Mexico and American Settlement in Texas: The Real Story

Mexico Actually Encouraged American Settlers—At First

The premise is backward. After independence (1821), Mexico actively recruited Anglo-Americans to populate Texas as a buffer against Comanche raids and U.S. expansionism.

The Empresario System

• 1823 Colonization Law: Offered land grants (4,428 acres/league) to empresarios (agents) who brought families.
• Stephen F. Austin brought the "Old Three Hundred" (1822–1824). By 1830, ~20,000 Anglos vs. ~4,000 Tejanos.
• Conditions: Convert to Catholicism, swear loyalty, improve land. Many ignored these.

Shift to Restriction

By 1830, alarmed by Anglo demographic dominance and slavery expansion, Mexico passed the Law of April 6, 1830:

• Banned further U.S. immigration.
• Suspended empresario contracts.
• Imposed tariffs, garrisoned forts.

Result

Anglo settlers resisted (Anahuac Disturbances 1832, Convention of 1833). Tensions escalated to revolution (1835) and independence (1836).

Mexico didn't initially object—it invited them. The conflict arose when settlers refused to assimilate and Mexico tried to close the door too late.