Professor Benjamin Johnson

Thank you so much.

I'm very pleased to be with you.

Tejas in 1820 is really kind of on the ropes.

It has, you know, long been claimed by Spain as the northern extent of its possessions in North America.

But, you know, you could say it belongs to the Comanche more than it belongs to the Spanish.

There's been lots of civil unrest and insurrection associated with efforts to create an independent Mexico that will govern itself instead of being under the rule of Spain.

That's correct.

And there's really, you know, the largest is San Antonio.

So there's a cluster of Hispanic residents around San Antonio, some farther east in Nacogdoches, some farther south in what will end up being South Texas.

And it's in worse shape than it had been a few generations before.

And as Mexico gains its independence in 1821, I hope I'm not getting ahead of our story too much.

There is a lot of sentiment that they need to bring in more property owning sedentary people and they have a lot of land and there are a lot of such people in the United States who don't have land.

And, you know, maybe this could work out.

Maybe we could invite some Americans down there.

That's correct.

Although, you know, there are also ways in which for about a decade after Stephen F. Austin brings in 100 families, you know, it really does work.

Stephen is known as Esteban.

That's how I write about him in my book.

He's the godfather to Mexican children.

He becomes fluent in Spanish.