Mexicans Too Fought to Keep Americans Out
Come and Take It, 1835 Republic of Texas, Gonzales Flag, this and more at Flags of the Republic of Texas
It turns out that back in 1823, when Texas belonged to Mexico, Mexico opened Texas to foreign settlers in order to increase the population of Tejas. Immigrants could become Mexican citizen with offers for cheap land and tax deferments. Texas was soon flooded. Shortly after, Mexico tried to closed the border but the immigrants from the US kept coming in illegally! Although the new settlers were pretty much living outside of Mexican law, it’s wasn’t until Mexico outlawed slavery in 1835 that the Texans decide it was time to revolt in what was to become the Texas Revolution. Who else you gonna get to pick the cotton for free? Source: US Mexican War 1846-1848, by PBS
“From 1821 to 1836 the population of Texas increased from about 4,000 to between 35,000 and 50,000 people. Most of the immigrants were from the southern United States. They only pretended to be Catholic, spoke English, did not have much respect for authority, and refused to assimilate. Most importantly, they brought black slaves with them to cultivate cotton. Mexicans, having fought only recently for their freedom from Spain, opposed slavery.” Source: The Cities Of Website