Monday, December 05, 2011

Texas' Demographics in 1835 - 1836.

Compiled in the aftermath of the Texan victory over Santa Ana at the Battle of San Jacinto...

A snippet from Paul D. Lack's excellent study The Texas Revolutionary Experience: A Political and Social History 1835 - 1836.


Page 255.


One Henry M. Morfit "began making firsthand reports in August [of 1836] to his superior, U.S. Secretary of State John Forsyth.

"Recognition, the diplomatic issue of the day, rested on the potential of Texas for achieving stability.

"Like others, he estimated the Anglo population before the Revolution as at just under forty thousand.

"Indians numbered about twelve thousand; blacks totaled around five thousand, and native Mexicans thirty - five hundred, leaving the Anglos numerically dominant but not united.

"The Texans he spoke to divided the population into settlers who had come before the revolution and volunteers who had emigrated since the outbreak of hostilities -- seeking a good climate, revenge for Americans who had died in the war, or future wealth.

"This latter motive loomed most significant at the time and depended on securing claims to bounties of land ..."

Interesting! :)

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home