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Mexico opened its Northern Territory to some Americans immigrants with the ideas that the Americans would protect the region from falling under Native American control
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With the signing of the Treaty of Cordoba, Mexico is free from Spanish
control after 300 years as a Spanish colony and 11 years of revolution. -
Mexico passes the General Colonization Law, formally opening Texas
to colonization. Presenting empresario grants to individuals, the hope is
to encourage settlement and economic growth in the remote Mexican
land of Texas. -
In his report to the Mexican government, Mier y Teran recounts that the
Americans living in the Nacogdoches area outnumber Mexicans 10 to 1
and American influence is apparent throughout Texas. -
In response to Mier y Teran's report, the Mexican government enacts
the Law of April 6th. This law prohibits the immigration of any more
Americans into Texas, places taxes on goods coming into Texas from
the U.S., prohibits slaves from entering Texas from the U.S., and
deploys Mexican troops for permanent duty station in Texas. -
Santa Anna becomes dictator of Mexico, replacing the Federalist
government with a Centralist government and disregards the
Constitution of 1824. -
Mexican soldiers were sent to Gonzales, Texas to take a cannon that was supposed to scare away Indian attacks. Texans did not let the soldiers into town and fired on them, beginning the Texas revolution.
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Texas wins the Battle of Goliad. Texas settlers attack Mexican soldiers at Presidio La Bahia near Goliad. The Texans win the battle and force the soldiers to leave, allowing the Texans to take thousands of dollars worth of food and supplies.
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William Fairfax Gray, a Virginia land agent who traveled to Texas in
1836 searching for land deals, recorded some of Texas' most historic
moments in a diary. His daily entries give a look into the tension and
turmoil he witnessed at the Convention of 1836. On this day, he writes,
"A warm day, threatening rain from the south. Many other members are
coming in, and it is now evident that a quorum will be formed
tomorrow." -
At the Convention of 1836, Texans write a declaration of independence and the Constitution of the Republic of Texas. Sam Houston is named the commander of the Texas military.
