Chapter 7 Section 4

Spanish Rule Ends in Mexico

Mexico Wins Independence• After Father Hidalgo’s death, a

priest named Father Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon led the fight for independence

• In 1815 he was captured and executed

• This seemed like the end of the revolution, but events in Europe during 1820 encouraged the revolution.

• A military officer named Agustin de Iturbide joined forces with a rebel leader Vicente Guerrero.

• Together these forces defeated the Spanish in 1821 and Mexico won its independence.

+ =

Iturbide GuerreroMexico’s

Independence!!!

Impacts on Texas from the Mexican War for Independence

• Many Tejanos had fled or been killed.

• Relations with Texas Indians had worsened leading to more attacks on settlements.

• Texas economy was in ruins- livestock was lost and crops were ruined.

Effects on Population in Major Towns

• San Antonio (the capital)- Only 1500 people lived there

• La Bahia (now renamed Goliad)- Only 1,000 Tejanos lived there

• Nacogdoches- almost completely deserted

Tejano Ranchers• To the south and west, several thousand

settlers lived along the Rio Grande, grouped mainly around El Paso del Norte and Laredo.

• This area was great because it had lush grasslands.

• Livestock included cattle, horses, and sheep.

Most Successful Ranchers

• Martin de Leon

• Tomas Sanchez (also served as the alcalde of Laredo for many years)

• Jose Narciso Cavazos (raised a variety of livestock on his 470,000 acre ranch)

Tomas Sanchez

Ranching in the San Antonio River Valley

• Steady cattle trade market between Texas and Coahuila to the South and Louisiana to the East

• Many wealthier Tejanos lived on ranches in stone houses

• Many other Texas ranchers lived in jacales- small one room huts made of sticks and mud.

• No matter what the Tejano lived in they faced many difficulties and dangers on the frontier.

Mexican Policies in Texas

• Spain had begun to secularize the missions. After Mexico won its independence it continued this process.

• To boost the population of Texas, Mexico began offering free land. Unfortunately this only lured a few settlers.

• Many Mexican citizens were concerned about living on the rough frontier.

• Mexico would have to decide whether to continue this policy or not.