Cultural Differences in Colonial Texas

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Cultural Differences in Colonial Texas

• People from the United States make bad subjects
  and the most inconvenient neighbors.
• Henry Ward, British Ambassador to Mexico
• What does this mean?

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• Mexico and the United States are both young
  countries that just won their independence.
• However, there are many differences between these
  two countries.
• Mexico never really wanted American settlers in
  Texas. Why?
• United States population growing, looking west
  for more land.
• Mexico remembers battles with Filibusters and
  mistrusts Americans.

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United States Actions

• The United States offered to buy Texas from
  Mexico for 1 Million.
• This worried Mexican leaders. Why?
• They thought the United States planned to force
  Mexico to give up Texas.
• The United States Ambassador, Joel Pointsett,
  Thought that Mexico was just jealous of the
  United States.

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Differing Views

• American Experience
• British Heritage
• Passionate about beliefs
• Believe and practices are the same
• Carried these beliefs with them to Texas because
  they cared deeply about them
• Federalist Government. What does this mean?

• Mexican Experience
• Spanish heritage
• Beliefs and practices were different there
• Three main sources of power Church, Army, and
  Revolutionary leaders
• Centralist Government. What does this mean?

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Differing Beliefs

• American Beliefs
• Civilian Rule people vote and rule the
  Government
• Freedom of Religion
• Allowed Slavery

• Mexican Beliefs
• Military rule Mexico had a strong tradition of
  military leaders
• State religion is Catholicism
• Slavery was outlawed

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Settlers Practice Independence

• Settlers in Texas has to
• Swear loyalty to Mexico
• Become Catholic
• Not have slaves
• HOWEVER
• Settlers said they did these things, but never
  really did. They kept their own, American ways.

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• As a result
• Settlers didnt think of themselves as Mexican.
• They spoke English, not Spanish.
• Were not really Catholic.
• Some had slaves
• Set up their own schools
• All of this happened because Mexico didnt
  enforce its laws on them.

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What does this mean?

• Please answer the following opinion questions in
  your ISN
• Do you think there will be problems soon in
  Texas? Why or why not?
• How could the Mexican government make these
  people feel more Mexican than American? Give
  3 examples.
• Which set of beliefs and traditions do you most
  agree with? Why?