United States History Student Edition

06 Texas and the War With Mexico

Texas Becomes a Republic GUIDING QUESTION How did Texas become an independent country?

READING STRATEGY Analyzing Key Ideas and Details As you read, make Cause-Effect/Cause-Effect diagrams to show the causes and effects of important events.

Spain held its North American colonies until 1821. In that year, the rebellions by the peoples of New Spain finally achieved their goal. Mexico became an independent country under an emperor. The monarchy lasted 18 months. Then a rebellion headed by General Antonio López de Santa Anna and Guadalupe Victoria led to Mexico becoming a republic. The new country was formed from a huge portion of the former colony of New Spain. It stretched from Guatemala to the Oregon Country and included Texas and New Mexico. American Settlers Rebel When Mexico won its independence, the non-Native American population of Texas was about 3,000. Most of these people were Tejanos (tay•HAH•nohs), or Mexicans who claimed Texas as their home. To increase settlement in Texas, Mexico offered vast tracts of land to people who would agree to bring families to settle there if they pledged loyalty to Mexico. Stephen F. Austin brought 300 American families to settle in Texas. Austin’s success made him a leader among the American settlers. Before long, Americans in Texas greatly outnumbered Tejanos. Tensions with Mexico developed because of rules Mexico imposed on immigrants. These included requirements to learn Spanish and to join the Roman Catholic Church. Mexico also tried to prohibit slavery, but many American planters refused to comply with that condition.

Cause:

Mexico wins independence.

Effect/Cause:

Mexico invites settlers.

Effect:

Tejano a Texan of Latin American, often Mexican, descent

FLORIDA BENCHMARKS

• SS.8.A.1.2 • SS.8.A.4.1 • SS.8.A.4.2 • SS.8.A.4.3 • SS.8.A.4.4 • SS.8.A.4.8 • SS.8.E.3.1 • SS.8.G.1.2 • SS.8.G.4.4 • SS.8.G.4.6 • SS.8.G.6.2 • ELA.K12.EE.3.1

Portions of the Alamo, a mission complex and the site of a crucial battle in the Texas war for independence, still stand in San Antonio, Texas.

Sean Pavone/Alamy Stock Photo

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