Texas RevolutionTexas Revolution

Major BattlesMajor Battles

& Events& Events

GonzalesGonzalesOn January 1, 1831, Green DeWitt initiated the new year by writing Ramón Músquiz, the political chief of Bexar, asking him to make arrangements for a cannon to be furnished to the Gonzales colonists for protection against hostile Indians.

The first conflict between Mexican troops and Texan colonists came at Gonzales on October 2, 1835. Mexican commander Colonel Ugartechea ordered the people of Gonzales to surrender their small brass cannon. The people refused and gathered men from neighboring towns to help in the town’s defense. As the Mexican troops

neared Gonzales, the Texans raised a flag with the words “Come and Take It”. When the Mexican troops arrived at Gonzales, they faced 160 armed Texans commanded

by Colonel John H. Moore. In the end, the Mexican troops withdrew and moved towards San Antonio. The Mexican military suffered one casualty, while the Texans came out of the minor battle without a loss of life. Texans won the battle and they

know there was no turning back, war was inevitable.

““Come and Take It”Come and Take It”

After the Texans After the Texans defeated the defeated the Mexican troops in Mexican troops in Gonzales, they Gonzales, they issued a call for issued a call for others to arm others to arm themselves and join themselves and join them at their camp them at their camp for a march on the for a march on the Mexican soldiers Mexican soldiers stationed in San stationed in San Antonio. Antonio.

AftermathAftermath

The cannon was taken back to Gonzales, mounted to The cannon was taken back to Gonzales, mounted to a four-wheel carriage and christened the "Flyin' a four-wheel carriage and christened the "Flyin' Artillery". The plan was to take the cannon to San Artillery". The plan was to take the cannon to San Antonio, but the carriage broke on the way. Antonio, but the carriage broke on the way.

The carriage and cannon were buried in a creek bed, The carriage and cannon were buried in a creek bed, where it remained undisturbed for a century. where it remained undisturbed for a century.

In 1936, a flood unearthed the cannon, and it passed In 1936, a flood unearthed the cannon, and it passed through several owners over the next few decades. through several owners over the next few decades.

In 1980, the cannon was authenticated by scientific In 1980, the cannon was authenticated by scientific tests and comparison with the original blacksmith's tests and comparison with the original blacksmith's records. records.

The cannon now resides in the Gonzales Memorial The cannon now resides in the Gonzales Memorial Museum.Museum.

Battle at the AlamoBattle at the Alamo

Capturing the AlamoCapturing the Alamo San Antonio and the Alamo played a critical San Antonio and the Alamo played a critical

role in the Texas Revolution. role in the Texas Revolution. In December 1835, Ben Milam led Texian In December 1835, Ben Milam led Texian

and Tejano volunteers against Mexican and Tejano volunteers against Mexican troops quartered in the city. After five days troops quartered in the city. After five days of house-to-house fighting, they forced of house-to-house fighting, they forced General Martín Perfecto de Cós and his General Martín Perfecto de Cós and his soldiers to surrender. The victorious soldiers to surrender. The victorious volunteers then occupied the Alamo — volunteers then occupied the Alamo — already fortified prior to the battle by Cós' already fortified prior to the battle by Cós' men — and strengthened its defenses.men — and strengthened its defenses.

Santa Anna ArrivesSanta Anna Arrives

On February 23, 1836, the On February 23, 1836, the arrival of General Antonio arrival of General Antonio López de Santa Anna's López de Santa Anna's army outside San Antonio army outside San Antonio nearly caught them by nearly caught them by surprise. Undaunted, the surprise. Undaunted, the Texians and Tejanos Texians and Tejanos prepared to defend the prepared to defend the Alamo together. The Alamo together. The defenders held out for 13 defenders held out for 13 days against Santa Anna's days against Santa Anna's army. army.

Take No PrisonersTake No Prisoners

Santa Anna ordered that the red flag Santa Anna ordered that the red flag of “no quarter” be flown, meaning he of “no quarter” be flown, meaning he did not intend to take any prisoners did not intend to take any prisoners in the upcoming battle.in the upcoming battle.

““Victory or Death”Victory or Death”

Col. William B. Travis, the commander of the Alamo sent forth couriers carrying pleas for help to communities in Texas. On the eighth day of the siege, a band of 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived, bringing the number of defenders to nearly two hundred.

To The People of Texas andAll Americans In The World --

February 24, 1836Fellow citizens & compatriots --

I am beseiged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna -- I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours &

have not lost a man -- The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken -- I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls -- I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I

call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, & every thing dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch -- The

enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am

determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country --

VICTORY OR DEATH William Barret Travis

Lt. Col. Comdt. P.S. The Lord is on our side -- When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn -- We have since found in deserted houses 80 or

90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves --

March 6, 1836March 6, 1836

The final assault came before daybreak on the The final assault came before daybreak on the morning of March 6, 1836, as columns of Mexican morning of March 6, 1836, as columns of Mexican soldiers emerged from the predawn darkness and soldiers emerged from the predawn darkness and headed for the Alamo's walls. Cannon and small headed for the Alamo's walls. Cannon and small arms fire from inside the Alamo beat back several arms fire from inside the Alamo beat back several attacks. Regrouping, the Mexicans scaled the walls attacks. Regrouping, the Mexicans scaled the walls and rushed into the compound. Once inside, they and rushed into the compound. Once inside, they turned a captured cannon on the Long Barrack and turned a captured cannon on the Long Barrack and church, blasting open the barricaded doors. The church, blasting open the barricaded doors. The desperate struggle continued until the defenders desperate struggle continued until the defenders were overwhelmed. By sunrise, the battle had were overwhelmed. By sunrise, the battle had ended and Santa Anna entered the Alamo ended and Santa Anna entered the Alamo compound to survey the scene of his victory.compound to survey the scene of his victory.

OutcomeOutcome

The assault had lasted no more than The assault had lasted no more than ninety minutes. ninety minutes.

All Texan soldiers were killed in All Texan soldiers were killed in battle or executed.battle or executed.– Santa Anna released the women and Santa Anna released the women and

children, including children, including Suzanna DickinsonSuzanna Dickinson and her daughter, and an enslaved and her daughter, and an enslaved person.person.

What did the Alamo defenders What did the Alamo defenders actually accomplish?actually accomplish?

They stopped Santa Anna’s advance They stopped Santa Anna’s advance for 2 weeksfor 2 weeks

They killed approximately 600 of his They killed approximately 600 of his professional soldiersprofessional soldiers

Made Texans determined to fightMade Texans determined to fight Inspired people from the US to help Inspired people from the US to help

TexasTexas

Forming a New Forming a New GovernmentGovernment

The Constitutional The Constitutional ConventionsConventions

1835 Convention1835 Convention Formed a provisional government, but did Formed a provisional government, but did

not declare independencenot declare independence Instead they declared allegiance to the Instead they declared allegiance to the

1824 Mexican Constitution1824 Mexican Constitution To make people aware of Santa Anna’s To make people aware of Santa Anna’s

disregard for the constitution, and their disregard for the constitution, and their support for it, this variation of the Mexican support for it, this variation of the Mexican flag was made.flag was made.

CONSTITUTION OF 1824CONSTITUTION OF 1824

Written and approved by the former Federalist Written and approved by the former Federalist government, which, to some degree, was government, which, to some degree, was patterned after the United States Constitution patterned after the United States Constitution

Congress interprets the constitutionCongress interprets the constitution Catholic religion was made the state faithCatholic religion was made the state faith The president and vice president were elected for The president and vice president were elected for

four-year terms by the legislative bodies of the four-year terms by the legislative bodies of the statesstates

There were numerous limitations on the powers There were numerous limitations on the powers of the president. of the president.

There was no particular effort to define the rights There was no particular effort to define the rights of the states in the confederacy. of the states in the confederacy.

Government was separated into executive, Government was separated into executive, legislative, and judicial functions in their legislative, and judicial functions in their individual constitutions, which were to be in individual constitutions, which were to be in harmony with the national constitutionharmony with the national constitution

What happened to the Constitution of What happened to the Constitution of 1824 when Santa Anna came to power?1824 when Santa Anna came to power?

Santa Anna abolished the constitution in Santa Anna abolished the constitution in 1834 and began imposing a Centralist 1834 and began imposing a Centralist GovernmentGovernment

What parts of this constitution did the What parts of this constitution did the people of Texas wish to have reinstated?people of Texas wish to have reinstated?

They wanted the states to have more They wanted the states to have more power and impose a “checks and power and impose a “checks and balances” on the government, like that of balances” on the government, like that of the U.S. Therefore, no single person or the U.S. Therefore, no single person or branch of government would be too branch of government would be too powerfulpowerful

What was going on in Mexico What was going on in Mexico with Santa Anna gone?with Santa Anna gone?

Several states went Several states went into open rebellion into open rebellion and formed their and formed their own governmentsown governments

Santa Anna allowed Santa Anna allowed his army to ransack his army to ransack Zacatecas for forty-Zacatecas for forty-eight hours.eight hours.

After defeating After defeating Zacatecas, he Zacatecas, he moved on to moved on to Coahuila y TejasCoahuila y Tejas

Texas ConstitutionTexas Constitution

1.1. What were the main provisions of the What were the main provisions of the Constitution of 1836?Constitution of 1836?

– Create a 3 – Branch GovernmentCreate a 3 – Branch Government Executive, Judicial, and LegislativeExecutive, Judicial, and Legislative

– Include a Bill of RightsInclude a Bill of Rights Protests civil rights such as trial by jury, and freedom of Protests civil rights such as trial by jury, and freedom of

speech and religionspeech and religion– Slavery is legalSlavery is legal

Free African-Americans must have permission from Free African-Americans must have permission from Congress to live in Texas, or they must move to the USCongress to live in Texas, or they must move to the US

2.2. What type of MEN were at the convention?What type of MEN were at the convention?– Mostly Caucasian men, some Native Mexicans and Mostly Caucasian men, some Native Mexicans and

Native TexansNative Texans

3.3. In your opinion, did the constitution represent the In your opinion, did the constitution represent the interests of all Texas residents at the time? interests of all Texas residents at the time? Defend your opinion.Defend your opinion.

– African-Americans?African-Americans?– Women?Women?

Texas Colonel James Fannin commanded close Texas Colonel James Fannin commanded close to 300 Texas revolutionaries. On retreat to to 300 Texas revolutionaries. On retreat to Victoria, Fannin and his men stopped to rest in Victoria, Fannin and his men stopped to rest in an open prairie a few miles east of Goliad near an open prairie a few miles east of Goliad near Coleto Creek. His opposition, General Jose Coleto Creek. His opposition, General Jose Urrea took advantage of the situation and Urrea took advantage of the situation and surrounded the Texans. While the Texans surrounded the Texans. While the Texans made a valiant effort to push back Mexican made a valiant effort to push back Mexican advances, they were too little in numbers and advances, they were too little in numbers and too weak in position. After a brief exchange of too weak in position. After a brief exchange of fire on the morning of March 20, Fannin fire on the morning of March 20, Fannin surrendered his command. The surviving surrendered his command. The surviving Texas soldiers were taken captive by the Texas soldiers were taken captive by the Mexican Army.Mexican Army.

Although Fannin signed Although Fannin signed an unconditional an unconditional surrender, most surrender, most historians believe that historians believe that Urrea told him that his Urrea told him that his troops would not be troops would not be executed. Santa Ana executed. Santa Ana decided differently. He decided differently. He ordered all of the ordered all of the captives to be shot. The captives to be shot. The Texans were marched Texans were marched back to Goliad and held back to Goliad and held for a week. On March 27, for a week. On March 27, 1836 the guards 1836 the guards marched out the marched out the surrendered soldiers and surrendered soldiers and began shooting. All but a began shooting. All but a handful of men who handful of men who escaped in the confusion escaped in the confusion were executed.were executed.

It inspired Texans to fightIt inspired Texans to fight Gen. Houston learned what not to doGen. Houston learned what not to do

– Not separate forces into small groupsNot separate forces into small groups– Not fight in open plainsNot fight in open plains

Senora Francisca Senora Francisca Alvarez who was the Alvarez who was the wife a Mexican wife a Mexican officer, pleaded for officer, pleaded for the lives of the the lives of the Texans as they were Texans as they were about to be executed about to be executed at Goliad. Later at Goliad. Later referred to as the referred to as the “Angel of Goliad,” “Angel of Goliad,” Alvarez helped rescue Alvarez helped rescue 20 or more Texas 20 or more Texas soldiers.soldiers.

On April 17, to the gratification of his On April 17, to the gratification of his men, Houston took the road to men, Houston took the road to Harrisburg instead of the road to Harrisburg instead of the road to Louisiana and on April 18 reached White Louisiana and on April 18 reached White Oak Bayou at a site within the present Oak Bayou at a site within the present city limits of Houston. There he learned city limits of Houston. There he learned that Santa Anna had gone down the that Santa Anna had gone down the west side of the bayou and the San west side of the bayou and the San Jacinto River, crossing by a bridge over Jacinto River, crossing by a bridge over Vince's Bayou. Vince's Bayou.

On the morning of April 21, 1836, Gen, On the morning of April 21, 1836, Gen, Sam Houston held a council of war. The Sam Houston held a council of war. The majority of his officers voted to await Santa majority of his officers voted to await Santa Anna’s attack in order to leverage their Anna’s attack in order to leverage their position. Houston let each man in the position. Houston let each man in the council plead his case. Then he made a council plead his case. Then he made a decision, which he kept to himself until that decision, which he kept to himself until that afternoon: they would attack.afternoon: they would attack.

The Texans' movements were screened by The Texans' movements were screened by trees and the rising ground, and evidently trees and the rising ground, and evidently Santa Anna had no lookouts posted.Santa Anna had no lookouts posted.

The battle lasted 18 minutesThe battle lasted 18 minutes According to Houston's official report, According to Houston's official report,

the casualties were 630 Mexicans the casualties were 630 Mexicans killed and 730 taken prisoner. killed and 730 taken prisoner.

Only nine of the 910 Texans were Only nine of the 910 Texans were killed or mortally wounded and thirty killed or mortally wounded and thirty were wounded less seriously. were wounded less seriously.

Houston's ankle was shattered by a Houston's ankle was shattered by a rifle ball.rifle ball.

Santa Anna had been preoccupied with the Santa Anna had been preoccupied with the “Yellow Rose of Texas” and was not “Yellow Rose of Texas” and was not expecting an attackexpecting an attack

He disappeared during the battle and He disappeared during the battle and search parties were sent out on the search parties were sent out on the morning of the 22. morning of the 22.

They discovered Santa Anna hiding in the They discovered Santa Anna hiding in the grass. He was dirty and wet and was grass. He was dirty and wet and was dressed as a common soldier. dressed as a common soldier.

The search party did not recognize him The search party did not recognize him until he was addressed as "el presidente" until he was addressed as "el presidente" by other Mexican prisoners.by other Mexican prisoners.

Santa Anna signed 2 treaties in Velasco on Santa Anna signed 2 treaties in Velasco on May 14, 1836, officially ending the Texas May 14, 1836, officially ending the Texas RevolutionRevolution

Texas had won independence!Texas had won independence!

Public TreatyPublic Treaty– Santa Anna promised to never again fight Santa Anna promised to never again fight

TexasTexas– Ordered Mexican troops out of TexasOrdered Mexican troops out of Texas– Exchanged POWsExchanged POWs

In return for his freedom, Santa Anna In return for his freedom, Santa Anna signed a private treatysigned a private treaty– Promised to work for Mexican Promised to work for Mexican

recognition of Texas Independencerecognition of Texas Independence– Attempt to work inside Mexico to get the Attempt to work inside Mexico to get the

Texas boundary set at the Rio GrandeTexas boundary set at the Rio Grande

In the Guinness Book of In the Guinness Book of World Records as the World Records as the world’s tallest stone world’s tallest stone column memorialcolumn memorial

15ft taller than the 15ft taller than the Washington MonumentWashington Monument

““Measured by its results, Measured by its results, San Jacinto was one of the San Jacinto was one of the decisive battles of the decisive battles of the world. The freedom of world. The freedom of Texas from Mexico won Texas from Mexico won here led to annexation and here led to annexation and to the Mexican War, to the Mexican War, resulting in the acquisition resulting in the acquisition by the United States the by the United States the state of Texas.”state of Texas.”