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%