Problems With Mexico and Spain
By Camden Czech
The Issue
In 1821, Stephen Austin started a colony in Texas with the permission of the Spanish government, who wanted the settlers to repel attacking natives. Stephan’s father, Moses, wanted to start a colony in Texas, but he died before he could. Stephen carried out his legacy by starting the colony. Although the start of the colony was successful, Spain soon gave Mexico its independance, making the colony invalid and in need of a start-over. Stephen went Mexico City to ask for permission to have the colony again, and the process took almost a year to complete. Finally, Stephen, and two hundred and ninety-seven families, often called the “Old Three Hundred,” made the colony successful in its first years.