Academic Fredonian Rebellion, Haden Edwards and Mier y Teran Report

Learn about the Fredonian Rebellion and Mier y Terán Report.

Haden Edwards Haden Edwards received hisempresariocontract from the Mexican government in 1825. The contract gave him permission to settle some 800 families nearNacogdoches. When he arrived, Edwards found that a number ofMexican families, Anglo settlers, and Cherokees had lived on the land for years. Some families had been living on the land for morethan 100 years. They had become known as “old settlers.” Edwards’s contract required him to respect the property rights of allsettlers who had legal titles to their land. In this case, the only legal titleswere those issued by Spain or Mexico. Edwards, however, was not happy about this rule. He declared some of the old settlers’ titles to be forgeries. He also demanded that people pay him additional fees for the land they had already purchased.Edwards ’s actions enraged many of the old settlers. Their rageincreased the following year after a questionable election. Edwards ’s son-in-law was elected alcalde of the settlement, but many old settlerssuspected fraud. They complained to thegovernment, which sided with the old settlers. In October 1826 the Mexican government canceled Edwards ’s contract, declaring that he was not fulfilling its terms. A group of Edwards supporters took action. They arrested the newalcalde and tried to force him from office. The Mexican governmentsent troops to support the alcalde. In response, Edwards, his brotherBenjamin, and their supporters— including some Cherokees— declared themselves free from Mexican rule. They planned to establish the Republic of Fredonia. On December 21, 1826, they issued the Fredonian Declaration of Independence.Most Texans—both Tejanos andAnglo settlersalike— opposed the Fredonian Rebellion. Stephen F. Austin, who supportedtheMexican government’sdecision, called outthe militia. In January 1827 the Fredonians learnedthatMexican troopsand themilitiawere coming. The rebels, including Haden Edwards, fled. The republiccollapsed. Events related to the Fredonian Rebellion The Fredonia Rebellion was a minor event, but it attracted a lot of attention. Even newspapers in the United States carried stories about the revolt. This American interest in the rebellion greatly worried the Mexican government. During the 1820s, the U.S. government had made severaloffers topurchaseTexas fromMexico, which hadrefused toconsider sucha sale. However, the repeatedoffers— coupled withtrouble caused byAmerican immigrantslike Haden Edwards— made some Mexican officials worryabout thenumber ofAmericans inTexas. To investigatetheir concerns, these officialssent General Manuel deMier yTerán with agroup totour Texas. Officially, the purposeof his tripwasto examinethe resourcesandIndians ofTexas and tohelp determinethe formalboundary withLouisiana. At thesame time, the generalwasasked todeterminehow manyAmericans livedinTexas andwhat theirattitudes towardMexico were. Mier yTerán began hisinspection tourin Laredo in early1828 and arrived inSan Antonio onMarch 1. From there, he traveledon toSan Felipe deAustin, where hemet withStephen F. Austin. The twomen discussedmanyof theconcerns withwhichAnglo settlersinTexas dealt. Austin alsoreconfirmed hisownloyalty toMexico. The tourcontinued toNacogdoches. While there, the generalwrote areport tothepresident ofMexico. In the Mier yTerán Report,he notedthatMexican influenceinTexas decreasedas onemoved northwardand eastward. Around Nacogdoches, settlers fromthe United States outnumberedTejanos by10 to 1. He warnedthat theAmerican influence, particularly inEast Texas, was growingstronger everyday. Haden Edwards Powtoon Video Please watch the video it will give a little insight on the Fredonian Rebellion Fredonian Rebellion The Mexican government had a long standing fear that the United States would use the Anglo colonists to acquire Texas by purchase or revolution.• The Mexican Constitution of 1824 introduced democracy in Tejas with citizens able to vote and granted limited rights. Continuous immigration of Americans into Tejas encouraged democratic government, including individual rights protected by a Constitution.• In 1826, Haden and Benjamin W. Edwards ignited the Fredonian Rebelllion, but were suppressed by Mexican soldiers supported by Stephen F. Austin's colonies. What caused settlers living in Nacogdoches prior to Haden Edwards arrival to be upset? Edwards told them that the land they lived on was not owned by them. Edwards told them that they would need to return to Mexico. What did the Mexican government do because they did not approve of Haden Edward's actions They allowed him to move all the early settlers off land he claimed They removed his land grant authorityand told him to stop. Haden Edwards decides to rebel, what does he call his new country? Fredonian Republic New Texas The Mexican government sends what to stop Haden Edward's rebellion Money to bribe Edwards to stop and leave Sends a Mexican Army and also Stephen F. Austin sends militia to put down the rebellion Mier y Teran was asked to lead a _ expedition to observe natural resources, Native Americans, discover American attitudes and map out the boundary between the Sabine and _. Scientific and Rio Grande Military and Red River Scientific and Red River What Mexican General is going to write a report about Texas? Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Miguel de Mier y Teran His group included artists, a military escort, a cartographer (map maker) and _. Scientists Missionaries What country did Mier y Teran warn about in his report about Texas to the Mexican government? England France United States In the Mier y Teran's report, he recommends more Mexican and European settlers come to Texas, that Texas establish much closer trade ties with Mexico, rather than the U.S. and also recommended what? More American settle in Texas More Mexican troops are to be sent to garrison Texas As a result of this report, suggestions were incorporated into a new law called? Law of Hildalgo Law of April 6, 1830 Law of May 1, 1860