Colonizing TexasColonizing Texas

EmpresariosEmpresarios, or land agents, , or land agents, recruited Anglo settlers and acted as recruited Anglo settlers and acted as go-betweens for the settlers and the go-betweens for the settlers and the governmentgovernment

. The empresarios spoke Spanish and . The empresarios spoke Spanish and understood the workings of the Spanish understood the workings of the Spanish and Mexican governments. (Stephen and Mexican governments. (Stephen Austin became a Spanish citizen in Austin became a Spanish citizen in 1798.) 1798.)

Under Mexican law, the empresarios could Under Mexican law, the empresarios could not sell the land they were granted, but not sell the land they were granted, but they could charge a fee for the paperwork they could charge a fee for the paperwork they performed on behalf of the settlers. they performed on behalf of the settlers.

Empresarios promised cheap land in Empresarios promised cheap land in which settlers could make a profit which settlers could make a profit

Stephen F. Austin is the best-known of the Stephen F. Austin is the best-known of the empresarios, responsible in whole or part empresarios, responsible in whole or part for 8000 settlers, but there were many for 8000 settlers, but there were many others, including several Tejanos. others, including several Tejanos.

He wanted settlers to develop the landHe wanted settlers to develop the land

The great allure for potential settlers was The great allure for potential settlers was the possibility of owning more land than the possibility of owning more land than they could purchase in the United States. they could purchase in the United States. For $100, one could either purchase 80 For $100, one could either purchase 80 acres in the US, or 800 acres in Mexican acres in the US, or 800 acres in Mexican Texas. Texas.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ was the motivation for the Anglo- was the motivation for the Anglo-AmericansAmericans

There was also the draw of escaping from There was also the draw of escaping from United States law. Many of those who United States law. Many of those who came to Texas from the Mississippi Valley came to Texas from the Mississippi Valley owed great sums of money in the United owed great sums of money in the United States. Going to Texas was a way to States. Going to Texas was a way to escape their creditors. escape their creditors.

Spanish Reasons for Settlement Spanish Reasons for Settlement

Spreading the Catholic religionSpreading the Catholic religionA mission was built in a new area. A mission was built in a new area. Spanish priests, called friars, came to the Spanish priests, called friars, came to the frontier to convert Native Americans to frontier to convert Native Americans to Catholicism to get them to work on the Catholicism to get them to work on the mission grounds farming and helping mission grounds farming and helping priests. priests.

Anglo-Americans and the Spanish both Anglo-Americans and the Spanish both developed settlements in East Texasdeveloped settlements in East Texas

The large empresario land grants were The large empresario land grants were along majors river (Brazos and Colorado)along majors river (Brazos and Colorado)