Set 6 — Texas, Expansion, and the Two-Party System

Moses Austin

An American who received permission from Spanish authorities to establish a colony in Texas; his son Stephen later carried out the plan.

Stephen F. Austin

Moses Austin's son, who led American settlement in Mexican Texas by bringing hundreds of American families into the region.

Why did Mexico encourage American settlement in Texas?

Mexican authorities hoped settlers would develop the region and strengthen Mexican control over the sparsely populated territory.

What conditions were American settlers in Texas supposed to follow?

They were expected to follow Mexican laws and generally become Mexican citizens and Roman Catholics, but many settlers did not fully comply.

Why did tensions grow between American settlers and Mexico?

Disagreements involved slavery, immigration restrictions, local self-government, and Mexico's efforts to centralize authority.

Why did Mexico's 1830 restrictions on slavery cause conflict?

Mexico restricted further American immigration and the importation of enslaved people, while many Anglo-American settlers wanted to maintain slavery and resisted Mexican laws.

Sam Houston

A former governor of Tennessee who became a leading commander of the Texas rebels and later the first president of the Republic of Texas.

Antonio López de Santa Anna

Mexican leader who sought to suppress the Texas rebellion and commanded Mexican forces during the Texas Revolution.

Texas Revolution (1835–1836)

The revolt in which Anglo-American settlers and some Tejanos fought against Mexican rule, leading to Texas independence.

The Alamo

A mission-fortress in San Antonio where a small group of Texan defenders was defeated by Santa Anna's Mexican army in 1836.

Why was the Alamo important?

The defeat became a rallying cry for Texan independence, symbolized by the slogan “Remember the Alamo!”

Goliad

A location where Mexican forces executed captured Texan prisoners in 1836, intensifying Texan resistance.

Battle of San Jacinto (1836)

Sam Houston's forces surprised and defeated Santa Anna's army, securing Texas's independence.

How did Texas win independence from Mexico?

Texan forces under Sam Houston defeated Santa Anna at San Jacinto in 1836, after which Texas established itself as an independent republic.

Republic of Texas

The independent nation established after Texas broke away from Mexico in 1836; it later sought to join the United States.

Why did the United States not immediately annex Texas?

Annexation raised concerns about expanding slavery, upsetting the balance between free and slave states, and risking war with Mexico.

When did Texas declare independence, and when was it annexed by the United States?

Texas declared independence in 1836 and was annexed by the United States in 1845.

Election of 1840 campaign symbols

Log cabins and hard cider were used by Whigs to create a relatable image of William Henry Harrison.

Populist democratic style

The use of popular slogans, rallies, songs, newspapers, and symbols to appeal directly to ordinary voters.

How did American presidential campaigning change by 1840?

As voting rights expanded for white men in many states, candidates and parties increasingly had to appeal directly to mass audiences instead of relying only on political elites.

“Divine right of the people”

An expression meaning that political power increasingly came from the people rather than from a privileged ruling elite.

Second Party System

The period when Democrats and Whigs became the two major competing national political parties, shaping elections and political debate during the 1820s–1850s.

What were the two major parties in the Second Party System?

The Democratic Party and the Whig Party.

How did Democrats and Whigs differ economically?

Democrats generally favored limited federal economic intervention and retrenchment, while Whigs more often supported the American System, including a national bank, protective tariffs, and internal improvements.

Why was the Second Party System important?

It organized political disagreements into competing national parties and encouraged mass political participation among eligible voters, especially white men.

What is the key limitation of Jacksonian democracy?

Political participation expanded for many white men, but women, most Black Americans, and Native Americans were excluded from equal political power; Jacksonian policies also promoted Native American removal.