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The Spanish government offered huge tracts of land to the empresarios. The empresarios did not respond so the Spanish Government let Moses Austin there, but the settlers had to follow Spanish law.
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Mexico gains its independence from Spain.
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Mexico out laws slavery. Slave owners are furious, so Moses Austin persuades the government to allow owners to keep their slaves.
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Population had swelled to 25,000 with Americans outnumbering the Tejanos six to one.
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Austin went to Mexico City to present a list of requested reforms to Mexican officials. Santa Anna agreed to most of the reforms but then discovered a letter that Austin wrote stating that if all of his reforms were not agreed to, then he would support breaking away from mexican rule. Santa Anna jailed Austin for almost a year. The furious Texans were ready to rebel.
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Mexican soldiers marched into the town of Gonzales. They had orders to seize the cannon that the texans used for protection against Native Americans. Texans volunteers hung a flag on the cannon saying Come and Take it, but the soldiers plans failed, leaving them without the cannon.
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Texans met a settlement called Washington-on-the-Brazos to decide what to do about Santa Anna's troops. They decide to declare Texas as a free and independent republic.
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Sam Houston was placed in command of the Texas army.
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Juan Seguin led a band of 25 tejanos in support of revolt.
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Houston surprised Santa Anna near the San Jacinto River. In just 18 minutes, over half of the Mexican army was killed. Santa Anna was forced to sign a treaty, making Texas a free nation.
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Texas raised the offical flag of the independent nation of Texas, also called the Lone Star Republic. Sam Houston was elected first president.
