Influential Hispanics of Early Texas
May 30, 2010
Influential Hispanics of early Texas
Many people that were indigenous to New Spain and latter, Mexico had settled in Texas when it was a northern State of Mexico. Many contributed in an effort to tame the wild paradise and bring civilization to the region beyond what the Spanish missionaries had begun a century before. In 1821, Mexico gained independence from Spain, and began to actively recruit people to populate the land north of the Rio Grande with far more urgency that did Spain. The residents were both of Spanish decent as well as Euro-American. Those delegated the authority to organize these settlements were called Empresarios. The Empressarios applied for huge tracts of land and then had the authority to sell to those that wished to settle it and swear an allegiance to Mexico---- agreeing to become citizens as well as become Catholics. Mexicans that moved north to Texas were known as Tejanos ( Tejanas for the females) .In 1836, when Texas acquired independence from Mexico, Tejanos remained concentrated in settlements founded during the eighteenth century, namely Nacogdoches, San Antonio, Goliad, and Laredo. Other communities with a primarily Mexican descent population in 1836 included Victoria, founded by Martín De León in 1824, and the villages of San Elizario, Ysleta, and Socorro in far west Texas. ( Arnoldo De León,).
Anglo- historian’s main concentration was in the area of the colonies established by the Stephen F. Austin. The Austin Colonies are the ones most frequently referenced in the history commonly known by modern Texans. However, Hispanics participated in the revolution and sacrificed their lives and property along with Anglo c...
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...cument, but within a short time converted his course to one of separation and independence from Mexico. He became involved with the drafting of the constitution for the Republic f Texas in 1836 of which Zavalla was elected Vice-President. He served in that role until failing health caused him to relinquish that post. A month later, he was dead after a boat he was in upset in Buffalo Bayou, soaking him in cold water, which resulted in him contracting pneumonia. (www.tshaonline.org)
References
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45390.asp
http://www.houstonculture.org/hispanic/alamo.html
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/events/1830_1840.htm#1835
http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/tejanopatriots.htm
http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/history/lcummins/MexicanAmericanLessonPlans/smoJuseguin/Erasmo
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45390.asp
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