Austin and the Old 300

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Austin and the Old 300

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• Why would Mexico agree to let Americans move to
  Texas?
• Mexico had no control over Texas. They wanted
  someone
• to fight the Indians and settle the land for
  them. No Mexicans would live in Texas.
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Where was the colony?

• Austin picked the land between the Brazos and
  Colorado rivers.
• Why? Rain, good soil, few Comanche, near ocean
  for trade.

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Mexicos Agreement with Austin

• Mexico allowed Austin to bring 300 families to
  Texas. Mexico wanted the number to be small
  enough to manage. Too many Americans would have
  been hard to control. For running the colony,
  Austin was paid in land (100,000 acres).

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The Old 300

• The Old 300 were the first families to move to
  Texas from the U.S. Most of them were from the
  South, fairly rich, and very hard-working and
  honest. Mexico did not allow single men to move
  to Texas because they thought families would be
  less likely to rebel.

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More Requirements

• No hunters or adventurers. You had to have
  a real job.

NO!
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What requirements did the settlers have to live
up to in order to move to Texas?

• Austin and Mexico were strict. Settlers had to
  be honest, loyal to Mexico, willing to become
  Catholic, willing to learn the Spanish language
  and Mexican customs, and they couldnt be lazy,
  be drunk, cuss a lot, or gamble.

• 1 Requirement You had to have the
  recommendation from someone in the US!

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What did the settlers get if they were chosen and
followed those requirements?

• Mexico wanted the settlers to be happy and work
  hard. Therefore, land was cheap. Farmers got
  177 acres. Ranchers got a sitio (4,428 acres).
  You could claim to be both and get 4, 605
  acres. Austin charged 12.5 cents per acre, but
  Mexico made him give the money back. In the
  U.S., an acre cost about a dollar.

The Most Land Possible Settlers who married
Mexican women got extra land. You also got extra
land for every child and slave you brought.
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Austins Powers What was he in charge of?

• Austin had many powers. He
• 1. Ran the colony.
• 2. Acted as judge.
• 3. Made sure the settlers followed Mexican law.
• 4. Gave out land grants.
• 5. Protected the colony.