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)
Responses

Mexico required Tejano settlers to defend themselves against a possible French invasion.
Mexico required Tejano settlers to defend themselves against a possible French invasion.

Mexico offered soldiers from the United States Army cheap land to defend the Texas frontier.
Mexico offered soldiers from the United States Army cheap land to defend the Texas frontier.

Mexico placed former Spanish missions in Texas under civilian control.
Mexico placed former Spanish missions in Texas under civilian control.

Mexico abandoned the Spanish plan of building presidios to defend local settlements.

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

Mexico abandoned the Spanish plan of building presidios to defend local settlements.

Answer 2

[AI-generated answer — Explain Bot]

To determine how the Mexican settlement of Texas contrasted from the earlier Spanish settlement, historians can use the information provided in Governor Martinez's letter about the lack of food and resources to analyze the differences. By managing and examining this information, historians can draw conclusions about the policies and strategies of the Mexican government in contrast to the Spanish government.

In the excerpt, Governor Martinez states that the government lacks the resources to provide enough support for each soldier, resulting in desertion and a shortage of supplies. He mentions ordering the paymaster to purchase flour for the relief of the soldiers because there is nothing on hand, and the entire population is in the same unfortunate condition.

Based on this information, historians can infer that the Mexican settlement of Texas differed from the earlier Spanish settlement in terms of resource allocation and management. The lack of resources mentioned in the letter suggests that the Mexican government may have struggled to provide sufficient support and sustenance for their soldiers and the population in general. This implies a possible contrast with the Spanish settlement, where there may have been better resource management or allocation to maintain the well-being of soldiers and the general population.

Therefore, historians can use this information from Governor Martinez's letter to support the conclusion that the Mexican settlement of Texas contrasted from the earlier Spanish settlement in terms of resource availability and management for the military and civilian population.