American Filibusters come to Texas

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Decline OF THE MISSIONS

• French threat disappeared in 1763

• France lost Seven Years War (called French

and Indian War in America)

• France cedes territory of Louisiana to Spain –

did not want it falling into British hands!

• French threat to Texas is gone!

Decline OF THE MISSIONS

• Spain sent Marques de Rubi to review

colonies in North America in 1767

• Rubi reported Spanish power was spread

too thin in Texas

• Presidios could not protect Texas from

Lipan Apache or Comanche attacks

Decline OF THE MISSIONS• Spain closed most of the missions and

presidios in Texas

• San Antonio (Alamo) and La Bahia and

Nacogdoches settlements remained

• Effort to settle Texas with missions and

presidios had FAILED

• Americans moved west for land and adventure. Sometimes settling into Spanish territory illegally.

• The Spanish attempted to control the illegal immigration of Americans

1800-Spain still in control of Texas

Threats to Spanish Control• In 1800, war in Europe gave territory of

Louisiana back to France

• In 1803, France sold Louisiana Territory to US

• In 1810, a revolt shook Mexico lasting 10+ years

• These factors attracted fortune seekers from US

– filibuster era had begun

• In 1817, U.S. General Andrew Jackson attacked Native Americans in Florida and eventually began to take over much of the territory.

• The Spanish government was angry, but in 1819, the Adams-Onis Treaty was agreed upon.

ADAMS-ONIS TREATY

The negotiator of the treaty (and future

President himself) John Quincy Adams, was the son of the 2nd President

John Adams.

• Treaty set border between US and Spanish

Texas along Sabine River

• US agreed that Spain owned Texas

• In return, Spain gave Florida to the US

• The treaty angered Dr. James Long so he

organized a filibustering trip

ADAMS-ONIS TREATY

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Adams_onis_map.png

• The exact western boundary between American Louisiana and Spanish Texas was unclear and both countries agreed to a neutral area that would stop arguments over the border.

• This “neutral ground” became a lawless area.

NEUTRAL GROUND

AGREEMENT

• Americans would often cross into Spanish territory and cause trouble. These rebellious adventures are called Filibusters.

• Filibuster: an adventurer who engages in private rebellious activity in a foreign country– Act for their own benefit; not part of gov’t

Philip Nolan

• First filibuster

• From the U.S. was sent to Texas with Spanish

approval, but Spain was suspicious of U.S. taking

control

• Horse trader in late 1700’s

• Claimed he came to Texas to capture and trade

mustangs for Spanish gov’t but sold to US

• Augustus Magee (former U.S. soldier) & Spanish-Texan Jose Benardo Gutierrez (a Mexican revolutionary, follower of Father Hidalgo) organized the Republic of the north & declared Texas independent from Spain

• Was defeated, but encouraged others to free Texas & Mexico from Spanish Rule

GUTIERREZ – MAGEE EXPEDITION

• Leader of Mexican Republican Army of the North • Opposed Spanish Rule• Supported filibuster expeditions• 1st Governor of Mexican TX

Jose Gutierrez de Lara

• Gutierrez and Magee raised a small army of around 1,500 men made up of Mexican and American soldiers.

• In February the “Republicans” defeated a Spanish force at the Battle of Rosillo Creek and took control of San Antonio.

• After the battle Gutierrez ordered 15 Spanish officers executed which caused some of the Americans to leave in disgust.

• The expedition was defeated by Spanish forces

• Jean Lafitte used his base to attack Spanish ships in the Gulf of Mexico.

• He also used his base to smuggle slaves into the United States. The U.S. banned the slave trade in 1808. (No new slaves into the U.S. but slavery itself was still legal)

Galveston Pirates

• Dr. James Long led a small group into Nacogdoches where he declared TX free from Spain.

• He was angry about the Adams-Onis treaty as he and other Americans believed that Texas was part of the Louisiana Purchase

The Long Expedition

• Was captured & sent to Mexico City where he was shot in a prison.

• He is considered the last of the major filibusters into Texas.

Jane Long

• Wife to Dr. James Long

• Known as the “Mother of Texas”

• Possibly gave birth to the first

US citizen born in Texas

• Served as an example of

strength, courage and pioneer

spirit