As Texas’ Anglo population surged, tensions erupted with Mexico over cultural differences, including slavery. The overwhelmingly Protestant Anglo settlers spoke English instead of Spanish. Furthermore, many of the settlers were Southern cotton or sugar farmers who had brought slaves with them to Texas. Mexico, which had abolished slavery in 1829, insisted in vain that Texans free their slaves.
In 1830, Mexico sealed its borders
against any further immigration from the United States and slapped a heavy tax
on the importation of American goods. Mexican troops rode into Texas to enforce
Mexican law. Mexico, however, lacked sufficient troops to police its borders
well. Despite immigration restrictions, the Anglo population of Texas doubled
between 1830 and 1834. In 1834, Mexico repealed its 1830 ban on immigration. By
1835, more than 1,000 Americans streamed into Texas each month. A year later,
the population of Texas included only 4,000 Tejanos—Mexican settlers—but about
30,000 Native Americans, 30,000 Anglos, and 5,000 African Americans.
Meanwhile, Mexican politics had become
increasingly unstable. Stephen Austin, an American who led settlers into Texas,
traveled to Mexico City in 1833 to present petitions for greater
self-government for Texas. Santa Anna, convinced that Mexico would not be able
to handle democracy, suspended the 1824 constitution and had Austin arrested
and imprisoned for inciting revolution. After Santa Anna suspended local powers
in Texas and other Mexican states, several rebellions erupted; including what
would eventually come to be known as the Texas Revolution.