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boosting economic growth, increasing the size of the military, and bringing new capital and skills into the country to replace those lost during the expulsion of many
Spaniards. Proponents of immigration pointed to the United States' population growth, attributed largely to immigration. Opponents cautioned that there may be difficulties in attracting settlers and later assimilating them to Mexican mores.
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Most individuals were restricted to a total of 11 square leagues of land (71.5 square miles (185 km)). Of them, 6 square leagues could be of quality for grazing animals, 1 square league could be irrigable land, and 4 square leagues could be non-irrigable. New towns would be given an additional 4
214:
In 1836, federal officials rescinded the provision allowing governors to preside over land commissions. Although most governors were honest, in
Arizona and California some were land speculators who seized land illegally and gave it to their friends and relatives. The updated rules forbade anyone
188:
The process for gaining an official land title was expensive and time-consuming, and many residents did not have their land surveyed or complete the application process. Empresarios often claimed land that was already inhabited by people who had not sought legal protection forcing the existing
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granted permission for foreigners to live on public lands along the northern frontier of the colony. The lack of a formal policy had not stopped many immigrants – a number of people had left the United States to settle in the
Mexican northern provinces. Local officials were not eager to expel
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Land would be granted from available public land. Spanish custom had allowed residents continuing use of their land as long as there was no challenge to ownership. The new law allowed residents, including
Christianized natives, to claim title to any land they inhabited, cultivated, or used for
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Some believed that their own countrymen were not suitable colonists, and most agreed that the system of missions and presidios did not work well for settling the frontiers. Mexican liberals argued in favor of allowing foreigners to immigrate. This would satisfy multiple objectives, including
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Each state was to have administrators to survey land, confirm land titles, and settle disputes. Missionaries were tasked with helping the native tribes to understand the process. Governors were to organize and to preside over land commissions to review and to finalize the land titles.
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Iturbide's primary concern was stabilizing the new government, and the
Imperial Colonization Law was not signed until February 18, 1823. Iturbide was overthrown a month later, and the law was annulled shortly thereafter. During its brief existence, a few land grants were awarded to
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Many
Mexicans believed that a new method for increasing population along the frontiers was necessary. The sparse settlements were vulnerable to attacks from native tribes and for encroachment by foreign powers. The most vulnerable was Texas; early in 1821 the town of
171:
The law did not require settlers to be
Mexican citizens although citizens were given preference in land grants, and it did not require that the settlers convert to Catholicism. However, federal laws prohibited all religions except Catholicism.
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in Texas. The roughly 200 Mexican troops garrisoned in the province were unable to effectively patrol the borders to keep out additional squatters, nor were they powerful enough to evict the squatters already there. Proponents of
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was populated almost solely with native peoples or
Spanish settlers. Foreign immigration was forbidden for much of the country. Few settlers chose to journey to the economically stagnant northern frontier, leaving provinces like
128:, and Texas. The proposal suggested that Europeans and American citizens be recruited for most of the states and provinces, although for California they recommended sending Mexican convicts and recruiting Chinese settlers.
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The new population was not fully assimilated. Many immigrants settled in the eastern part of Texas and were isolated from the established
Mexican towns. The attitudes of the immigrants culminated in the
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chronically underpopulated. Despite multiple efforts to increase the population along the frontier, by 1821 there were only 3,200 settlers in Alta
California, and only 2,500 in Texas.
211:, who wrote the 1830 law, stated, "Texas will be lost for this Republic if adequate measures to save it are not taken.... Where others send invading armies... send their colonists."
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rescinded all empresario contracts that had not been completed, and it prohibited Americans from settling in any Mexican territory adjacent to the United States. Secretary of State
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gained independence from Spain. The new country was sparsely populated. Approximately 6.2 million people lived in an area that spanned from what is now the United States state of
52:, a land grant and permission to bring families from Louisiana to Texas. Austin died before bringing any families. Several months later, at the urging of Mexican delegates, the
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residents from their homes. Many of the traditional hunting grounds of the native tribes were considered public land and given to empresarios to settle foreigners.
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Many Americans immigrated to Mexico, where land was cheaper. By 1830, Texas had a population of 7,000 foreign-born residents, with only 3,000 Mexican nationals.
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On August 18, 1824, the new Mexican government passed the General Colonization Law. This statute allowed foreigners to gain title to land that was at least 20
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In 1819, after the United States abandoned its claims to Texas, Spain implemented a new immigration policy. In January 1821, Spanish authorities gave
112:, to recommend a plan. The commission recommended following the precedent of the earlier Spanish law and allowing foreign settlers to help colonize
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leagues of land for public use. Empresarios were granted more personal land. For every 100 families settled, the empresario could receive 5
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from the border of another country or at least 10 leagues of the coast. Settlers would be exempt from taxes for ten years.
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potentially productive settlers who could help improve the colonies, and the squatters were generally left alone.
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made colonization a priority for his administration. He appointed a government commission, headed by
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Recovering History, Constructing Race: The Indian, Black, and White Roots of Mexican Americans
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argued that legalizing these settlers would help to turn their loyalty towards Mexico.
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was a Mexican statute allowing foreigners to immigrate to the country.
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The Mexican frontier, 1821-1846: the American Southwest under Mexico
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had been captured by American filibusters as part of the
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who was not a federal official from issuing the patent.
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who agreed to settle a number of families. One went to
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509:Settlement schemes in North America
18:Colonization Law of August 18, 1824
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110:Juan Francisco Azcárate y Ledesma
48:, a former Spanish subject from
443:University of New Mexico Press
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235:Illegal immigration to Mexico
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74:Mexican War of Independence
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418:University of Texas Press
322:Weber, pp. 164–165.
184:Results and modifications
494:Legal history of Mexico
484:Mexican immigration law
499:Legal history of Texas
164:of grazing land and 5
489:Immigration to Mexico
230:Immigration to Mexico
225:Law of April 6, 1830
205:Law of April 6, 1830
60:Shortly thereafter,
28:Under Spanish rule,
198:Fredonian Rebellion
124:, Alta California,
106:Agustin I of Mexico
95:immigration reform
452:978-0-8263-0603-6
373:Menchaca, p. 183.
350:Menchaca, p. 181.
336:Menchaca, p. 182.
138:Stephen F. Austin
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134:empresarios
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241:References
126:New Mexico
24:Background
70:Guatemala
50:Louisiana
30:New Spain
437:(1982),
408:(2001),
219:See also
114:Coahuila
104:Emperor
399:Sources
166:labores
154:leagues
148:Details
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162:sitios
82:Goliad
66:Oregon
62:Mexico
447:ISBN
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