Fredonian Rebellion, Haden Edwards and Mier y Teran Report

Understand the Fredonian Rebellion and Mier y Teran Report!

Haden Edwards Haden Edwards received his empresario contract from the Mexican government in 1825. The contract gave him permission to settle some 800 families near Nacogdoches. When he arrived, Edwards found that a number of Mexican families, Anglo settlers, and Cherokees had lived on the land for years. Some families had been living on the land for more than 100 years. They had become known as “old settlers.” Edwards’s contract required him to respect the property rights of all settlers who had legal titles to their land. In this case, the only legal titles were 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 rage increased the following year after a questionable election. Edwards ’s son-in-law was elected alcalde of the settlement, but many old settlers suspected fraud. They complained to the government, 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 new alcalde and tried to force him from office. The Mexican government sent troops to support the alcalde. In response, Edwards, his brother Benjamin, 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. 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. Law of April 6, 1830 In response to the Mier y Teran Report, the Mexican Government passed the Law of April 6, 1830. This law was intended to strictly control the American presence in Texas. It banned immigration from the US and made it illegal for settlers to bring more slaves into Texas. The law also suspended unfilled empresario contracts. Only a few American empresarios, including Stephen F. Austen were allowed to keep their contracts. Mexico began placing military bases and government office along the boarder to keep unauthorized immigrants out of Texas. Mexico only wanted to bring more Mexicans and Catholic Europeans to Texas. In addition to restricting immigration, the Law of April 6, 1830 also began to tax all US imports into Texas. 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 What Mexican General is going to write a report about Texas? Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Miguel de Mier y Teran 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 What was the purpose of the Law of April 6, 1830?