to Texas, on his way he
stopped at Saltillo, the capital of Coahuila y Texas. Mexican officials searched his
belongings and found the letter he wrote while he was waiting in Mexico City.
Stephen F. Austin was arrested and taken to prison in Mexico City, where he will
remain for an entire year.
Many Texan officials wrote began to write letters asking for the release of Stephen F.
Austin. On Christmas day in 1834, Austin was released on bail and had to remain in Mexico City.
On July 11, 1835, Austin was given his complete freedom and allowed to travel back to Texas.
Texans Call for a Consultation
Growing tensions between Texan colonists and the Mexican army continued after
Stephen F. Austin’s release from prison.
On October 15, 1835 a convention is called to discuss
the matters of Texas. This convention was called at the town of
Washington-on-the-Brazos. This meeting is known as the
Consultation.
Washington-on-the-Brazos
There were mixed reactions during the Consultation. One group of colonists, known as
the Peace Party, wanted peaceful relations with Mexico, and feared this meeting would cause
trouble. Another group of colonists, known as the War Party favored the Consultations. Most
members of the War Party were upset that the Mexican government stopped issuing contracts
for lands in Texas. Leaders like William B. Travis favored an immediate declaration of
independence from Mexico, even if it meant war with Mexico.
Texans Call for a Consultation
Stephen F. Austin approved of the
Consultation because he was convinced that Santa
Anna was becoming a dictator, or a ruler with absolute
power. Austin urged the Texas people to unite
together against Mexico.
“War is our only recourse. There is no
other remedy. We must defend our rights,
ourselves, and our country by force of
arms.”
-Stephen F. Austin