Various Settlements in Texas Quick Check
3 of 53 of 5 Items
Question
Use the excerpt to answer the question.
“The government lacks the resources to give each soldier enough to sustain [support] him, and this fact has not caused desertion to decrease. On this date 311 men are missing from the . . . division. . . . I have ordered the paymaster . . . to purchase and bring here the 150 loads of flour for the relief . . . of the [soldiers]. . . . I have absolutely nothing on hand . . . and the entire population is in the same unfortunate condition.”
—Antonio Martinez, Spanish Governor of Texas, Letter to General Joaquin Arredondo, June 19, 1820
How can historians use and manage information about the lack of food and other resources mentioned in Governor Martinez’s letter to determine how the Mexican settlement of Texas contrasted from the earlier Spanish settlement of this region?
(1 point)
Responses
Mexico abandoned the Spanish plan of building presidios to defend local settlements.
Mexico abandoned the Spanish plan of building presidios to defend local settlements.
Mexico placed former Spanish missions in Texas under civilian control.
Mexico placed former Spanish missions in Texas under civilian control.
Mexico offered soldiers from the United States Army cheap land to defend the Texas frontier.
Mexico offered soldiers from the United States Army cheap land to defend the Texas frontier.
Mexico required Tejano settlers to defend themselves against a possible French
invasion.
invasion. Mexico required Tejano settlers to defend themselves against a possible French invasion.
invasion.
To determine how the Mexican settlement of Texas contrasted from the earlier Spanish settlement, historians can analyze the information provided in Governor Martinez's letter. Specifically, they can focus on the lack of food and resources mentioned in the letter. This indicates that the government was struggling to provide enough support for soldiers, leading to desertion and a scarcity of supplies.
From this information, historians can infer that there may have been a shift in policies and practices during the Mexican settlement of Texas compared to the earlier Spanish settlement. One possible contrast could be that Mexico abandoned the Spanish plan of building presidios to defend local settlements. Instead of relying on fortified garrisons, Mexico may have placed former Spanish missions in Texas under civilian control. This change in approach could have affected the availability of resources and support for soldiers.
Additionally, historians could explore whether Mexico offered soldiers from the United States Army cheap land to defend the Texas frontier. This could have been another significant difference between the Mexican and Spanish settlements, as it would indicate a different approach to defense and colonization.
Finally, the mention of the entire population being in the same unfortunate condition could suggest that Mexico required Tejano settlers to defend themselves against a possible French invasion. This would further highlight a shift in policies and responsibilities compared to the earlier Spanish settlement, where the government may have had a more central role in providing for the population's defense and well-being.
Overall, the lack of food and resources mentioned in Governor Martinez's letter provides valuable insight into the differences between the Mexican and Spanish settlements of Texas, enabling historians to further analyze and understand these historical contexts.