Why Did Texas Seek Independence from Mexico?
An overview of the settlement of Texas in the early 19th century.
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Transcript
NARRATOR: In 1821 Mexico won independence from Spain. The new country wanted to develop the frontier lands in its north—namely, Texas—which comprised the land between the Rio Grande and the Sabine River, Mexico's border with the United States. The region was populated sparsely by Hispanic settlers.
The Mexican government opened Texas to colonization by European and American immigrants. Land was offered on generous terms. Settlers had to improve the land, recognize themselves as Mexican citizens, and adhere to the Roman Catholic Church. In exchange, the government waived taxes and gave Texas settlers more liberties than afforded to other provinces. This included bowing to pressure from plantation owners to allow the importation of black slaves, though the slave trade itself was prohibited.
In the next few years Texas saw more growth than during the previous hundred years of Spanish rule. With this development came an increase in American influence. A goodwill mission to Texas in 1827 determined that foreigners outnumbered Mexican citizens 10 to 1. Officials found that some Americans in Texas were not abiding by the immigration terms. They were merely squatters who did not aim to follow Mexican laws and tradition but preferred to impose their own rules and ideals.
Worried that Texas was becoming too independent, the Mexican government cracked down on settlers there in 1830. It forbade further immigration—including the importation of slaves—and began to enforce taxes. Troops were sent to support tax collectors. Texas citizens viewed these troops as occupiers, while the Mexican government viewed the Texans' protests as treason. Disputes—some violent—flared up.
Around the same time, Antonio López de Santa Anna assumed the presidency of Mexico following a coup. Although initially welcomed, Santa Anna's strict government fed the growing dissent among Texans of both American and Hispanic descent. In 1835 the Texans revolted, seeking independence from Mexico. Their rebellion proved successful, and Texas became an independent republic the following year.
The Mexican government opened Texas to colonization by European and American immigrants. Land was offered on generous terms. Settlers had to improve the land, recognize themselves as Mexican citizens, and adhere to the Roman Catholic Church. In exchange, the government waived taxes and gave Texas settlers more liberties than afforded to other provinces. This included bowing to pressure from plantation owners to allow the importation of black slaves, though the slave trade itself was prohibited.
In the next few years Texas saw more growth than during the previous hundred years of Spanish rule. With this development came an increase in American influence. A goodwill mission to Texas in 1827 determined that foreigners outnumbered Mexican citizens 10 to 1. Officials found that some Americans in Texas were not abiding by the immigration terms. They were merely squatters who did not aim to follow Mexican laws and tradition but preferred to impose their own rules and ideals.
Worried that Texas was becoming too independent, the Mexican government cracked down on settlers there in 1830. It forbade further immigration—including the importation of slaves—and began to enforce taxes. Troops were sent to support tax collectors. Texas citizens viewed these troops as occupiers, while the Mexican government viewed the Texans' protests as treason. Disputes—some violent—flared up.
Around the same time, Antonio López de Santa Anna assumed the presidency of Mexico following a coup. Although initially welcomed, Santa Anna's strict government fed the growing dissent among Texans of both American and Hispanic descent. In 1835 the Texans revolted, seeking independence from Mexico. Their rebellion proved successful, and Texas became an independent republic the following year.
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