In the early 1820s, Texas was part of Mexico. Mexico wanted more people to settle there. It hoped new settlers would help the area grow and stay safe.
To do this, the Mexican government worked with an empresario. An empresario was a person who agreed to bring families to Texas in exchange for land. Stephen F. Austin became the most famous empresario in Texas.
Stephen F. Austin’s Job
Stephen F. Austin did not start this plan alone. His father, Moses Austin, first asked for permission to bring settlers to Texas. After Moses died, Stephen took over the job.
Austin had to recruit families to move to Texas. He looked for hardworking settlers who would obey the law. He also wanted people with strong moral character, which means they were honest, responsible, and behaved well.
The settlers who came to Austin’s colony had to follow rules. They had to become loyal to Mexico. They also had to agree to live peacefully and help the settlement succeed.
Why Families Moved to Texas
Many families wanted a fresh start. Texas had rich soil, rivers, and forests. These are examples of natural resources, useful things found in nature that people can use.
Families could farm, raise animals, and build homes. In return for settling the land, many families received a land grant. This was land given by the government for a certain purpose, such as farming and settling.
[INSERT LESSON IMAGE: map or illustration of Stephen F. Austin’s colony and the area where settlers received land]
Austin’s first settlers became known as the Old Three Hundred. This was the first group of about 300 families who settled in his colony. They helped begin one of the earliest large Anglo settlements in Texas.
Building a New Settlement
Life in the colony was not easy. Families had to clear land, build homes, and plant crops. They also had to work together to make the settlement stronger.
Austin helped organize the colony. He solved problems, gave out land, and worked with Mexican leaders. Because of his leadership, many people call him the Father of Texas.
Stephen F. Austin’s colony was important in Texas history. It brought many new settlers to the region. It also helped shape how Texas grew in the years that followed.