Texas and the Mexican War: A Chronicle of the Winning of the Southwest

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In 1824 the Mexican Republic enacted a colonization law similar to the former imperial law, but leaving many details to the local authorities. Between the lines of this law we glimpse a shadow of uneasiness. Mexico reserved the right to "take such precautionary measures as it may deem expedient for the security of the confederation, in respect to the foreigners who may settle within it... The Texas that was the consequence of these laws was a mosaic. Theoretically a Spanish country, it was dotted with colonies of foreigners. Each colony formed a tiny state embedded in the recognized state of Coahuila and Texas. To establish the colony an empresario or contractor was empowered to bring in a stated number of families and to allot to each family a specified amount of land within a definite area. This group was given local rights similar to those of other Mexican communities, with an ayuntamiento or local council, elected by the Chapter I. The EmpresariosChapter II. The Turning PointChapter III. The IncompatiblesChapter IV. Texas SecedesChapter V. RecognitionChapter VI. The Mexican ShadowChapter VII. England as PeacemakerChapter VIII. The International Crisis of 1844Chapter IX. The Domestic Crisis of 1844Chapter X. An Adventure in ImperialismChapter XI. "The Hero of Buena Vista"Chapter XII. The Stroke from the EastChapter XIII. The Pivotal ActionChapter XIV. The Conquered Peace