Austin’s settlers, the Old Three Hundred, made places along the Brazos River in 1822. Twenty-three other empresarios brought settlers to the state, the majority of whom were from the United States. The population of Texas grew rapidly. In 1825, Texas had about 3,500 people, with most of Mexican descent. By 1834, the population had grown to about 37,800 people, with only 7,800 of Mexican descent. Most of these early settlers who arrived with Austin found themselves soon after to be persons less than fortunate in life as Texas was devoid of the comforts found elsewhere in Mexico and the United States during that time. Early Texas settler David B. Edwards described his fellow Texans as being “banished from the pleasures of life”.
Many immigrants openly flouted Mexican law, especially the prohibition against slavery. Combined with United States’ attempts to purchase Texas, Mexican authorities decided in 1830 to prohibit continued immigration from the United States. New laws also calling for the enforcement of customs duties angered both native Mexican citizens (Tejanos) and recent immigrants.
The Anahuac Disturbances in 1832 were the first open revolt against Mexican rule and they coincided with a revolt in Mexico against the nation’s president. Texans sided with the federalists against the current government and drove all Mexican soldiers out of East Texas. They took advantage of the lack of oversight to agitate for more political freedom. Texans met at the Convention of 1832 to discuss requesting independent statehood, among other issues. The following year, Texans reiterated their demands at the Convention of 1833.
Republic:
Within Mexico, tensions continued between federalists and centralists. The unrest erupted into armed conflict in late 1835 at the Battle of Gonzales. This launched the Texas Revolution, and over the next two months, the Texans defeated all Mexican troops in the region. Texans elected delegates who created a provisional government. The provisional government soon collapsed from infighting, and Texas was without clear governance for the first two months of 1836.
During this time of political turmoil, Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna personally led an army to end the revolt. The Mexican expedition was initially successful. General José de Urrea defeated all the Texan resistance along the coast culminating in the Goliad massacre. Santa Anna’s forces, after a thirteen-day siege, overwhelmed Texan defenders at the Battle of the Alamo. News of the defeats sparked panic among Texas settlers.
The newly elected Texan delegates to the Convention of 1836 quickly signed a Declaration of Independence on March 2, forming the Republic of Texas.
The new government joined the other settlers in Texas in the Runaway Scrape, fleeing from the approaching Mexican army. After several weeks of retreat, the Texan Army commanded by Sam Houston attacked and defeated Santa Anna’s forces at the Battle of San Jacinto. Santa Anna was captured and forced to sign the Treaties of Velasco, ending the war.