Austin Establishes a ColonyAustin Establishes a Colony

Unit 3.2, Part 1 NotesUnit 3.2, Part 1 Notes

(Chapter 7 Section 1)(Chapter 7 Section 1)

Moses Austin Paves the WayMoses Austin Paves the Way

Moses AustinMoses Austin was the first was the first AngloAnglo American to get permission from the American to get permission from the Spanish to bring American settlers to Spanish to bring American settlers to Texas.Texas.

AustinAustin’’s business failed in the s business failed in the depressiondepression of 1819. In 1820 he left of 1819. In 1820 he left Missouri and went to Missouri and went to San AntonioSan Antonio with with a moneymaking idea.a moneymaking idea.

Moses Austin Paves the WayMoses Austin Paves the Way

Moses asked Governor Moses asked Governor Antonio Antonio MartinezMartinez for permission to bring for permission to bring 300300 American families to Spanish Texas, American families to Spanish Texas, but was turned down at first.but was turned down at first.

In 1821, AustinIn 1821, Austin’’s friend s friend Baron de Baron de BastropBastrop influenced the Spanish influenced the Spanish governor to give Austin the governor to give Austin the permission he sought.permission he sought.

Stephen F. Austin Continues Stephen F. Austin Continues His FatherHis Father’’s Works Work

Moses left Texas to return to Moses left Texas to return to MissouriMissouri and and prepare to bring his colonists to Texas, but prepare to bring his colonists to Texas, but during the trip he became sick.during the trip he became sick.

On June 10, 1821 Moses Austin died of On June 10, 1821 Moses Austin died of pneumoniapneumonia at his home. His dying wish was at his home. His dying wish was for his son, for his son, StephenStephen, to carry on his plan for , to carry on his plan for Texas.Texas.

Led by Led by Erasmo SeguinErasmo Seguin, Stephen Austin went to , Stephen Austin went to San Antonio in August 1821 to get permission San Antonio in August 1821 to get permission to carry on the work of his fatherto carry on the work of his father’’s colony.s colony.

Stephen F. Austin

Austin Sets Colony BoundariesAustin Sets Colony Boundaries

Austin decided that the region between the Austin decided that the region between the ColoradoColorado and and BrazosBrazos Rivers would make a good Rivers would make a good colony.colony.

He chose this land because it had fertile He chose this land because it had fertile soilsoil, , abundant abundant waterwater, natural , natural resourcesresources, a mild , a mild climateclimate, and no other settlements., and no other settlements.

Austin also requested land along the Austin also requested land along the coastcoast, so , so that he would have a that he would have a portport to land the settlers to land the settlers and supplies.and supplies.

Advertising for ColonistsAdvertising for Colonists

Austin promised Austin promised 640640 acres for each man, acres for each man, 320320 acres for each woman, acres for each woman, 160160 acres for each acres for each child, and child, and 8080 acres for each slave. People with acres for each slave. People with valuable valuable jobsjobs such as merchants and doctors such as merchants and doctors received additional land.received additional land.

The land would cost The land would cost 12.512.5 cents per acre. cents per acre. Austin himself Austin himself surveyedsurveyed the land and prepared the land and prepared the land titles. He even extended the land titles. He even extended creditcredit to new to new settlers, allowing them time to pay.settlers, allowing them time to pay.

Advertising for ColonistsAdvertising for ColonistsSettlers had to become Settlers had to become citizenscitizens of of Spain (and later Mexico), and had to be Spain (and later Mexico), and had to be of good of good moral charactermoral character, obeying the , obeying the laws of New Spain.laws of New Spain.

Settlers must officially become Settlers must officially become CatholicCatholic. Although most did, they did . Although most did, they did not practice Catholicism.not practice Catholicism.

Austin only wanted people who were Austin only wanted people who were willing to willing to work hardwork hard and whose and whose presence would benefit the colony.presence would benefit the colony.

Good Land and Low PricesGood Land and Low Prices

AustinAustin’’s s advertisementadvertisement attracted many people. attracted many people. Most early colonists came from Most early colonists came from SouthernSouthern United United States.States.

The first settler to enter Austin’s land was The first settler to enter Austin’s land was Andrew Andrew RobinsonRobinson, who set up a ferry across the Brazos , who set up a ferry across the Brazos River. River.

They owned They owned small farmssmall farms and a few cows and and a few cows and horses. The wealthiest was horses. The wealthiest was Jared GroceJared Groce, a planter , a planter and lumberman from Alabama.and lumberman from Alabama.

Path of Scots-Irish Immigration through Southern United States

Good Land and Low PricesGood Land and Low PricesIn March 1822, In March 1822, Austin learned that Austin learned that MexicoMexico had won had won independenceindependence from Spain the from Spain the previous year.previous year.

The new The new government did government did not not recognizerecognize AustinAustin’’s right to s right to colonize Texas. colonize Texas.

Austin Impresses Mexican LeadersAustin Impresses Mexican Leaders

After learning that Spain was no longer in After learning that Spain was no longer in control, he traveled to control, he traveled to Mexico CityMexico City to get to get approvalapproval for his settlement from the new for his settlement from the new Mexican government.Mexican government.

In 1823, the Mexican government was In 1823, the Mexican government was impressedimpressed by Austin by Austin’’s honesty and sincerity s honesty and sincerity and passed a and passed a colonizationcolonization law, giving him the law, giving him the contract.contract.

Austin Impresses Mexican LeadersAustin Impresses Mexican Leaders

1823 General Colonization Law:1823 General Colonization Law:

– Farming and ranching families could Farming and ranching families could receive up to receive up to 4,6054,605 acres in exchange for acres in exchange for paying Stephen Austin a $paying Stephen Austin a $3030 empresario fee empresario fee

– Austin would receive Austin would receive 100,000100,000 acres himself acres himself for his services as an for his services as an empresarioempresario. On this . On this land he built a land he built a dog-trot cabindog-trot cabin..

– Austin was granted permission to settle Austin was granted permission to settle 300300 familiesfamilies

Dog-Trot Cabin – the typical style of house for the Texas colonists

A breezeway through the middle of the two rooms provided air to circulate in when a breeze blew.

Dogs found it a convenient place to nap

MODERN DOG-TROT CABINMODERN DOG-TROT CABIN

Problems Develop in the ColonyProblems Develop in the Colony

When Austin returned to the colony, he When Austin returned to the colony, he found that many colonists had left found that many colonists had left because of because of droughtdrought. Others were . Others were waiting for the land to be waiting for the land to be surveyedsurveyed..

Disagreement arose over Disagreement arose over ownershipownership of of some lands.some lands.

KarankawasKarankawas raided settlements and raided settlements and stole livestock along the coast.stole livestock along the coast.

Problems Develop in the ColonyProblems Develop in the Colony

Austin and Baron de Bastrop resolved the land Austin and Baron de Bastrop resolved the land disagreements by settling disagreements by settling claimsclaims and and recording recording deedsdeeds to the land. to the land.

In 1824, Austin had to raise a In 1824, Austin had to raise a militiamilitia to protect to protect his colonists from Native American attacks.his colonists from Native American attacks.

This armed militia had to This armed militia had to ““rangerange”” (patrol) over (patrol) over larger territories to keep the colony safe. This larger territories to keep the colony safe. This famous group later became known as the famous group later became known as the Texas RangersTexas Rangers..

The Old 300The Old 300The The 297297 families that originally settled in families that originally settled in AustinAustin’’s colony became known as the s colony became known as the Old Three HundredOld Three Hundred..

Many chose lands along the Many chose lands along the BrazosBrazos, , ColoradoColorado, and , and San JacintoSan Jacinto rivers, as well rivers, as well as smaller streams, creeks and bayous.as smaller streams, creeks and bayous.

Many such as Many such as Jane LongJane Long had already had already been in Texas before Austin arrived.been in Texas before Austin arrived.

The Colony Gets a CapitalThe Colony Gets a Capital

Austin gave the colony a Austin gave the colony a capitalcapital to to serve as a government center.serve as a government center.

The capital was named The capital was named San Felipe de San Felipe de AustinAustin by Texas Governor by Texas Governor Luciano Luciano GarciaGarcia..

The name honored GarciaThe name honored Garcia’’s patron s patron saint, Philip, and Stephen Austin.saint, Philip, and Stephen Austin.

Today’s AssignmentsToday’s Assignments

Highlight key people, events, topics, and Highlight key people, events, topics, and vocabulary on vocabulary on Unit 3.2 Study GuideUnit 3.2 Study Guide

Finish Finish Unit 3.2, Part 2 GPERSIA Unit 3.2, Part 2 GPERSIA VocabularyVocabulary