Question
Use the excerpt to answer the question.
“The government lacks the resources to give each soldier enough to sustain [support] him, and this
fact has not caused desertion to decrease. On this date 311 men are missing from the . . . division. . . .
I have ordered the paymaster . . . to purchase and bring here the 150 loads of flour for the relief . . . of
the [soldiers]. . . . I have absolutely nothing on hand . . . and the entire population is in the same
unfortunate condition.”
—Antonio Martinez, Spanish Governor of Texas, Letter to General Joaquin Arredondo, June 19, 1820
How can historians use and manage information about the lack of food and other resources
mentioned in Governor Martinez’s letter to determine how the Mexican settlement of Texas contrasted
from the earlier Spanish settlement of this region?
(1 point)
Mexico offered soldiers from the United States Army cheap land to defend the Texas
frontier.
Mexico required Tejano settlers to defend themselves against a possible French invasion.
Mexico abandoned the Spanish plan of building presidios to defend local settlements.
Mexico placed former Spanish missions in Texas under civilian control.
“The government lacks the resources to give each soldier enough to sustain [support] him, and this
fact has not caused desertion to decrease. On this date 311 men are missing from the . . . division. . . .
I have ordered the paymaster . . . to purchase and bring here the 150 loads of flour for the relief . . . of
the [soldiers]. . . . I have absolutely nothing on hand . . . and the entire population is in the same
unfortunate condition.”
—Antonio Martinez, Spanish Governor of Texas, Letter to General Joaquin Arredondo, June 19, 1820
How can historians use and manage information about the lack of food and other resources
mentioned in Governor Martinez’s letter to determine how the Mexican settlement of Texas contrasted
from the earlier Spanish settlement of this region?
(1 point)
Mexico offered soldiers from the United States Army cheap land to defend the Texas
frontier.
Mexico required Tejano settlers to defend themselves against a possible French invasion.
Mexico abandoned the Spanish plan of building presidios to defend local settlements.
Mexico placed former Spanish missions in Texas under civilian control.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Historians can use the information about the lack of food and resources in Governor Martinez's letter to highlight the changes in governance and military support in Texas between the Spanish and Mexican settlements. The mention of insufficient supplies and the presence of desertion among soldiers indicates a decline in military organization and resource management under Mexican rule compared to the earlier Spanish efforts. During the Spanish settlement, presidios (military forts) were established to provide support and security to settlers. As indicated in the letter, the Mexican government struggled to provide necessary resources for both soldiers and settlers, showcasing a contrast in the effectiveness of governance and the ability to maintain order and support for local populations. Therefore, the most relevant answer to how the Mexican settlement contrasted with earlier Spanish settlement is:
*Mexico abandoned the Spanish plan of building presidios to defend local settlements.*
This abandonment contributed to the overall decline in military support and resource availability for the settlements in Texas.
*Mexico abandoned the Spanish plan of building presidios to defend local settlements.*
This abandonment contributed to the overall decline in military support and resource availability for the settlements in Texas.