Texas Remember the Alamo

Americans in Texas

Stephen Austin

• Moses Austin – Made agreement with

Spanish that American’s could move there

– Americans Promised to become Mexican Citizens and Catholics

• Stephen lead a group of 300 settlers from Missouri to Texas

Stephen Austin

Moses Austin

The Mexican Constitution

Mexican Rebellion

Mexico gains Independence

• Mexican’s passed a Constitution – Not like the American

Colonies

– No experience with self-government

• Makes way for Antonio López de Santa Anna

Antonio López de Santa Anna

Antonio López de Santa Anna

Santa Anna

• Ignored the promised freedoms of the Constitution

• Called himself “the Napoleon of the West”

• Wanted to stop the immigration of Americans to Texas

“Napoleon of the West”

United States and Mexico

American’s in Mexico

• Did not want to become Mexican Citizens

• Did not want to become Catholic

• Wanted American Schools

• Wanted Freedom of Religion

• Brought Slaves – This was against Mexican Law

• Did not want to share the land with the Indians – Bragged of killing Indians

Vaqueros Cattle Drive

English Speaking Americans in Texas

1830 – No More

• Santa Anna wants to put an end to English Immigration – People from the U.S. crossed

into the Mexican territory illegally

• Think About It!

• How does this relate to the relationship between Mexico and America today?

Too Late!

Santa Anna

• Commander of Mexican army who is experienced in fighting rebellions

• Mean because it keeps him in power in Mexico

• He wants to end the Texas revolt because he wants to show he is in charge in Mexico

William B.Travis

• Commander of Texans army while James Bowie commands Texas volunteers

• He is ambitious, has a sense of honor and is seeking a place in history

• Mistakenly believes that he can hold off army because of walls and cannons

Attack on San Antonio

Texas Rebels

• “We went through the old adobe and picket houses of the Mexicans, using battering rams made of logs ten to twelve feet long…How the women and children would yell when we knocked holes in the walls through which we passed.”

• Compare this to how the Mexicans treated women and children at the Alamo!

San Antonio Mission

Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie Davy Crockett • United States Congressmen • Great Storyteller

– “Old Betsy” had killed 105 bears in one season

• Fearless • Disagreed with Andrew Jackson on Indian Removal • Lost his seat in Congress due to his beliefs

Jim Bowie • Fearsome fighter • Designed a wicked, razor-sharp knife

Remember the Alamo!

Attack on the Alamo

• Crockett, Bowie, and about 200 men defended the Alamo

• They held out for 12 days against Santa Anna’s army of about 5000

• They had no reinforcements

• They ran out of ammunition

• Finally the Mexicans broke through the walls of the Alamo and killed them all…Except…

Susanna Dickinson and her children

The Alamo

Remember the Alamo!

Angry Americans

Fighting Back

• English-speaking settlers in Texas were furious

• Decided to fight for independence for Texas – “Remember the Alamo”

• Led by Sam Houston – Run Away

– Adopted by Indians

– Fought for Andrew Jackson

– Elected to Congress

– Governor of Tennessee

Sam Houston

Sam Houston

Fighting Santa Anna

• Sam Houston decided to fight Santa Anna at San Jacinto (now Houston, Texas) – Texans were outnumbered

but smart

– Waited to attack until Siesta Hour

• Only took 15 minutes to capture Santa Anna and route the Mexicans

Houston Defeats Santa Anna

Independence for Texas

An independent Nation

• Sam Houston made Santa Anna sign a treaty making Texas and independent country

• Houston was elected President – The “Lone Star Republic”

TEXAS – THE LONE STAR REPUBLIC

Texas and the United States

Admittance to the Union

• Houston wanted Texas to become part of the United States

• Should Texas be a slave state? – It would throw off balance in

Congress

– Andrew Jackson declines

– December 1845

• James K. Polk makes Texas a state

• What will happen to Texas next?