Empresario

As part of both an effort to halt American expansion into Mexican territory and to colonize the scarcely populated northern region, the Mexican government began a colonization campaign in the early 19th century.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Prior to the 1823 revolution in Mexico, the old Imperial Law called for the appointment of empresarios, or land agents, who received a land grant from the Spanish or Mexican government in return for promoting settlement in the land grant territory. Settlers on land grants agreed to become a Spanish citizen (later Mexican citizen), swear an oath of loyalty to Spain AND become a Roman Catholic.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~