CHAPTER VII.
TEXAN INDEPENDENCE; MEXICO’S CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT.
1819-1841.
Boundary Line — American Aims — Long's Invasions — Colonization Plans — Colonies Formed by Austin and Others — Mexico's Liberal Policy — Coahuila and Texas — Stephen F. Austin's Imprisonment — Texas Separates from Coahuila — Revolutionary Acts — Mexican Troops Assailed — San Antonio de Béjar Taken — Course of the United States Neutrality Violated — American Troops Invade Texas — Declaration of Independence by Texas — Texan Garrison at Álamo Massacred — Battle of San Jacinto, and its Results — President Corro's Administration — President Bustamante — Spain Recognizes Mexican Nationality — Financial Distress — Political Troubles
The province of Texas, situated on the gulf of Mexico between the United States of North America and the Rio Grande, and between latitudes 26° 50′ and 36° 30′, had been for some time, prior to 1819, a subject of disagreement between the American republic and Spain, the former claiming that Louisiana ex tended to the Rio Grande. Her great desire, how ever, was to own Florida in order to possess the whole range of coast from the Sabine River to Nova Scotia. After getting possession of that peninsula the government of the United States voluntarily gave up its alleged right to Texas, by the treaty of February 22, 1819, concluded between the secretary of state, John Quincy Adams, and the Spanish plenipotentiary Luis de Onis.[1] But that treaty caused much dissatisfaction
- ↑ A copy of the treaty may be found in Méx., Derecho Intern., 1st pt, 138-44.
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