How did Texans work around Article 13?
• They ignored the new laws in Article 13.
• They lied to the government about when enslaved people were rn.
• They made the Mexican government agree to honor labor contracts.
• They asked the government to change its mind.
Texans' strategies for working around Article 13 varied, but some key approaches included:
1. Ignoring the new laws in Article 13: Some Texans simply disregarded the provisions of Article 13 and continued to hold enslaved people without granting them freedom or compensation.
2. Lying to the government about when enslaved people were born: Article 13 stated that children born to enslaved parents after the law's enactment would be considered free. Texans sometimes lied about the birth dates of enslaved individuals to maintain their ownership over them.
3. Making the Mexican government agree to honor labor contracts: Some Texans negotiated with the Mexican government, urging them to respect existing labor contracts that ensured enslaved people would remain in bondage until a specific date, irrespective of Article 13.
4. Petitioning the government to change its mind: Texans who opposed Article 13 or believed it was negatively impacting their economic stability may have filed petitions or lobbied for a reconsideration or repeal of the law.
It is important to note that Article 13 of the Constitution of 1824 in Mexico aimed to gradually abolish slavery; however, these workarounds employed by Texans allowed them to circumvent the law and maintain their slaveholding practices for some time.