Law of April 6, 1830

The Law of April 6, 1830 was passed in Mexico to counter concerns that Mexican Texas, part of the border state of Coahuila y Texas was in danger of being annexed by the United States.

1 Background
2 Response
- 2.1 Immigration
3 References
4 Sources

Background

In 1827 and 1829, the United States offered to purchase Mexican Texas. Both times, the president of Mexico Guadalupe Victoria, declined to sell part of the border state.^[1] After the failed Fredonian Rebellion in east Texas, the Mexican government asked General Manuel Mier y Teran to investigate the outcome of the 1824 General Colonization Law in Texas. In 1829, Mier y Teran issued his report, which concluded that most Anglo Americans tried to isolate themselves from Mexicans. He also noted that slave reforms passed by the state were being ignored.^[2]

Almost all of Mier y Teran's recommendations were adopted in a series of laws passed on April 6, 1830 under President Anastasio Bustamante.^[3] The law explicitly banned any further immigration from the United States to Texas.^[4] Settlement contracts were brought under federal rather than state control, and colonies that did not have at least 150 inhabitants would be canceled.^[5] Provisions of the law were designed to encourage Mexican citizens to move from the interior to Texas. Mexicans who agreed to relocate to Texas would get good land, free transportation to Texas, and some financial assistance.^[3] Convicts would be sent to Texas to build fortifications and roads to stimulate trade.^[3]

Other parts of the law were targeted at those already living in Texas. Among the provisions was an order for Texas to comply with the emancipation proclamation or face military intervention. Bustamante rescinded the property tax law, which had exempted immigrants from paying taxes for ten years. He further increased tariffs on goods entering Mexico from the United States, causing their prices to rise.^[6]

Response

Immigration

The ban and other measures did not stop U.S. citizens from migrating to Texas by the thousands. By 1834, it was estimated that over 30,000 Anglos lived in Texas,^[7] compared to only 7,800 Mexicans.^[8]

References

^ Edmondson (2000), p. 78.
^ Manchaca (2001), p. 199.
^ ^a ^b ^c Henderson (2007), p. 68.
^ Henderson (2007), p. 69.
^ Vazquez (1997), pp. 62–63.
^ Manchaca (2001), p. 200.
^ Manchaca (2001), p. 201.
^ Manchaca (2001), p. 172.

Sources

Edmondson, J.R. (2000), The Alamo Story-From History to Current Conflicts, Plano, TX: Republic of Texas Press, ISBN 1-55622-678-0
Henderson, Timothy J (2007), A glorious defeat: Mexico and its war with the United States, Macmillan, ISBN 9780809061204
Menchaca, Martha (2001), Recovering History, Constructing Race: The Indian, Black, and White Roots of Mexican Americans, The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Series in Latin American and Latino Art and Culture, Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, ISBN 0292752539
Vazquez, Josefina Zoraida (1997), "The Colonization and Loss of Texas: A Mexican Perspective", in Rodriguez O., Jaime E.; Vincent, Kathryn, Myths, Misdeeds, and Misunderstandings: The Roots of Conflict in U.S.–Mexican Relations, Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources Inc., ISBN 0842026622
Weber, David J. (1982), The Mexican frontier, 1821-1846: the American Southwest under Mexico, University of New Mexico Press, ISBN 9780826306036