Promised Land: Solms, Castro, and Sam Houston’s Colonization Contracts

In 1842, Sam Houston, president of the new Texas Republic, wanted four things: peace with Mexico, peace with the native population, financing from Europe, and productive settlers for his vast, new country. He issued colonization contracts in an effort to meet all these objectives, but only two of President Houston’s contracts actually resulted in permanent settlement. Promised Land provides a close examination of the circumstances surrounding the colonization contract issued to Henri Castro of France and the contract assumed by Germany’s Adelsverein.