on developed over Mexico City's attempt to crack down on smuggling and to reorient Texas' trade away from French Louisiana and toward Mexico. Tijerina said "Tejano traditions and interests not only set them apart, culturally and politically, but also caused continuing tensions with the more conservative forces in Mexico City."
The period of the Mexican war of independence (1810-1821) destabilized Texas. Control of the province changed hands several times. Indian attacks on settlements increased. Mixed Anglo/Indian and Hispanic filibustero invasions from the East in 1813 and in the mid-1820s called for Texan independence, but attracted relatively little local support.
Factors Behind the Movement for Texan Independence
In 1824 newly independent Mexico adopted a fairly liberal
constitution which tejanos supported. However, they opposed the merger of Texas and Coahuila in which they were greatly outnumbered. According to Tijerina, "while Tejanos recognized the need to work within the parameters of the new Mexican nation, they did not accept the l
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