Chapter 9: Life in Early TexasSection 4: Government and Society
Bellwork
•Define “republic”
Texas under Mexican Rule
•1824: Mexico became a republic and adopted a
constitution.
Texas under Mexican Rule• Stephen F. Austin: had advised
the officials who had written the constitution
• Erasmo Seguin: represented Texas at the constitutional assembly and helped write the document
Texas under Mexican Rule
•Most Texans supported the Constitution of
1824.
Texas under Mexican Rule• Similarities to U.S. Constitution:
– gave limited powers to the central government and broad local authority to the states
Texas under Mexican Rule
•Federalism—decentralized
form of government
Texas under Mexican Rule• Similarities to
U.S. Constitution:
– Three branches of government
– President served as head of state
Texas under Mexican Rule• Differences to U.S.
Constitution:
– State lawmakers, not citizens, elected the president
– No separation of church and state or freedom of religionRoman Catholicism was the
official religion of Mexico under the Constitution of 1824.
Texas under Mexican Rule
• Constitution of 1824 united the provinces of Texas and Coahuila into
a single state.
Texas under Mexican Rule• Most Texans disliked the united of
Texas and Coahuila:
– They feared not having enough local control
– The state’s capital, Saltillo, was far away
Texas under Mexican Rule• Most U.S. settlers wanted local
control over rights and freedoms--used to U.S. political tradition.
• U.S. settlers often ignored or changed laws they disagreed with.
Texas under Mexican Rule•Mexican official often paid no
attention when U.S. settlers ignored their laws.
•Local government became a mixture of Mexican and U.S. practices.
The Issue of Slavery• Slavery divided
U.S. settlers and the Mexican government
• 1820s: Mexican & Coahuila y Texas governments passed laws restricting slavery
The Issue of Slavery• Stephen F. Austin was in favor of
bringing slaves to Texas.
• Some slaveholders who wanted to emigrate to Texas in the 1820s were worried that Mexico might make slavery illegal.
The Issue of Slavery• 1827: State constitution outlawed
slavery• Jose Antonio Navarro helped pass a
law allowing for contract labor—helped people get around the ban on slavery.
• Tensions over slavery continued to increase as U.S. settlement increased.
Mexican Constitution of 1824
Formed the state of Coahuila y
Texas
Gave states strong local
control
Roman Catholicism
official religion
Effects Effects Effects