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Works Cited

1821, December Of. "Texas! Exhibition: Spotlight on Stephen F. Austin." BEYONDbones. Web. 05 May 2011. <http://blog.hmns.org/?p=8693>.

"PBS - THE WEST - Stephen F. Austin." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 04 May 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/austin.htm>.

"Stephen Austin." Architect of the Capitol. Web. 05 May 2011. <http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/nsh/austin.cfm>.

From Prison, To Freedom, To War

     Austin was released in 1836, a year after his imprisonment. Soon after his release, the Texas Revolution began, and he was forced against a government that he had been attempting to ally himself with for years. Austin took command of an attack against Santa Anna at San Antonio. Afterwards, he took the position of commissioner to the United States. His attempts to rally support for Texas were unsuccessful. Luckily, the fighting in Texas was leaning in favor of Texas, and Stephen was able to return to an independent Texas later that year. He accepted a nomination for the presidency, but was defeated by Sam Houston, who appointed him secretary of state. Stephen served in that position until his death on December 27, 1843. He was forty-three years old. (Stephen) (Texas!)

The Colonists Get Mad

    "The agitated colonists met at a convention in 1832 to inform the Mexican government about their needs. They requested the repeal of the Law of 1830, no more tariffs, separation from Coahuila, and to be able to set up a state government in Texas. Stephen F. Austin hoped the Mexican government would recognize the need for change, but they did not." (Texas!) The next year, a second convention was held. The colonists asked for everything they had previously, plus statehood for Texas. Austin approached the president of Mexico, Santa Anna, with these colonist demands. The law that banned further immigration was repealed, but Santa Anna jailed Austin on suspicion of inciting an insurrection. (PBS) (Stephen) (Texas!)

Problems With An Independent Mexico

     To Austin's dismay, the newly independent Mexican government denied his land grant, which was in his father's name, after many colonists had already arrived. Stephen traveled to San Antonio to fix this problem. He was approved for his own settlement, and was given permission to settle 300 families. Austin received that same permission every year for the next three years. He had to ensure that his settlers would be good Mexican citizens. Around 1830, the United States began showing an interest in purchasing Texas. This made the Mexican government uneasy about having so many U.S. immigrants in the country. Consequently, Mexico passed a law stopping immigration from the U.S. completely. (Texas!)

The Unexpected Death of a Mr. Moses Austin

      Moses Austin, Stephen's father, had worked to acquire land grant from Spanish controlled Mexico. He wished to create an Anglo-American colony in Mexican Texas. Moses was never able to complete this wish, due to his surprise death. The job was left to Stephen. (Stephen) S. Austin explored the area of the grant in 1821. He decided to create the colony on the south Colorado and Brazos river. Stephen then went to New Orleans, where he invited Americans to come to his new colony. (Texas!)

Austin On The Job

     After Austin completed his education, he moved back to Missouri to work in his fathers Moses' store, and family lead mine. Stephen also served on the militia before becoming a member of the Missouri territorial legislature. He was later recruited as a circuit judge by the governor of Arkansas. (CBS) (Texas!)