The Colonists Rebel 3 The Colonists Rebel Why It Matters NowTexas’s strong Spanish andMexican heritage continues toinfluence our lives today.

TERMS & NAMES OBJECTIVES MAIN IDEAthe Enlightenment, FatherMiguel Hidalgo, liberation,conspire, Grito de Dolores,Juan Bautista de las Casas,José Bernardo Guitiérrez deLara, Augustus Magee

1. Analyze the contributions of FatherMiguel Hidalgo during the colonizationof Texas.

2. Explain how Texas’s Spanish andMexican heritage is reflected in itsculture.

3. Explain the significance of 1821.

Although Spanish settlements weregrowing, the Spanish crown providedlittle support. Instead, it imposedharsh laws and taxes that turned the people against Spanish rule.Texans helped fight for Mexico’sindependence from Spain.

Write your response to Interact with History in your Texas Notebook.

WHAT Would You Do? The Spanish colonists endured many hardships in an effort to buildnew lives for themselves in Texas. Imagine that you are one of thesepioneers. After years of struggle, your small settlement is finally able to support itself. Unfortunately, the Spanish government is doinglittle to help. Instead, it seems more concerned with controlling thepeople and collecting taxes. You have heard that the citizens of theUnited States and France overthrew their leaders for similar reasons.However, the Spanish government is still very powerful in Texas. Willyou support efforts to break free from Spain, or do you feel this movewould be too dangerous? Why?

Colonists Grow Unhappy with SpainThroughout the 1700s Spain worked to strengthen its hold on Texas

and its other colonies. The small colonies that began with the missionsand presidios slowly grew. Gradually, towns sprang up around themissions. Ranches and farms developed outside of the towns. By the lastdecades of the 1700s, a sense of community began to develop in theSpanish colonies. The settlers learned to work together to solve theirproblems rather than wait for direction from Spain. They often felt thatthe king lived too far away to truly understand their needs.

Around the same time, Spain became involved in huge problems inEurope. Conflicts with England and France took up much of Spain’stime and proved to be very costly. Soon, Spain had few resources left tosend to the colonies. Instead, it placed heavy taxes on the colonists andforced them to donate money to pay for European wars. In addition, theSpanish crown began withdrawing its support of the missions. It alsostrictly enforced royal laws that the colonists found unfair.

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Handmade statue of Saint Anthony,for whom San Antonio is named

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Father Hidalgo’s Grito deDolores, or Cry of Dolores, isoften referred to as the Grito.The ideas set forth in thisdocument had a widespreadeffect on the Mexican peopleand eventually led to theMexican war of independence.For this reason, Father Hidalgois known as the Father of theMexican Revolution.

FATHER OF THEMEXICAN REVOLUTION

Because of his bravery and his com-passion for the Mexican people,Father Miguel Hidalgo earned a loyalfollowing. ● What is the relationshipbetween the Enlightenment and FatherHidalgo’s cry for independence?

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The Enlightenment Comes to MexicoBy 1800 a feeling of dissatisfaction had spread throughout the

colonies. Many colonists were unhappy with Spanish rule. They wantedto make their own laws instead of being controlled by the king of Spain.

Meanwhile, in the 1700s a movement called the Enlightenment wassweeping through Europe and other parts of the world. During theEnlightenment people tried to apply reason and science to all aspects ofsociety, including government. The Enlightenment challenged the ideathat kings had a God-given right to rule. Rather, a government shouldsupport the people’s natural rights and interests. If a government failedto do this, it should be replaced. The success of the American and FrenchRevolutions reinforced these ideas among the Mexican people.

Father Hidalgo Calls for IndependenceOne of the Mexicans who strongly believed in the ideals of the

Enlightenment was Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Father Hidalgohad worked among Mexican farming families for years in the smallvillage of Dolores, north of Mexico City. He understood their strugglesand hardships and was saddened by Spain’s lack of concern. As long asthe king was in charge, Father Hidalgo said, conditions would neverimprove. He called for the liberation of the Mexican people from Spain.

When royal officials learned that Father Hidalgo was conspiring tooverthrow the Spanish government, they decided to arrest him. Alertedahead of time, Hidalgo knew he had three choices. He could stay in Doloresand be arrested, hide out and hope he would not be caught, or begin a

liberation the act of becomingfreeconspire to join in a secretagreement

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TEXAS VOICES

ANGEL OF GOLIAD

Today, Mexican Texans con-tinue to honor Father Hidalgoeach year in a celebrationknown as Dieciséis de Sep-tiembre, or simply Dieciséis.The celebration is named for the date on which FatherHidalgo called for the defeatof Spanish rule—September16, 1810.

DIECISÉIS DESEPTIEMBRE

revolution. He decided on the third course of action. On September 16,1810, Father Hidalgo gave a speech called the Grito de Dolores, or Cry ofDolores. In it, he called for Mexican citizens to rise up and fight forindependence. Although his exact words are unknown, those who heardit remembered his message.

Mexicans, let us break the bonds of slavery with which we have been bound forthree centuries! The moment of our freedom has arrived; the hour of our libertyhas struck. Let us then unite all those persons who have been born on thishappy soil; let us consider as strangers and as enemies of our rights all personswho are not Mexicans. Let us establish a congress composed of representativesof all the cities, towns, and villages of this country. The principal object of thatcongress will be to maintain our holy religion and to frame wise and helpfullaws adapted to the circumstances of each community. Our lawmakers will ruleus with the tenderness of parents. They will treat us like brothers; they willbanish poverty; they will check the devastation of the kingdom and the expor-tation of its money; they will encourage the arts; and they will cause industry to revive. We shall make free use of the richest productions of our fertile soil;and, in the course of a few years, the Mexicans will enjoy all the delights whichGod has bestowed upon this vast continent.

Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Grito de Dolores, 1810

Father Hidalgo’s ideas were supported by many settlers in Texas.However, in 1811, most likely on his way to meet with his supporters,Hidalgo was seized by Spanish authorities and executed. Although hedid not live to see Mexican independence from Spain, Father Hidalgo’sideas had a great effect on the future of Mexico and Texas.

Hidalgo’s Supporters Rebel Against SpainIn Texas, Father Hidalgo’s supporters took up the struggle. A group

of rebels led by Juan Bautista de las Casas overthrew the Spanish govern-ment in San Antonio. They named Las Casas governor and then tookcontrol of La Bahía and Nacogdoches. On January 22, 1811, Las Casasdeclared the Mexican state of Texas independent from Spain.

Las Casas’s revolution was short-lived, however. Forces loyal to Spainrose up against the rebels. On March 2, 1811, the loyalists captured Las Casas. Fearing for their lives, his supporters fled. In July, Spanishrule was reestablished in Texas. Las Casas was executed soonafterward.

Mexican Unrest ContinuesEven though the rebellion led by Father Hidalgo and

Las Casas failed, it opened people’s eyes to the possibilityof freedom. Furthermore, Las Casas’s limited successshowed that the Spanish king’s forces could be defeated.With the right plan and a strong army, the colonists might be

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158 ✯ Chapter 7

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When Mexico later gained independence from Spain, it included most of what is now the southern United States. ● How far east didMexico’s claim extend into the present-day United States?

▲

Mexico After Independence, 1821

One popular Texas traditionhas been passed down byTejanos for generations. Whena Mexican Texan girl turns 15 years old, she often cele-brates with a special fifteenth-year ceremony, or quinceañera(keen•seh•ah•NYEH•rah). Thequinceañera signals the girl’spassage into womanhood. Thebirthday girl, in a fancy whitedress, attends a church serv-ice with 14 friends—one foreach year of her life. After theservice, everyone is invited to a party to celebrate.

QUINCEAÑERAS

able to win. These important ideas grew into a powerful movement forMexican independence.

Father Hidalgo’s followers continued to fight for independence inthe years following his death. After the priest was killed, José BernardoGutiérrez de Lara left Nuevo Santander and fled to Louisiana, where heraised an army. Gutiérrez and his army commander, Augustus Magee, aformer U.S. Army officer, marched back to Texas and briefly took controlfrom Spain before being defeated. Other supporters of independencefought for control of Mexico.

Meanwhile in Spain, a group of liberals staged a successful revolt. In1820, they forced the king to make changes that frightened the conser-vatives in Mexico. The conservatives had opposed independence, but therevolt in Spain changed their minds. They joined with Father Hidalgo’sfollowers to defeat the Spanish forces. On August 24, 1821, a treaty wassigned, making Mexico independent from Spain. Texas became part ofthe new Republic of Mexico.

Spanish Influence Lives OnFor hundreds of years, Spain was a powerful force in Texas. Spaniards

explored the land, founded missions, built towns, and developed ranches.Spain also sent colonists from Europe and Mexico to populate the land.These people’s cultures, beliefs, laws, religions, and customs have had amajor impact on Texas. Even though Spain lost political control of Texas,Spanish influence has remained strong throughout the state’s history.

One of Spain’s most important contributions to Texas has been theSpanish language. The names of rivers, cities, landforms, foods, and

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Life in Spanish Texas ✯ 159

everyday items are a constant reminder of Texas’s Spanish heritage. Also,the Spaniards brought cows, horses, sheep, and pigs to the state. Theystarted the cattle industry, ranching, rodeos, and the wool industry.

Texas also owes its uniqueness to its Mexican roots. The Mexicanpeople who settled Texas for Spain brought with them many religiousceremonies, festivals, and traditions that still shape our culture today.Spanish and Mexican art, architecture, music, and literature can be seenthroughout the state. Together with the Spaniards, the Mexican Texanshave helped give Texas both a rich history and a style all its own.

Terms & NamesIdentify:• Father Miguel

Hidalgo• liberation• conspire

Organizing InformationUsing a spider map like theone below, list six examplesof Spanish or Mexicanheritage found in modern-day Texas.

What do your answers tellyou about Spanish andMexican influence on Texas?

Critical Thinking1. Why do you think Father

Miguel Hidalgo is knownas the Father of theMexican Revolution?

2. Describe one Texas cele-bration, activity, or tradi-tional performance thathas its roots in Spanish orMexican culture.

3. What is the significanceof the year 1821?

Interact with HistoryReview your response toInteract with History in yourTexas Notebook. How do you think you would havereacted to Father Hidalgo’sGrito? Would it haveaffected your decision aboutbreaking free from Spain?Why or why not?

A C T I V I T YCulture In recognition of Texas’s Spanish heritage, the state legislature named chili the state dish. Research anauthentic chili recipe to share with the class.

3

SPANISH OR MEXICAN

INFLUENCE INTEXAS

Image not availablefor use on CD-ROM.Please refer to theimage in the textbook.

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