Analyze how the Mexican government avoided making a decision about slavery.
• They let Stephen F. Austin decide.
• They left it up to the individual states.
• They pretended slavery did not exist.
• They let each person decide for themselves.
The Mexican government's avoidance of making a decision about slavery can be analyzed through several key approaches:
1. Delegating authority to Stephen F. Austin: Stephen F. Austin, an American empresario, was granted significant autonomy in colonization matters in Texas by the Mexican government. While Austin was not explicitly given power over the slavery issue, his influence allowed him to effectively shape policies regarding slavery.
2. Decentralization and state autonomy: Rather than imposing a centralized decision on slavery, the Mexican government allowed individual states within Mexico, including Texas, to determine their own stance on the institution. This approach granted states the freedom to either allow or prohibit slavery as they saw fit.
3. Ignoring or downplaying slavery: The Mexican government, particularly during the early years of colonization, often turned a blind eye to the existence of slavery. This allowed the institution to persist and flourish in certain areas without direct government intervention. By pretending slavery did not exist, the government avoided taking a clear stance and thereby avoided the potential political and social conflicts associated with addressing the issue.
4. Emphasizing individual choice: Some Mexican officials supported the notion of allowing each person to decide for themselves whether they would engage in or support slavery. This approach, known as 'personal freedom,' effectively shifted the responsibility of deciding whether to own slaves onto individual settlers. By taking this position, the government avoided directly endorsing or condemning slavery, leaving the decision up to each person's moral compass.
Overall, the Mexican government employed a combination of delegation, decentralization, ignorance, and emphasis on personal freedom to avoid making a definitive decision about slavery. These approaches allowed the government to navigate the complex issue without creating significant unrest or unrest within the colonized territories.