Because so many people had come to Texas from the United States, Mexican officials feared that the settlers had secret ties to the United States. These fears increased when the United States offered to purchase Texas in 1826. U.S. President John Quincy Adams offered Mexican officials $1 million dollars in exchange for Texas. The Mexican officials refuse to sell and were offended that anyone would think they would consider selling part of their country. A. What worried Mexico during this time period in Texas History? B. Do you think Mexico made the right decision by not selling Texas to the United States in 1826? Why or why not?
The increasing number of settlers from the United States, the Fredonian Rebellion, and the offer by the United States to purchase Texas fueled concerns of Mexican officials. They decided to take a closer look at the situation in Texas. They sent General Manuel de Mier y Terán to explore the area and write a report on what he found and saw. Mier y Terán had fought in Mexico s revolution. He was a patriot, who deeply loved his country. What he saw in Texas disturbed him greatly. In June of 1828, he fired off a written report. I desire to forward to you at once my observations, he wrote, for fear the time for remedy will be past. C. Why was Mier y Terán considered a patriot? D. What do you think Mier y Terán saw in Texas that worried him?
Mier y Terán noted that as he traveled north, Texas became less and less Mexican. For each Mexican person living in Texas there were 10 foreigners. More settlers arrived every day. For the Texas settlers, the Mexican government was far away and did not affect their lives. Mier y Terán reported that the opinion that is held of our nation by these foreign colonists was very low. I am warning you to take timely measures, he wrote. Texas could throw the whole nation into revolution. E. What was the main idea of the Mier y Terán report?
When Mier y Terán returned to Mexico City in 1829, he proposed sending more Mexican troops to Texas. Next, Mier y Terán suggested the government send more Mexican and European settlers to Texas. This would weaken the influence of the settlers from the United States. Third, Mier y Terán recommended that Mexico increase its trade with Texas. Trade would help bring Texas and the rest of Mexico closer together. The government in Mexico was alarmed by Mier y Terán s findings and eventually took action and adopted many of his ideas. F. What three actions does Mier y Terán suggest the Mexican government take?
Influenced by Mier y Terán s 1829 report, the Mexican congress passed a new law called the Law of April 6, 1830. It outlawed immigration from the United States to Texas and canceled most empresario contracts. As a result, settlers from the United States would no longer be allowed to colonize Texas. However, the government encouraged Mexican and European settlers to relocate to Texas by providing them with land and money. The law also banned bringing slaves into Texas. New forts and presidios, guarded by convict-soldiers, were established to stop illegal immigration and increase the military presence in Texas. The law also placed customs duties, a tax, on all goods entering Texas from the United States. The Mexican government hoped that this would encourage settlers to buy Mexican goods. G. What were the six main points of the Law of April 6, 1830?
Anglo settlers in Texas were outraged. Many had family members in the United States who hoped to join them. Others wanted the population of Texas to grow. Most believed slavery was not only ordained by God but essential to their prosperity. They felt that they had been wronged by the Mexican government. Instead of resolving the crisis, the Law of April 6, 1830 increased tensions between Texas and the Mexican government. H. What was the end result of the Law of April 6, 1830?
The Amazing Race The Mier y Terán Report and the Law of April 6, 1830 Name: Period: A. During this time period, Mexico was worried that D. Things that Mier y Terán saw in Texas that worried him might be: G. The six main points of the Law of April 6, 1830 were: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) B. I think Mexico (did or did not) make the right decision by not selling Texas to the United States in 1826, because E. The main idea of the Mier y Terán report was H. The end result of the Law of April 6, 1830 was C. Mier y Terán was considered a patriot because F. Mier y Terán suggested that the Mexican government do these three things: (1) (2) (3) TURN IN YOUR COMPLETED SHEET!