Stephen F Austin
Gregg Cantrell, author of Stephen F. Austin: Political and Cultural Mediator, is a Texas A&M Alumni who graduated with his Ph.D. in History in 1988. Cantrell began his career in the field of history as a lecturer at TAMU in ’86, then spent 15 years working as an assistant and later an associate professor at a variety of notable universities around Texas. In 2001, Cantrell got his first job as a professor. Cantrell currently resides in Fort Worth where he works as a history professor at TCU. Cantrell is a well-rounded historian. Besides spreading his knowledge through teaching, Cantrell is a published author of articles, essays and books, belongs to a number of organizations and committees, and serves as a speaker at conferences around Texas.
Stephen Fuller Austin was a strong believer in Manifest Destiny. It was his duty to expand Texas westward and bring Anglo-Americans into Mexican Texas. In 1821, the young empresario set out to Americanize and expand the region between the Brazos and Colorado River, which entailed serving as a middleman (mediator) between the Anglos and the Mexicans. His first step in accomplishing this daunting task was to act as a liaison and learn to communicate efficiently between the two groups. Austin had responsibilities aside from acting as a liaison, “he was responsible for recruiting settlers, surveying and issuing land titles, enforcing laws…” (106) Austin began his work immediately both culturally and politically.
As a cultural mediator, Austin’s first plan of action was to learn and master the Spanish language. The language barrier would prevent him form conducting necessary business and building relationships with the Mexican government. In 1822, Austin traveled to Mexico City where he fully submerged himself in the language and was nearly fluent within weeks. Austin’s next duty as a cultural mediator began the following year upon arriving back in Texas. Austin preached to the newly settled Anglos the importance of the Roman
Stephen Fuller Austin was a strong believer in Manifest Destiny. It was his duty to expand Texas westward and bring Anglo-Americans into Mexican Texas. In 1821, the young empresario set out to Americanize and expand the region between the Brazos and Colorado River, which entailed serving as a middleman (mediator) between the Anglos and the Mexicans. His first step in accomplishing this daunting task was to act as a liaison and learn to communicate efficiently between the two groups. Austin had responsibilities aside from acting as a liaison, “he was responsible for recruiting settlers, surveying and issuing land titles, enforcing laws…” (106) Austin began his work immediately both culturally and politically.
As a cultural mediator, Austin’s first plan of action was to learn and master the Spanish language. The language barrier would prevent him form conducting necessary business and building relationships with the Mexican government. In 1822, Austin traveled to Mexico City where he fully submerged himself in the language and was nearly fluent within weeks. Austin’s next duty as a cultural mediator began the following year upon arriving back in Texas. Austin preached to the newly settled Anglos the importance of the Roman