THE HISPANIC SOUTHWEST
MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE After 10+ years of fighting Mexico won
independence from Spain However, in the following years Mexico
experienced political chaos
MAP OF NORTH AMERICA AFTER MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE
NORTHERN TERRITORIES The far Northern territories of
California, New Mexico, and Texas were part of Mexico however, these areas experienced a great deal of political independence…..why?....
THINKING CRITICALLY Explore the map on the next page
Note the location of New Mexico, California, and Texas
Locate the capital Mexico city
Why did these areas of Texas, New Mexico, and California experience a lot of political independence at this time from Mexico?
ANSWER These areas were located about 1,000
miles from Mexico City making them geographically removed from the government in Mexico
THE NORTHERN TERRITORIES (NM, CA, TX)
Not very populated Native Americans and Hispanic settlers
Mexican Frontier as it was called was threatened in several ways: Settlements in NM and Texas faced Apache,
Comanche, and other Native American attacks Westward expansion from the U.S.A. Southward expansion from Russians (1780’s
Russia began Colonizing Alaska)
Russian threat to Mexico’s Northern Territories of southward expansion
U.S. threat of westward expansion
SPANISH MISSIONS The Spanish expanded the territory of
New Spain by establishing missions on the northern frontier
Purpose of these state-financed (?) missions was to spread Christianity and Spanish culture to Native Americans
MISSION’S CONTROL Missions controlled a lot of land These lands contained:
Grazed cattle Sheep Horses
Native Americans tended to these animals and did other work at the missions “under conditions of near slavery”
INFOGRAPHIC PAGE 261
MISSION’S DECLINE By 1800’s mission system was in decline
Little financial support during the struggle for independence
Many Mexicans believed that state –sponsored religious institutions was inappropriate for a republic
1834-Mexico’s government secularized –transferred power from religious to civil (government)control
Land then went to private owners
The goal of the reformers was to divide mission lands up and give them to Native Americans
However, most lands ended up in the hands of cattle ranchers who relied on Native Americans for labor
FORTS Frontier presidios (forts) became weak
due to labor shortages & reduced funding
This left frontier settlers vulnerable to attack
CALIFORNIA Secularization of the missions- freed up
land for cattle ranching, which became the main money maker
Rancheros or ranchers- owned a lot of land These white Spanish “Dons” and their
families made up 10% of California’s population
However, they controlled California society
MIDDLE CLASS Beneath these Elites was a class of
mestizos Mestizo- persons of mixed European
and Native American ancestry Some were “vaqueros” (cowboys) Many were skilled craftspeople
THE NATIVE AMERICANS At the bottom of society Suffered high mortality rates under the
Spanish rule Often exploited by the new class of
rancheros Many escaped to live on the edges of
California’s frontier to live with independent Native Americans
MEN’S ROLE In California men played a powerful role
in the family Only men could vote or hold elective
office
WOMEN’S ROLE Women, especially upper-class women
had some rights and privileges as well Unlike American women of the era,
Hispanic women retained control over their own property after marriage and could seek legal redress from the courts
NEW MEXICO New Mexico included present day
Arizona Did not change much immediately after
Mexico’s independence Remained rural Sheep ranching thrived in dry climate
NEW MEXICO ATTACKED 1820’s Navajo and Apache launched a series
of attacks on New Mexico The Mexican Government was unable to
provide protection This continued a growing dissatisfaction with
the national government 1837, Pueblo people and hispanic settlers
North of Santa Fe rebelled Killed the unpopular territorial governor 16 other government officials killed
AMERICAN INFLUENCE After Mexican independence American
influence in these territories increased Immigration increased Trade increased
Traders from U.S., Russia and other countries arrived in California ports to exchange manufactured goods for sea otter skins and hides and tallow (?) derived from cattle
TALLOW- A HARD FATTY SUBSTANCE MADE FROM RENDERED ANIMAL FAT, USED IN MAKING CANDLES AND SOAP
SETTLERS Governor of CA Juan Bautista Alvarado
- hoping to attract settlers granted 50,000 acres to John Sutter (A German Immigrant)
Sutter built a trading post and cattle ranch Sutter’s Fort
More settlers arrived- differences between CA and Mexico increased
Tension between Mexican National government and territorial governments
Still only 700 Americans at this time (1845)
SANTA FE TRAIL William Becknell opened this trail
Connected Independence , Missouri to Santa FeAmerican Manufactured goods in exchange silver, mules, and furs
TEXAS Buffer zone between Mexico and the
U.S. Texas Sparsely (lightly) populated Settlers faced recurring raids from
Comanche and Apache Native Americans
Most of the 2,500 Spanish speaking Tejanos in towns like San Antonio and Goliad
Americans began to flood the territory
REVOLT Decision by Mexican government to
allow Americans to settle their ultimately led to revolt against Mexican rule
Independence for Texas New Mexico and California remained
Mexican territory for 25 years Texas where Americans soon
outnumbered Tejanos broke away after 15 years
INDEPENDENCE FOR TEXAS Unable to persuade its own citizens to settle their Mexico continued policy of letting foreigners
settle there 1823-1825 Mexico passed three colonization laws
–offered cheap land to anyone who came to Texas Last law gave a 10 year tax exemption
but required foreigners to become Mexican citizens, abide by Mexican law, and convert to Roman Catholicism
EMPRESARIOS & SETTLERS Empresarios- “agents” &“contractors” National Colonization Act-Mexico gave
26 empresarios large amounts of Texas land In exchange emprasarios promised to fill
the land with a certain number of settlers Empresarios governed these colonies they
established
STEPHEN AUSTIN Most successful empresario Founded the town Washington-on-the-
Brazos By mid1830’s persuaded 1,500 American
families to immigrate
AMERICANIZING TEXAS Americans accepted Mexican
citizenship at first However, the Mexican government
thought American citizens would adopt Mexican customs and see Mexico as their country –but few did
Many Mexicans distrusted the settlers because of this
BENJAMIN EDWARDS Brother of empresario Haden Edwards
led a rebellion against Mexican authority Disputed regional control over who
controlled the region Mexico or the mepresarios
Edwards declared that the settlements of Americans in Texas now constituted the independent nation of Fredonia
The rebellion dispersed when Mexican troops threatened however
MEXICO’S REACTION Most settlers ignored Edward’s call for
rebellion However, Mexican government feared
it signaled an American plot to acquire Texas Closed their borders to further American
immigration and banned importing slave labor
Also taxed goods on imports from foreign countries
Hoping to discourage trade with the U.S.
SETTLER’S REACTION Furious! Mexican government making rules for
them Making goods more expensive Saw no need to obey a government they
hardly considered their own
TEXAS GOES TO WAR Tensions existing- settlers met at 2 conventions
in town of San Felipe 1832 & 1833 At first convention settlers chose Stephen
Austin convention’s president 1st convention asked Mexico to reopen its
borders to American immigrants and loosen taxes on imports
2nd convention recommended separating Texas from Coahuila and creating a new Mexican state
CAUSES OF WAR Convention sent Stephen Austin to
negotiate with the Mexican Government Visited Mexican president Antonio Lopez de
Santa Anna got him to agree to some demands
While returning home he was arrested Taken to Mexico city jailed for treason
President Santa Anna denounced Mexico’s constitution and declared himself Dictator
Austin urged Texans to organize army and they did
EARLY BATTLES Mexican army serious problems
Political instability in Mexico denied the army sound leadership, training and support
Texan army first victory –Mexican force demanded surrender but had no authority to attack so they retreated rebels (Texans) followed and attacked (Decmeber 1835)
March 2, 1836 Texas declared independence drafted a new constitution derived from U.S. and protected slavery
THE ALAMO Former governor of Tennessee Sam Houston
became Texans military leader Meantime Santa Anna organized 6,000 men to
crush rebels When Santa Anna’s forced got to San Antonio
they found 180+ Texas rebels holed up in an abandoned Catholic mission called the “Alamo” Under command of William B. Travis small force
wanted to delay Santa Anna’s army so Houston’s army could prepare
Called for reinforcements
SAM HOUSTON
WILLIAM B. TRAVIS
ALAMO Call went largely unanswered- only 32 settlers
came from Gonzales Texans held off Santa Anna’s men for 13 days This was when Texas government official
declared independence (March 6, 1836) When Santa Anna’s men stormed the Alamo
they still fought them off for 6 hours killing 600 of Anna’s men before being overrun
Defenders of the Alamo bought Houston’s men nearly 2 weeks