Editing Stephen F. Austin (section)

==Relations with Mexico==
[[File:Stephen F. Austin at the Texas State Capitol.jpg|thumb|upright|Marble sculpture of Stephen F. Austin (1903) by [[Elisabet Ney]] at the Texas State Capitol]]
[[File:Austin & Tanner Map of Texas with Parts of the Adjoining States 1836 UTA.jpg|thumb|Austin's 1836 map of Texas]]

Immigration controls and the introduction of [[tariff]] laws had done much to dissatisfy the colonists, peaking in the [[Anahuac Disturbances]]. Austin became involved in Mexican politics, supporting the upstart [[Antonio López de Santa Anna]]. Following the success of Santa Anna, the colonists sought a compensatory reward, proclaimed at the [[Convention of 1832]]: resumption of immigration, tariff exemption, separation from Coahuila, and a new state government for Texas. Austin did not support these demands; he considered them ill-timed and tried to moderate them. When they were repeated and extended at the [[Convention of 1833]], Austin traveled to Mexico City on July 18, 1833, and met with Vice President [[Valentín Gómez Farías]]. Austin did gain certain significant reforms: the immigration ban was lifted, but a separate state government was not authorized. Statehood in Mexico required a population of 80,000, and Texas had only 30,000.

Believing that he was pushing for Texas independence and suspecting that he was trying to incite insurrection, the Mexican government arrested Austin in January 1834 in [[Saltillo]]. He was taken to Mexico City and imprisoned. No charges were filed against him as no court would accept jurisdiction. He was moved from prison to prison. He was released under bond in December 1834 and required to stay in the Federal District. He was entirely freed under the general amnesty in July 1835 and, in August 1835, left Mexico to return to Texas via New Orleans.