Download CHAPTER 7 WORKBOOK Moses Austin Paves the Way

CHAPTER 7 WORKBOOK
Moses Austin Paves the Way (pages 164–165)
Moses Austin moved from Connecticut in 1798 to what is now
Missouri. At that time, Missouri still belonged to Spain. At first,
Moses Austin was very successful. However, in 1819, a depression
in the United States ruined his business. A depression is a time in
which money loses value and people lose jobs. He wanted to regain
his fortune, and decided to talk to the Spanish governor about
colonizing Texas. In 1820 Austin and an enslaved African
American named Richmond left for Texas. With the help of Baron
de Bastrop, Austin convinced Governor Antonio Martínez to allow
300 American families to settle in Texas. Before Austin could carry
out his plans, he became ill with pneumonia and died. He wanted
his son to carry out his plans.
5. Why did Moses Austin want to colonize Texas?
Moses Austin wanted to colonize Texas because he lost
his money in the depression and he wanted to regain his
fortune.
Stephen F. Austin Continues His Father’s Work (pages
165–166)
Stephen F. Austin was on his way to help his father set up the
colony in June of 1821 when Moses Austin died. Stephen had been
studying law and working for a newspaper in New Orleans. Stephen
F. Austin was determined to carry out his father’s plan. He went to
see Governor Martínez. Governor Martínez welcomed him and
discussed plans for settlement.
6. What did Stephen F. Austin do before he went to colonize Texas?
Stephen Austin had been studying law and working for a
newspaper in New Orleans before he went to colonize
Texas.
Austin Sets Colony Boundaries (page 166)
Austin decided that the region between the Colorado and the Brazos
Rivers was a good place for a colony. It had good soil, plenty of
water, natural resources, a mild climate, and no other settlements.
Austin wrote a full report to Governor Martínez outlining the
boundaries he wanted for his colony. He also requested more land
along the coast. He knew he would need a port where settlers could
land and get supplies.
7. Why did Stephen F. Austin choose the area between the Colorado
and Brazos Rivers for the colony?
Stephen Austin chooses the area between the Brazos and
Colorado Rivers for the colony because it had good soil, plenty of
water, natural resources, and a mild climate.
Advertising for Colonists (page 167)
Austin advertised for settlers to come to his colony. Every man
would receive 640 acres for himself, 320 acres for his wife, 160
acres for each child, and 80 acres for each slave. Austin surveyed,
or measured, the land himself to decide on grant sizes and
boundaries. Settlers would pay him 12.5 cents per acre. Austin
would use the money to do the surveys. He also used the money to
advertise for new settlers, prepare the titles, and register the grants.
Austin gave the settlers credit, giving them time to pay. Settlers
coming to Texas had to become citizens of Mexico. They also had
to become Catholic and have good morals.
8. What was required of the new settlers when they moved to the
colony?
The new settlers of Austin’s colony were required to
become citizens of Mexico, become Roman Catholic,
and have good morals.
Good Land and Low Prices Attract Settlers (page 167)
Many people wanted to settle in Texas because it had good
farmland at low prices. In November 1821, Austin purchased a ship
called the Lively to take people and supplies from New Orleans to
the new colony. Austin began to have problems. In February 1822,
the Lively wrecked on Galveston Island. Many colonists and badly
needed supplies were lost. In March 1822, Austin learned that
Mexico had won its independence from Spain. The new government
did not recognize Austin’s right to colonize Texas. Governor
Martínez told Austin to travel to Mexico City. He would need to get
approval from the new government.
9. Why did Austin have to travel to Mexico City?
Stephen Austin traveled to Mexico City to get approval
for his land contract from the new government Mexico.
Austin Impresses Mexican Leaders (page 167)
After spending more than a year in Mexico City, Austin was given a
contract for colonization of Texas. Under this new contract in 1823,
the amount of land each settler received was more than that granted
by Governor Martínez. Families who raised livestock and farmed
could receive 4,605 acres. Austin would get 100,000 acres of land
for his services as empresario, or land agent. He would still be able
to settle 300 families.
10. What are two ways that the new contract for colonization was
better than the first one?
Austin’s new contract under Mexico was better than the first one
because each settler received more land and Austin would
receive 100,000 acres of land as a land agent.
Problems Develop in the Colony (pages 168–169)
Many problems developed in the colony. Some colonists left Texas
because of drought. Others needed their land to be surveyed. People
disagreed over land ownership. Austin and Baron de Bastrop, the
land commissioner, settled claims to the land. Native Americans did
not like the colonists on their territory. The Karankawas and
Tonkawas raided settlements and stole livestock. Austin had to raise
a militia for protection. A militia is a temporary army unit. Soon,
relations between the settlers and the Native Americans became
quiet.
11. What were the problems Austin faced when he returned from
Mexico?
When Austin returned from Mexico the colony had problems with
drought, Native Americans, and land ownership.
Men and Women of the Old Three Hundred (pages 169–170)
By 1825, Austin had given land to nearly 300 families. The settlers
in the colony became known as the Old Three Hundred. Most had
come from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and
Tennessee. They chose the best land for their homes and farms.
Several members of the Old Three Hundred had been in Texas
before Austin. Jane Long held a land title on the lower Brazos
River.R. M. Williamsom, a lawyer, became a leader in the Texas
independence movement. Some women received land of their own.
Rebekah Cummings came to Texas with her children. Nancy
Spencer and Elizabeth Tumlinson stayed in Texas and became
members of the Old Three Hundred after Native Americans killed
their husbands.
12. Where did most of the settlers come from?
Most of the Old Three Hundred to Austin’s colony came from
Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Tennessee.
The Colony Gets a Capital (page 170)
The colony was growing and needed a capital. Austin thought the
west bank of the Brazos River would be a good place. The town was
named San Felipe de Austin in honor of both Austin and the patron
saint of Texas Governor Luciano Garcia. In 1827, San Felipe
became the capital for about 200 people.
13. Why was the new capital named San Felipe de Austin?
The capital of Austin’s colony was named San Felipe de Austin in
honor of Austin and Governor Luciano Garcia.
The Constitution of 1824 (pages 172–173)
In March 1823, the emperor of Mexico was overthrown.
Federalists formed the new government. Federalists believed in
sharing power between states and the national government. Their
rivals, the Centralists, believed that power should be in the central
government of Mexico City. The Federalists wrote a constitution for
Mexico in 1824.
10. What is the difference between a Federalist and a Centralist?
Federalists believed in sharing the power between states and
national government and Centralist believed power should be in
the central government.
Mexico Passes Colonization Law (pages 173–174)
The congress in Mexico City passed a colonization law in 1824.
It said the Mexican states were in charge of working out their
own plans for settlement. The federal government limited how
much land a settler could receive. It stated where a colony could
be established, and who could receive a land grant.
11. Who was responsible for planning new settlements under the
colonization law of 1824?
Under the colonization law of 1824 Mexican states were in charge
of working out their own plans for settlements.
How State Colonization Laws Worked (pages 174–175)
In 1825, lawmakers at Saltillo passed their own law for
colonization. Under this law, foreigners were invited to move to
Texas. These settlers could receive land as individuals or
through an empresario. Families paid $30.00 for 4,428 acres of
land, one league. Single men received less land. If a man
married a Mexican woman, he received a bonus of additional
land. Although individual families were able to settle on their
own, most settlers came as part of an empresario contract. This
was because most settlers could not speak Spanish and needed
the help of an empresario. Also, most of the best lands were held
by empresarios.Empresario contracts lasted for six years. The
empresarios needed at least 100 families to settle on the land in
six years, or their contract was cancelled.
12. What are two reasons settlers came to Texas with an
empresario?
Two reasons settlers came to Texas with an empresario is that
they did not speak Spanish and the empresario had the best land.
The Most Successful Empresario (page 175)
Stephen F. Austin was the most successful empresario. He received
four new contracts. The first one allowed the settlement of 500 more
families within his first colony. The second contract allowed the
settlement of 100 families. They would live east of the Colorado
River and north of the San Antonio Road, providing protection for
travelers going to San Antonio. The town of Bastrop became “Little
Colony,” the name given to the land covered by the new contract.
In 1828, Austin received permission for the settlement of 300
families along the coast. In 1831, Austin received his last contract.
Austin and his partner, Samuel M. Williams, could settle 800
families in the area to the north and northwest of the first colony.
How did Austin’s second contract help travelers?
Austin’s second contract helped travelers by providing
protection for travelers going to San Antonio
Why Austin’s Colonies Succeeded (pages 175–176)
Austin was successful for many reasons. He dealt well with
Mexican authorities. His colonists had an easy time getting titles to
their land. Native Americans became less of a threat. Austin also
had some of the most fertile soil in Texas. Settlers were looking for
fresh land to grow cotton. Texas had what they needed. The land
was well watered. There were enough trees for homes and fuel.
There were roads and rivers that provided a means of transportation.
14. Why were Austin’s colonies successful?
Austin’s colony was successful because Native Americans were
less of a threat, good soil, and trees for homes and fuel.
Green DeWitt’s Success (page 176)
Green DeWitt was another successful empresario. In 1825, he
brought 400 families to Texas. His colony was west of Austin’s first
colony and south of San Antonio Road. The town of Gonzales was
headquarters for the colony.
15. Who was Green DeWitt?
Green De Witt was another successful empresario.
Martín de León, Empresario (page 176)
Martín de León was another successful empresario. In 1805, he
established a ranch on the Aransas River. He received permission
to bring Mexican settlers to Texas. He settled 200 families along the
Guadalupe River. His wife Patricia helped found the town of
Victoria in 1824. Bringing valuable goods, or a dowry to her
marriage, Patricia gave gold, land, and furnishings to help build the
first church in Victoria. She sided with the Texans during their war
for independence from Mexico. Native American raids troubled the
colony. However, the colonists prospered by farming and ranching.
By the 1830s thousands of cattle grazed on the rich grasses. Victoria
became an important center for trade between Texas and Mexico.
What were two ways that Patricia de León supported Texas?
Patricia de Leon supported Texas by giving land and money for
the first church in Victoria.
Other Contracts (pages 176–177)
James Power and James Hewetson settled Irish immigrants along the
Gulf Coast. Their central town was Refugio. John McMullen and
JamesMcGloin established a colony of Irish settlers at San Patricio.
Many other empresarios had contracts to bring settlers to Texas. Two
of them, David Burnet and Lorenzo de Zavala, became active in the
independence movement.
Where were Irish settlements located?
Irish settlements were located along the Gulf Coast.
Various Nationalities Settle in Texas (page 177)
The people in Texas during the 1820s were of different
nationalities. More than 3,000 people were Mexican. Most
Mexicans lived in the Department of Béxar. A department is a
major administrative unit, similar to a territory. More than
2,000 African American slaves also lived in Texas. Not all
African Americans in early Texas were slaves. Greenbury
Logan, Lewis B. Jones, William Goyens, and Hendrick Arnold
were free African Americans. By the time of the Texas
Declaration of Independence, 150 free African Americans lived
in Texas.
18. How many African Americans in Texas were slaves, and
how many were free?
During the 1820s there were more than 2000 African American
slaves and by 1836 about 150 free African Americans lived in
Texas.
Women Play Important Roles (page 178)
Mary Austin Holley, Austin’s cousin, came to Texas in 1831.
She wrote about everyday life in Austin’s colony. Life was hard
for early female settlers. They worked alongside the men
building houses and raising livestock. They also defended their
land. However, they had few rights. They could buy and sell
land. They could sue for survivor benefits. But they could not
vote, hold public office, or serve on a jury. In spite of the
problems, women made important contributions. Holley’s books
about Texas helped attract settlers. María Calvillo was the
daughter and wife of ranchers. She became the sole owner of
her father’s ranch, and improved and expanded her holdings.
Jane McManus brought German colonists to Texas. Tamar
Morgan, a slave, purchased her freedom and became a
successful landowner.
Why was life difficult for women in the colonies?
Life was difficult for women in the colonies because they could
note vote, hold public office, or serve on a jury.
Education in the Colonies (page 179)
The Mexican government did not have money for public
education. Therefore, the colonists educated their own children.
Wealthy colonists hired private teachers. Others sent their
children to schools in the United States. Most settlers joined
together to establish private schools in new communities. By the
1830s almost every town in the new settlements had one teacher.
20. How did children in the new settlements receive an
education?
Most children in the new settlements received an
education by the colonist. They went to the United States or
private schools. They did not have public education.