Texas (known as Tejas) has been part of New Spain since the early colonial period.

In 1821 in an effort to colonize and populate Texas, the Spanish commander in Monterrey had granted a concession to a United States pioneer, Moses Austin, to settle the area under the Roman Catholic faith.

Land could be acquired for a nominal charge of US$0.25 per hectare, and soon colonists from the United States started to pour into the area.

By 1835 they outnumber the Mexicans, four to one.

Texas has no autonomous government and is politically attached to the state of Coahuila.

Most Mexicans begin to fear the incursions by North Americans and the possibility of losing Texas to the United States.

Restrictions had been placed on the future immigration of colonists from the United States, and slavery had been abolished in 1829 in the hope of discouraging United States southerners from moving into the area.