Colonization and The Texas Rebellion

Mexico courted foreign immigrants to help populate the frontier province of Tejas * generous land grants that were much cheaper than the United States * attractive, especially after the Panic of 1819
1821-35, 30000 immigrated from the United States * legally and illegally * mostly from the slave states * peaking 1830-35 (cotton boom years) * brought slavery and cotton with them * about 5000 were enslaved Black people
Anglo-Texans saw slavery and cotton as the key to Texas’s future, but… * Mexico was abolishing slavery * compromises/loopholes were carved out for Texas * tensions still rose

1835, centralizing reforms to Mexico’s constitution led to a rebellion in Texas * rebels feared a stronger government would force Texas to end slavery
rebels appealed to the United States for support * President Jackson refused * private United States money and manpower poured in * Declaration of Independence, March 1836 * unlikely rebel victory, April 1836
annexing Texas to the United States as another slave state was too controversial to pass in Congress * so, Texas stayed independent * Mexico refused to recognize independence
United States immigration continues, 1836-45: * anglo population in Texas rises by 400% * the enslaved population in Texas rises 800%

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