Howdy Partner! You Want to Live in Texas? Lone Star State Living with Stephen F. Austin
Texas in the early 1820s wasn't exactly your picture-perfect postcard destination. It was a wild frontier, full of wide-open spaces, rattlesnakes the size of wagon wheels (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration), and... well, not a whole lot else. But that didn't stop Stephen F. Austin, a real estate agent with a vision bigger than his ten-gallon hat, from trying to recruit settlers to this dusty paradise.
So, who exactly was Austin looking for to populate his Texan dreamland? Buckle up, buttercup, and let's sift through the historical haystack to find the settlers Austin was wrangling.
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| What Type Of Settlers Did Austin Try To Recruit To Live In Texas |
The Ideal Texan: A Wish List with a Few Snags
- Farmers with a Can-Do Attitude: Austin needed folks who weren't afraid to get their hands dirty. Tilling the land, wrangling cattle (or maybe the occasional aforementioned oversized snake), basically anything that wouldn't send the local Native American population running for the hills.
- Good Christian Folks (Preferably Catholic): Look, there's no beating around the bush here. Mexico, which owned Texas at the time, was pretty darn Catholic. Austin, ever the diplomat, tried to recruit settlers who wouldn't ruffle any religious feathers. Though, let's be honest, most of the folks who answered the call were good ol' Protestant Americans.
Side Note: Catholicism wasn't exactly a deal-breaker for Austin. A hardworking farmer with a smile was worth more than their religious affiliation.
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- Families (Unless You Were Awesome): Austin preferred settlers with families in tow. Think of it as a buy-one-get-one-free deal on hard workers. But hey, if you were a single fella with some serious farming chops, Austin might have overlooked the lack of a spouse and kids.
Important Disclaimer: This family-friendly vision didn't exactly extend to enslaved people, unfortunately. Many settlers brought their slaves along to help tame the wild Texas frontier.
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So, Who Actually Signed Up for This Texan Adventure?
Despite the rattlesnakes (real or imagined), Austin's recruitment drive was a hit. Most of the settlers who came were:
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- Southerners: Many came from neighboring states like Louisiana and Mississippi. They were already familiar with the climate and the challenges of frontier living.
- Farmers: This one's a no-brainer. Who else would be interested in wrestling crops from the unforgiving Texan soil?
- A Sprinkle of Rule Breakers: Let's face it, some folks just crave adventure (or maybe they were running from the law back home). These independent spirits added a dash of excitement (and probably trouble) to the new settlements.
The Not-So-Secret Motive: Land. Cheap, plentiful land. That was a huge draw for many settlers. Owning a piece of the Texan frontier was the ultimate dream for many.
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FAQ: How to Become a Texan in the Early 1820s (with a Modern Twist)
How to: Be a self-sufficient farmer.Modern Twist: Learn basic gardening skills. Bonus points for surviving on homegrown kale for a week.
How to: Prove you're a good Christian (Catholic preferred).
Modern Twist: Volunteer at a local charity. Everyone appreciates good deeds, regardless of religious affiliation.How to: Convince someone to move to Texas with you (assuming you're not going solo).
Modern Twist: Bribe them with delicious breakfast tacos.How to: Deal with rattlesnakes (because, Texas).
Modern Twist: Invest in a pair of really good boots. They might not stop a rattlesnake, but they'll look snazzy.How to: Live without all the modern conveniences we take for granted.
Modern Twist: Go camping (without your phone). Embrace the simple life (for a weekend, at least).
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