Texas Revolution People

Moses Austin (October 4, 1761 – June 10, 1821)

This is a picture of Moses Austin the father of Stephen F. Austin

Moses Austin did not exactly intentionally mean to colonize Texas, but it was due to the debts that he currently owed. He traveled down to Texas, hearing of the opportunities that were being offered there. Sadly, Austin was a man that attracted bad luck like flies to honey. He had opened a habadashery that went bankrupt before he traveled down to Texas. Moses Austin traveled to San Antonio where he asked permission to colonize Texas, but before he could colonize Texas, he died from pneumonia. Luckily, he had heard word that his contract had been aproved and accepted. In his will, he left his son the task of colonizing Texas. Moses Austin was the man who had handed down the task of settling to his son and he had basically led Texas to the Texas Revolution. He had because if he hadn't contracted with Mexico, his son would most likely have never even thought about Texas. Really, it was Stephen who actually started the Revolution, but if Moses didn't do what he did, then Texas would probably be a small state in Mexico today.

Stephen Fuller Austin (November 3, 1793 – December 27, 1836)

Stephen F. Austin was considered the "Father of Texas" due to the many families he had colonized and settled in Texas. Actually, he was not the person who had started the colonization. His father (above) had actually asked for permission for a land grant. Before his father died, Stephen had received notice that his father had died and had handed down the task of colonization to his son, Stephen. Stephen, sadly, had been living the good life down in New Orleans learning how to be a lawyer. Reluctantly, Stephen returned to Texas to carry out the deed, and finish what his dad started. Little did he know what he was getting into. Really, Stephen was a fairly lucky and fortunate man ulike his father. He first settled the "Old Three Hundred" (the first 300 families to settle under Stephen). Then Stephen went and asked for more land grants. To sum it all up, he was the most successful empressario in Texas before the Law of April 6th.

Green DeWitt (February 12, 1787 – May 18, 1835)

Green DeWitt was a man whose bad luck followed him all the way until he died. He was an empresario, and he had already asked the Mexican officials to approve of a land grant. He got his land grant which placed his territory above the town of Gonzales. Even better, he was granted 400 families to settle on his land in 1825. Green DeWitt was the owner of "DeWitt's Colony." But even then, his luck didn't last long. Though Gonzales was headquarters during most of the Texas Revolution, Native Americans that lived in the area wasn't quite happy that there were foreign settlers on their land. They raided DeWitt's Colony which slowed his process of colonization wayyyyy down.

Something to Think About

There had been two sides to the war: Texas and Mexico. They say that Texas won and became free. Mexico had just lost a big portion of themselves. Even though the Texans won, you have to think about what they were fighting for vs the Mexican's values. Texas was fighting for slavery. Now that doesn't mean that they are bad and evil. Just think, is there even a "good" side to this world and "bad side"? Take the terrorist Osama Bin Laden (now mind you, we don't support him), he thinks that he is fighting for good. Since the views and the way you look at something affect your judgements, you should look at both sides to actually find out what they are fighting for.

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (February 21, 1794 - June 21 1876)

This is a picture os Santa Anna apparantly reading an important paper

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna lived a good life. He started life as an ordinary child. When he was sixteen, he joined the Fijo de Veracruz infantry as a cadet. He later joined the Spanish colonial army under the leadership of Joaquin de Arredondo. He was cited for his bravery for his bravery at the Battle of Medina. in 1816, he was promoted to captain. His normal loyalty was to ally the wealthy and privileged, but he always went with the winning side of the battle. His main act of self promotion was to call himself "The Napoleon of the West" to boost his self confidence. Eventually he became the president of Mexico.

Wiliam Travis (August 9, 1809 – March 6, 1836)

Wiliam Travis immigrated to Texas in 1831. William was arrested by a soldier, Bradburn, at Anahuac along with another lawyer. This, in turn, was the step that was taken too far by Bradburn, because there was a revolt and a skirmish. William Travis was later released, but there was a party that was fetching a cannon to come and bail them out by "democratical" way. He basically caused the Turtle Bayou Resolutions. He fought in the Alamo, but was killed.

Lorenzo de Zavala (October 3, 1788 – November 15, 1836)

Lorenzo de Zavala was a very respected "Federalist" politician. He had helped frame the Mexican Constitution of 1824, which later caused his downfall (Santa Anna turned into a Centralist). He came to Texas to become an empresario, but as an empresario, he had sort of failed. Later, he had been a part of the Texas Independence movement and was the interim vice president.

James Bowie (April 10, 1796 – March 6, 1836)

James Bowie was a leutenant colonel in the wars. Though he may be a minor character in the shadow of others, he still is important. There was a belief that a pack of mules were the "silver train" going to pay the infantry in General Cos's army. When Bowie got there, he was sadly mistaken. The mules were transporting grass, which thus came the name "Grass Fight". Then came the idea of staying in the Alamo to defend. Sadly, the army that was there was later just a smudge on the Mexican's army boot. There were massacres in which James Bowie died as the leutenant colonel of the Texas Army.

JUAN ERASMO SEGUIN

Juan Erasmo Seguin had many political positions before and after Texas won independence. What is probably the most important thing that Erasmo did was telling Moses Austin that he was accepted to make a colony. H wanted Texas to become it's own state in Mexico but then he had to accept combining Texas with Coahuila.

Something interesting

Davy Crockett was famous for stories about him. What that should say was that he was famous for LIES spread by the population.

David Crockett (August 17, 1786 – March 6, 1836)

Davy Crockett was the Tennessee governor that came to Texas in order to start a new life. He said that he would rather be fighting than being a part of politics. He was very famous for his storytelling, politics, and hunting. Although he was famous (by famous, we mean FAMOUS!), he died in the Alamo after backing up Texas.