Chapter 13: Manifest DestinyChapter 13: Manifest DestinySection 2: The Texas Section 2: The Texas

RevolutionRevolution

Today we’re going to look at Today we’re going to look at Mexicans and AmericansMexicans and Americans

And how one group – especially the And how one group – especially the immigrants are causing all kinds of problems.immigrants are causing all kinds of problems.

No one wants these immigrants to be there – No one wants these immigrants to be there – they should go back home to their own they should go back home to their own country.country.

They always break laws – they’re all a bunch They always break laws – they’re all a bunch of criminals.of criminals.

They don’t understand how to live in their new They don’t understand how to live in their new country.country.

They take advantage of money and tax They take advantage of money and tax situations in their new country.situations in their new country.

Around 1800Around 1800

There was some Spanish There was some Spanish land near the Louisiana land near the Louisiana Territory called Tejas.Territory called Tejas.

Parts of this land had Parts of this land had great forests.great forests.

Parts had great Parts had great farmland.farmland.

Parts had huge grazing Parts had huge grazing land for cattle.land for cattle.

There were some good There were some good rivers leading to the Gulf rivers leading to the Gulf of Mexico.of Mexico.

But not many But not many TejanosTejanos lived in lived in MexicoMexico

(Spanish people who lived in (Spanish people who lived in Mexico)Mexico)

Comanche, Comanche, Apache, and other Apache, and other tribes fought tribes fought against more against more Spanish people Spanish people settling in Texassettling in Texas

The Spanish The Spanish wanted more wanted more Spanish settlers to Spanish settlers to move there – to move there – to help fight the help fight the Native Americans – Native Americans – and keep out and keep out AmericansAmericans

They just couldn’t find any They just couldn’t find any Spanish settlers who would Spanish settlers who would

move theremove there So they started letting So they started letting

some Americans come – some Americans come – like Moses Austin and his like Moses Austin and his son Stephen Austin.son Stephen Austin.

But in 1820: Mexico But in 1820: Mexico gained its Independence gained its Independence from Spain.from Spain.

Mexico wouldn’t let them Mexico wouldn’t let them have this land for free like have this land for free like the Spanish did.the Spanish did.The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day, but it should be!  And Cinco

de Mayo is not an American holiday, but it should be.  Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810.  And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to

leave Mexico.

The American settlers had to The American settlers had to agree to live by certain rules:agree to live by certain rules:

They had to become They had to become Mexican citizens.Mexican citizens.

The had to become The had to become members of the members of the Catholic Church.Catholic Church.

Stephen Austin even Stephen Austin even required that his required that his settler families were settler families were moral, would work moral, would work hard, and would not hard, and would not drink.drink.

But more and more Americans moved But more and more Americans moved into Texas (The into Texas (The Mexican TerritoryMexican Territory of of

Texas)Texas)

It got to the point where It got to the point where Mexico said there were too Mexico said there were too many Americans many Americans immigrating to their land.immigrating to their land.

Very few of these Very few of these immigrants spoke the immigrants spoke the Mexican language – and Mexican language – and refused to learn.refused to learn.

Mexicans thought the Mexicans thought the Americans were difficult to Americans were difficult to live with (they always live with (they always wanted special treatment).wanted special treatment).

Americans seemed unwilling Americans seemed unwilling to adapt to Mexican laws.to adapt to Mexican laws.

The Mexican Government decided to The Mexican Government decided to crack down on all these immigrantscrack down on all these immigrants

They tried to stop American immigration.They tried to stop American immigration. The Mexicans made Texan settlers pay taxes for the first The Mexicans made Texan settlers pay taxes for the first

time.time. They sent more Mexican troops to Texas to enforce the new They sent more Mexican troops to Texas to enforce the new

rules.rules.

There’s talk of a rebellionThere’s talk of a rebellion

And eventually And eventually there is one – there is one – between American between American settlers in Mexico’s settlers in Mexico’s Texas – and the Texas – and the Mexican Mexican government.government.

There actually ends There actually ends up being a war up being a war between the twobetween the two

One of the more famous places they One of the more famous places they fought:fought:

At an old mission near At an old mission near where San Antonio is today.where San Antonio is today.

About 200 members of the About 200 members of the Texas army fought against Texas army fought against 2000 Mexican forces.2000 Mexican forces.

They actually held them off They actually held them off during a 13 day during a 13 day siege (36),siege (36), but eventually ran out of but eventually ran out of ammunition and supplies.ammunition and supplies.

The battle cry of this war The battle cry of this war became:became:

“ “Remember the Alamo”Remember the Alamo”

Surrounding and trying Surrounding and trying to capture somethingto capture something

The Alamo - San Antonio, TX

The Alamo Site, History, Pictures, News, & More

Another famous battle Another famous battle took place at San Jacintotook place at San Jacinto

In this battle half the In this battle half the Mexican army died in Mexican army died in an 18 minute span.an 18 minute span.

Mexican General Mexican General Santa Anna was Santa Anna was forced to sign a forced to sign a peace treaty – giving peace treaty – giving Texas its freedom, Texas its freedom, and its and its independence.independence.

Texas became: The Lone Star Texas became: The Lone Star RepublicRepublic

It was it’s own country It was it’s own country (even though it kept asking (even though it kept asking the U.S. if it could be the U.S. if it could be added as a new state.added as a new state.

The U.S. kept saying no – it The U.S. kept saying no – it would probably become a would probably become a slave state. slave state.

That would make one more That would make one more slave than free states.slave than free states.

Mexico would probably end Mexico would probably end up wanting to go to war up wanting to go to war with the United States – with the United States – and not just Texas.and not just Texas.

So it’s true aboutSo it’s true aboutMexicans and AmericansMexicans and Americans

And how one group – especially the And how one group – especially the immigrants are causing all kinds of problems.immigrants are causing all kinds of problems.

No one wants these immigrants to be there – No one wants these immigrants to be there – they should go back home to their own they should go back home to their own country.country.

They always break laws – they’re all a bunch They always break laws – they’re all a bunch of criminals.of criminals.

They don’t understand how to live in their new They don’t understand how to live in their new country.country.

They take advantage of money and tax They take advantage of money and tax situations in their new country.situations in their new country.