Austin’s Colony Project

By: Brianna Click Social Studies-3

Why I Came

• I came to Austin’s colony for a lot of reasons. One of them was because of the cheap land he offered. It was .12 cents per acre. Which was very good since the economy was not very good in New Orleans. But one of the best things was the climate. It was beautiful place to live (unlike New Orleans).

My Arrival

• I arrived to Austin’s colony on the Lively. It arrived late but still got there. To qualify for land in the colony you had to go through a long process to make sure you weren’t a crazy person. We got our land and moved in. We were so excited to start a new life.

1822

• Since the colony was new there had to be buildings for stuff. Therefore everybody wanted lumber. But thank goodness we had 12 acres of lumber. In late 1822, a cold, harsh winter came and killed most of the cattle.

1822 Investments

• For my first year on Austin’s colony was good money wise. My yearly land payment was a total of $54.40. I have to pay this for the next three years to pay for land. At the end of year one I had a bank balance of $1045.60.

1823

• 1823 was no worse but no better than the past year. The U.S and Texas had trouble with Mexico. The Mexicans didn’t want to share Texas cotton trade with the U.S. This meant everybody wanted cotton. We didn’t have a lot of cotton. But it was a good year for cattle. But the worst thing that happened was the Lively sank.

1823 Investments

• Again we had to pay another yearly land payment of $54.40. The money was good this year, but not great. At the end of the year we had a bank balance of $1,491.20 to start off the next year.

1824

• 1824 was a good year for our family. The colony thrived in a lot of things, which was good. There was a lot of good crops. But there was a high demand for lumber and beef. People needed lumber to build and beef to eat.

1824 Investments

• 1824 was the last year we paid our yearly land payment of $54.40. My remaining investment money was $1,436.80. We bought 30 acres of cotton, 20 acres of lumber, and 30 acres of cattle. That cost $550 dollars. Our bank balance ended up being $2,136.80 at the end of the year. My final profit figure was $2,086.80.

Conclusion

• Well, my three years in Austin’s colony were very successful! My final profit figure was $2086.80. I live in the town Gonzales which was attacked by Indians. That means I had lost $50 dollars before my final profit figure.

Do I Want to Leave?

• No! I never want to leave this colony. The people are nice and friendly. Austin is a very good man. But the best thing about it is the land. There is so much room to roam and still feel safe. My family and I love it here.

Resources • Cotton, Indiana field, coins, wooden chips, help, roll of money. 2007. Photograph.

www.publicdomainpictures.net, Wales . Web. 1 Dec 2011. <www.publicdomainpictures.com >.

• Joan Stempin. ship. 2011. Photograph. www.pics4learning.com, San Diedo . Web. 1 Dec 2011. <http://pics4learning.com/details.php?img=ship1.jpg>.

• flag. 1996 . Photograph. www.fortumbleweed.netWeb. 1 Dec 2011. <http://www.forttumbleweed.net/old300.html>.

• Stephen Austin . 2003 . Photograph. www.sonofthesouth.netWeb. 1 Dec 2011. <http://www.sonofthesouth.net/texas/stephen-f-austin-colony.htm>.

• Stephan Austin . 2011 . Photograph. www.pbs.orgWeb. 1 Dec 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/austin.htm>.