Texas Revolution

American settlement in Texas began with the encouragement of first the Spanish, and then Mexican, governments. In the summer of l820 Moses Austin asked Spanish authorities for a large piece Texas land which he would promote and sell to American pioneers. Early in l82l, the Spanish government gave him permission to settle 300 families in Texas. Spain welcomed the Americans in order to provide protection to illegal immigration. Mexico imposed two conditions on land ownership: settlers had to become Mexican citizens and they had to convert to Roman Catholicism. By l830 there were l6,000 Americans in Texas. Mexico feared that the U.S. would use the settlers to gain the territory through a revolution. In order to avoid this, Mexico placed further restrictions on the settlers. Settlers hoped Santa Anna would make Texas a self-governing state in Mexico but instead he made himself dictator. On November 3, 1835, colonists wanted made a constitution to abolish the dictator. While wanting a compromise, the Texans prepared for war by electing Sam Houston commander of the military in Texas. Then, suddenly, in 1829 scandal struck. Houston married a woman 17 years younger than himself. Depressed and humiliated, Houston resigned as governor. Houston was instrumental in forging peace treaties among several warring Indian nations. A band of 300-500 Texas riflemen attacked and captured Mexico's military headquarters in San Antonio. After a series battles, including the Alamo, the Texans surprised Santa Anna's army on April 21, 1836 The next day, Houston's (who had once again became the military leader of the Texans) army captured Santa Anna himself and forced him to sign a treaty granting Texas its independence