TOPICAL OUTLINE National Development. I. Industrial and Social Conditions. I. Population. 2. Manufactures. II. Reforms. 1. Temperance Movement. 2. Prison Reforms. 3. Woman's Rights. 4. Religious Revivals. 5. Educational Changes. 6. Literature. REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. Why was there a large increase in population in the United States between 1840 and 1860? 2. What attempts were made to improve the conditions in the prisons in the United States? 3. What was meant by woman's equal rights movement? 4. Tell something of the development of education in the United States during this period. 5. Why should the following men be remembered: Longfellow, Poe, Holmes, Whittier, Lanier? 6. Who were some of the leading historians of this period? REFERENCE Matthews: American Literature. CHAPTER XIX TEXAS REVOLUTION Colonists to Texas. When the United States purchased Florida from Spain in 1819, the boundary between the Spanish and American line on the southwest was fixed by the Sabine River. Just across this line was the district of Texas, one of the provinces of Mexico. The Spanish government, anxious to develop this state, offered large tracts of land to any one who would settle a certain number of families within a definite area. Many Americans took advantage of this offer. Among the earliest immigrants was Moses Austin, of Missouri, who led a colony of families into the fertile region. It was not long after this that Mexico re STEPHEN F. AUSTIN. volted from Spain and became an independent republic. The government was very unstable, and most of the early presidents were tyrannical and usurped many privileges. Santa Anna. Among the most successful of these dictators was Antonio de Santa Anna. He succeeded in controlling all of the local state governments except Texas, and made himself so unpopular that many of his enemies moved into the state of Texas, where they planned a revolt. Santa Anna removed the capital of Texas from San Antonio to Saltillo, a town in a neighboring state. This caused so much inconvenience that the Americans took up the question and sent Stephen Austin, son of the early pioneer, to Mexico City with a petition asking that San Antonio be restored as the capital. Austin. Austin was thrown into prison in the city of Mexico, and kept there for a year and a half. The Americans in Texas were so indig-nant that they joined in a plan for a revolt. Hearing of this, a garrison of Mexican soldiers attempted to seize a cannon belonging to the defense of Gonzales, a Texas town. The Texans resisted and forced the Mexicans to leave the field. This occurred on October 2, 1835. Thus hostilities were begun that continued for three months. During this time the citizens of Texas met, formally declared war against Mexico, and elected General Samuel Houston commander of the army. GEN. SAMUEL HOUSTON. The Alamo. Santa Anna was ready to take up the attack and march upon San Antonio. In this town there was a fortified convent, known as the Alamo. William B. Travis was in command of this garrison of about one hundred and fifty men. When he heard of Santa Anna's approach at the head of one thousand troops, Travis published a message to the people declaring that he was surrounded by an army far outnumbering his own, and that Santa Anna was demanding unconditional surrender. Travis urged that aid be sent at once, but before any assistance arrived, he and his entire force were killed. Independence Declared. Just at the time of this unfortunate incident, the Texans formally declared their independence. David G. Burnett was made president and a Mexican, Lorenzo de Zavala, was chosen vice president. Goliad. Santa Anna continued his campaign; and before General Houston could prevent it, the Mexicans surprised a force under Captain Fannin at Goliad, and destroyed this garrison in the same brutal manner as in their attack upon the Alamo. San Jacinto. These acts were so cowardly that they aroused the whole population to arms. A most gallant attack was made by General Houston at San Jacinto, where THE MEXICAN CAMPAIGN Rio ande RESACA DE San Luis MEXICO BUENA Matamoras Victoria Tampico City of Puebla GULF Cerro Gordo Santa Anna was released; and, after signing a treaty in which he agreed to discontinue war upon Texas and recognize its independence, he was allowed to return to Mexico. Thus Texas won its independence, and a new republic was established in America. The United States recognized the new state; when, in a short time, France and England did the same, trade relations with these countries were opened. It was not Annexation of Texas to the United States. long after the Texas Revolution that the people of the new republic began to consider the annexation of their state to the United States. The majority of the population were Americans, whose interests had always been closely identified with the United States. As soon as this plan became known, England began to discourage the idea and to attempt to secure better relations between Mexico and Texas. Santa Anna, having already repudiated his treaty, was collecting an army for further invasion. It was hardly possible that there could be any friendly agreements between the opponents. Many of the immigrants to Texas were from the South and their cause particularly appealed to the southern people. As time went on, the question of annexation was to be |