ate role in mediating between the Texans and Mexico.
Tejano-Mexican Relations Before 1821
Prior to the 18th century, the barren northern frontier of Mexico which the province of Texas comprised was thinly populated by nomadic Native American Coahuilteca hunter-gatherer groups among whom the Apaches, Comanches and Yaquis eventually predominated. Indian inhabitants of Texas numbered about 32,300 in 1500. Spanish conquistador Alvarez de Pineda explored the Rio Grande region in 1519. The first major settlement was Mission San Juan Batista founded in 1699. In response to a French foray into Texas, the Spanish king ordered troop reinforcements into the region. Beginning in the 1680s and culminating in 1716-1718 with the establishment of the fortified towns (presidios) of San Antonio de Bexar, la Bahia (Goliad) and Las Adaes, small numbers of soldiers, priests, ranchers and farmers immigrated north from Mexico. The settler population increased slowly from 3,000 in 1700 to 7,000 in 1800.
The colonial economy of tejano Texas was based on cattle ranching and corn cultivation and since the early 19th century
slavery-based cotton cultivation. Tejano culture was stable and socially stratified. On top were Spanish or criollo large landowners, priests, and soldiers, then small ranchers and vaqueros or cowboys and at the bottom peones (small farmers) and day workers or jornaleros, who were mostly indians or of mixed blood. Black slaves were imported to work the cotton fields.
Politically, the tejanos, who were "imbued with an independent spirit," consistently displayed a strong attachment to local autonomy, operating quasi-independently through their town councils (ayuntamientos). Under the reforming Bourbon King Carlos (1759-1788), royal control over Texas and other outlying provinces was tightened. Nevertheless, "during the eighteenth century, Tejanos protected community interests by fiercely defending local autonomy." Fricti...