15. The death of his family changed Bowie in many ways
Before the death of Ursula and their children, Bowie was known for being meticulous in appearance and dress while in the towns where he conducted his business. His appearance and manner were displayed as a symbol of his wealth and influence. Although Bowie had never been a teetotaler, following the death of his family he drank far more heavily. He ignored his business affairs, and spent his days in taverns and saloons. In 1834 he returned to land speculation in Texas, taking advantage of new Mexican laws which allowed the breaking up of land grants into smaller tracts.
The following year, Santa Anna dissolved the government of Texas, and ordered all Texans of American descent doing business in the Mexican areas of the region – including Monclova – arrested. Bowie, who was there at the time, fled to the American settlements to the north. Bowie joined lawyer William B. Travis, who had done legal work for him in the past, in a group of Americans who called themselves the War Party. They agitated for war against the Mexicans in Texas and the re-establishment of the Constitution of 1824. Meanwhile, though it was against Mexican law, Americans continued to pour into Texas, a stream of illegal immigration into the Mexican state.