Title:
The Road to Revolution
Sub-title:
Your Name:
Troubles with Mexico
Guiding Question:
Unit:
5
What events brought about the Turtle Bayou Resolutions?
Trouble at Anahuac
Anahuac: a port with a fort at the mouth of the Trinity River.
Its purpose was to control commerce coming in and out of Mexico. The job of the garrison was to enforce the tariffs on
imported goods into Texas from the U.S.
Colonel Juan Bradburn of the Mexican Army tried to enforce tariffs in Anahuac.
1. He arrested lawyer William B. Travis and friend, Patrick Jack. They were accused of spreading false rumors and
interfering with the law. Others were soon arrested and a total of 19 were held at the Fort Anahauc guardhouse.
2. This caused 200 settlers from other towns to march to Anahuac to protest the arrests. This lead to a few skirmishes.
3. The Texans made a camp at nearby Turtle Bayou. The skirmish caused the settlers to send a team back to Brazoria to
get a cannon.
Meanwhile, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was leading a revolt against the Mexican government. He stated that
he supported the Constitution of 1824 that protected Texans.
When the settlers at Turtle Bayou heard about Santa Anna’s victory and they met to adopt the Turtle Bayou Resolutions.
Turtle Bayou Resolutions
Settlers adopted several formal statements that…
1. Declared their loyalty to Mexico and the Constitution of 1824, but not to the Mexican government.
2. Supported General Santa Anna who promised to preserve protection for Texas.
When new troops arrived in Anahuac:

Bradburn was removed from command; he feared for his life and ran away to New Orleans;

Travis and Jack were released from prison;

The fort was closed, Mexican troops left to join the revolt in Mexico. Tensions were calmed.
But what about the cannon? Read p 225 to find out!
The Conventions
Convention of 1832
As the Mexican government changed leadership in the summer of 1832, General Santa Anna had positioned himself to
take control. Most Texans were pleased by this change. Remember, there was a hopeful belief that Texan rights would be
restored by the new Mexico!
In Fall, 1832 at San Felipe de Austin

55 delegates met for 7 days

Stephen F. Austin is president of convention

They wrote proposals for Mexico to:

o
Resume immigration of Anglos from the U.S.
o
Exemption from tariffs for 3 years.
But the proposals were NEVER PRESENTED!
Convention of 1833
A second convention was called for in early Spring of the next year. It was also held in San Felipe.
Most of the delegates were NEW to the process. Sam Houston represented Nacogdoches. This meeting went further than
the first.
•
They wrote a constitution for the new State of Texas
•
Their proposals to Mexico were
•
•
Resume immigration of Anglos from the U.S.
•
Exemption from tariffs for 3 years.
•
Make Texas a separate state.
Stephen F. Austin was sent to Mexico City to present the proposals to President Santa Anna.
Who was chosen to join Austin but did not go? See p 226