empresario- a sponsor or director of a main event; he brings settlers into new land.
the text you have just read is the dictionary definition, however, lets see if you can figure it out...
so think:
Stephen Austin,
Moses Austin,
Lorenzo de Zavala,
Green DeWitt, and
Martin de Leon
yep! all empresarios who were given land grants by the Mexican Government, brought families over to Texas, and established them there.
Now, let's explore these "empresarios"
the text you have just read is the dictionary definition, however, lets see if you can figure it out...
so think:
Stephen Austin,
Moses Austin,
Lorenzo de Zavala,
Green DeWitt, and
Martin de Leon
yep! all empresarios who were given land grants by the Mexican Government, brought families over to Texas, and established them there.
Now, let's explore these "empresarios"
Moses Austin
Moses was the the very first man to receive permission to bring Americans to Texas. On one trip outside of Texas, Moses had fallen ill on the returning journey. Once learning his land grants had been approved, he plucked his son (Stephen Austin) out of college to ask if he would persue his dream of colonizing Texas. Reluctantly, Stephen complied.
Moses was the the very first man to receive permission to bring Americans to Texas. On one trip outside of Texas, Moses had fallen ill on the returning journey. Once learning his land grants had been approved, he plucked his son (Stephen Austin) out of college to ask if he would persue his dream of colonizing Texas. Reluctantly, Stephen complied.
Stephen F. Austin
As Moses Austin's son, Stephen now has the job of getting people over to Texas. As an empresario, he first was not happy about this, but did it, "simply." He collected three land grants as 350 acres for each family (massive quantities.) The first three hundred families he ever settled were known as THE OLD THREE HUNDRED. Austin would have complete control over their contacts. Besides this, he also strove to produce and improve their "prosperous development."
Green DeWitt
Green was one of the most successful empresarios (next to Austin). He brought 400 families to Texas along with issuing 166 land grants in 1825. Though these colonies' tremendous growth was altered by Indian raids, the 166 land titles were complete by 1831.
Green DeWitt, a very prosperous empersario.
The location of Gonzales, Texas- DeWitts's colonized city.
Martin de Leon
As a native of Mexico, Martin de Leon was also a very successful sponsor to Texas. Shortly after 1805, he received land grants to settle 100-200 families along the Guadalupe River. In 1824 he founded the town of Victoria with the help of his wife, Patricia. Though she gave him money and land, she sided with the Texans during the War. Though Indian raids also troubled his colonies, they became very successful by 1830.
Martin de Leon, a successful empresario.
Under Leon's establishments, Texans settled here, along the Guadalupe River.
And the last mentioned,
Lorenzo de Zavala
Collecting interest in settling families, he collected grants to settle 500 families.
Though he was an empresario for only a short time, his colonies were also very successful. He was also another native-born Mexican empresario.
Lorenzo de Zavala, empresario and Vice President of Texas.
The Irish Flag (representing Hayden Edwards)
Many more empresarios have not been graphed, such as Hayden Edwards, David G. Burnett, James Power, and Joseph Vehlein. They also settled many people from various contries and places to Texas...such as Hayden Edwards settled many people from his native country of Ireland.
NOW SUM IT UP!
To remember important empresarios,
MOSES AUSTIN
STEPHEN AUSTIN
GREEN DEWITT
MARTIN DE LEON
LORENZO DE ZAVALA
Think:
MY
SISTERS'
GREEN
MOUSE
LAUGHS
Photos used under Creative Commons from Esparta, The U.S. Army, romana klee
