Centralists Bring Change

• In 1829, Centralists took over the Mexican government. They believed in a more powerful central government and less power for the states. This brought Texas under closer Mexican authority because the Mexican government wanted more power over the provinces in Mexico.

• This took away previous freedoms Texas already had already been using. By doing this, it angered the Texan people.

• The first problem came in 1826 was over the Nacogdoches land grant.

Nacogdoches Land Grant

• The Mexican government gave a large amount of land to a land speculator named Haden Edwards.

• Edwards discovered that many people lived on the land he was granted, but could not provide documentation.

• If they could not produced a title to the land, they were told to leave or purchase the land from Haden.

Election

• An election for mayor of Nacogdoches created additional problems. Samuel Norris agreed with the original settlers, while Chichester Chaplin sided with Edwards.

• Chichester Chaplin was married to Edwards' daughter, and he was given the title of mayor.

• Being upset, Norris took his complaint to Mexican official Jose Antonio Saucedo, who declared Norris the winner.

• Edwards refused to accept the decision, and while he was away, left his brother Benjamin in charge. Benjamin wrote angry letters to the Mexican officials which eventually led to the cancellation of Haden's contract.

The Republic of Fredonia

• A few of Haden Edwards followers captured him, Norris and a few others, but it is believed that Edwards set this up as a trick.

• The replaced Samuel Norris as mayor without any legal authority to do so. Therefore, Mexican officials sent troops to Nacogdoches.

• Bejamin, Haden's brother, and some of their followers decided to create thier own independent state: The Republic of Fredonia. They defended themselves in The Old Stone Fort, located in the Nacogdoches land grant.

• The Edwards brothers asked for help from the Americans, but were denied. Stephen F. Austin helped the Mexican government crush the Fredonian Rebellion and most of the rebels were captured or fled to the U.S.

The Mier y Terán Report

• The Mexican officials believed the Fredonian Rebellion was a scheme to acquire Texas by the Americans.

• The Mexican officials worried about the growing influence of the U.S. and sent General Manuel de Mier y Terán to inspect the area and write a report.

• He made three recommendations.

The Recommendations

• 1. He urged the government to place more troops around the settlements

• 2. work to attract more Mexican and European settlers

• 3. develop more trade between Texas and Mexico

• The Mier y Teran report leads to the eventual Law of April 6, 1830.

The Slavery Issue

• Anglo Americans began to worry that slavery would be abolished, despite trying to convince the Mexican government to allow it.

• However, in 1829, a decree was issued ending slavery in Mexico.

• The law was not enforced in Texas, but slaveholders knew it would only be a matter of time.

The Law of April 6 1830

• The Law of April 6 1830 put all of Mier y Teran's information into effect, and a key part was Article II.

• Article II stopped immigration from America to Texas. The reason was to encourage more immigration from Mexico to Texas and reduce American influence.

• The also put soldiers in forts to prevent smuggling, allowing additional enslaved people, and illegal land speculation.

• The government also put duties on imports from other countries to discourage trade from foreign countries and encourage more trade with Mexico.

• This greatly effected the economy.

Reaction in Texas

• Many of the settlers were worried about the new law, worrying it would outlaw slavery and hurt the growth of Texas with no immigration.

• Most of the settlers wanted to bring family members from the U.S., but the new law made it difficult.

• Stephen F. Austin, and Texans, began to realize their relationship with Mexico is breaking.

***Points to Remember***

-Centralists brought Texas more closely under Mexican authority.

-Fredonia was a republic created by Haden Edwards.

-Nacogdoches was where the Old Stone Fort was located, where followers of the rebellion fled to.

-The suggestions of the Mier y Teran report led to the Law of April 6 1830.

-The Law of April 6, 1830 ended immigration in Texas.

-Centralists in Mexico ended many of the freedoms Texas had before.

-Supporters of Haden Edwards started a rebellion after his land grant was cancelled.

-Many steps were taken based on the Mier y Teran report, including placing more troops around settlements.

-The Law of April 6, 1830 effected the economy in Texas my placing duties on imported goods.