Nolan born inConceives an idea to make a fortuneUses Louisiana to mount excursions to TexasRoad up wild horses and take them back to LA where they would sell themRounded up 1200 horsesPretty much free money running on the Texas plainsClients were US army and General James WilkinsonNolan could not have helped but notice how weak Spanish presence was in Texas1800 Nolan returns one more time with about 30 menSpain claims that Nolan is starting a rebellionNolan is killed and his 30 men capturedNolan recognized as a filibuster to challenge Spanish and Mexican ruleFilibuster = pirate / robberOften credited with being the first map of Texas, however map was never foundHe used to pass material s on to WilkinsonSpain steps up its demands that the US controls the border and the US citizens running across it.Other threats to Spanish TexasNapoleonFrench leaderMilitary genius and political geniusAugust 1808, France invaded Spain and napoleon installed his brother Joseph as the Spanish monarchTreaty of San IlafansoSpain had returned France the land of LouisianaFrance has slave rebellions, needs cash, Americans are migrating to territory anywaysSells US LA land for 15 million dollarsDoubles the size of the USPoses a real threat now to Spanish Texas.Where’s the boundary??Gives the extreme boundary. Claims that LA land had Texas with it!Claims by LaSalleNo one wanted to go to war over the claims so it was left unspecifiedTo avoid clashes, Gen Wilkinson and Spanish Lt signed an agreement declaring the disputed territory neutral ground until disclosedNot a treaty, not ratified by the govts, but it was largely respected.Ultimately the neutral ground territory became a haven for criminals and all around bad people.Stretch of land between Sabine River and the Red RiverSUMMARY OF PERCEIVED THREATS TO SPANISH TEXASBirth of the USNolanNapoleon BonaparteLouisiana PurchaseBoundary DisputeThe Grito de DoloresThe cry of Dolores / The cry of independence1810 revolution against Spain in MexicoResulted from class discontentRevolution of rising expectationsIf you make things better, the poor realize that things can get better. One taste of the good life is all it takes. Don’t get more right away, the people have increasing discontentClass struggle backgroundPeninsulares - .3%Blacks - .2%Criollos - 17%Mestizos - 22%Indians - 61%Class discontentCommoners pay all the taxes, do almost all the work, inherit almost no political or economic rewards. Tired hungry and poor.Upper classes get all the tax breaks, reap all profits, occupy all positions of power and esteemClerical concernPriests genuinely care about lower classes. Concerned about the lower classes welfare and the poverty they live inConfusion in SpainIssues result from confusion in Spain over who should be king and how much power should he have?Drought in MexicoFather Miguel Hidalgo y CostillaClass welfareCould stand no more Sept 16, 1810Mexican Independence dayAppealed for the lower classes. Asked people to leave their homes and join him to go against the government in name of the KingGrito De Dolores given on 16 Sept 1810Class WarfareThe commoners responded enthusiasticallyFather Hidalgo proved his care for themEstablished factoriesTraining indigenous people from anything from leather making to bee keepingDidn’t believe in oppressing the nativesWanted them to use their natural resources of the area to help the poorWanted to make the Indians and Mestizos more self reliant and less dependent on Spanish dependenciesViolated policies that nobles had voted for.Was challenging political power and status and messing with their profits.Told Hidalgo to cease and desistHidalgo leads an army of poorly armed Indians and Mestizos to the upper classes, who responded immediately and enthusiastically to this.Added tens of thousands of recruits on the way to San AntonioHidalgo was no dummy.When they came to rest at the hamlet of Atotonilco, Hidalgo entered the church and emerged with a banner of the Virgin of GuadalupeWhen they attacked, they had an image of the Virgin of GuadalupePlaced it on their weaponry and hats, anything they could get their hands on.Adopted the virgin icon for reasons less religious and more politicalGot more recruits for his ranks and army this way.Divided, defeated, captured, defrocked, excommunicated and executedHad over 100,000 soldiers with him by the peakGroup split into two groupsThose who agreed with rape, pillage and plunder and those who did not.Two forces split and Hidalgo is left with about 45,000 troops.Rejected a pardon offered by the governor in exchange for his giving up.Hidalgo was betrayed and captured by royalistsTaken to city of ChihuahuaStriped of priestly office and was excommunicated of catholic church in July of 1811Found guilty of treason by military courtExecuted by firing squad on July 30 of 1811Placed hand over heart to show the riflemen where to aim.Refused to wear an eye coveringDecapitated with his men and their heads stayed on display for 10 yearsHis body was displayed outside the prison and then buried by a church in ChihuahuaJose MorelosWisely adopted the symbol of the virgin of Guadalupe as the seal of his congressAssigned her a feast dayThe Virgin was the source behind his power and victoriesJuan Bautista de las Casas 1811Disputes among Texas administratorsRevolt rippled through TexasExperienced military veteran who took up Hidalgo’s cry in Texas.Drew much support from soldiers and lower classes in the Bexar presidioEnjoyed many initial successesRemoved royal officers from their offices in Bexar and San AntonioSan Antonio - he also encountered pro-royalist forcesOusted him in March 1811Did not end with las Casas ousting himPeople's expectations are gaining forceThe Gutierrez-Magee Expedition 1812-13The republican army of the northAllegedly encouraged by US officials who wished to create a good foreign policy towards New Spain/MexicoGutierrez made a partnership with Magee crossed the Sabine river with the republican army of the northCaptured NacogdochesRep army of the northOver 700 expedition members, volunteers, adventurersMany were troops that had hung around on the neutral ground.Marched towards central Texas recruiting more and captured San Antonio and lapahaya1813 claimed Texas as a new independent stateMagee - later