The Fight for FreedomThe Fight for FreedomTexas: 1835-1836Texas: 1835-1836

77thth grade grade

Texas HistoryTexas History

Question: Question: Why did Texas go to war?Why did Texas go to war?

► After SFA returned to Texas after being imprisoned After SFA returned to Texas after being imprisoned in Mexico, he realized lasting peace between Texas in Mexico, he realized lasting peace between Texas and Mexico was impossible.and Mexico was impossible.

► Santa Anna’s Santa Anna’s centralist centralist ideals (strong control by the ideals (strong control by the national government) did not match Texans’ ideals national government) did not match Texans’ ideals of of states’ rightsstates’ rights (laws should favor individual (laws should favor individual states).states).

Question: Question: Where was the order of events in Texas Where was the order of events in Texas

Revolution?Revolution?YearYear EventEventOct. 1835Oct. 1835 Battle of GonzalesBattle of Gonzales

Feb. 23, 1836Feb. 23, 1836 Siege of the Alamo beginsSiege of the Alamo begins

March 6, 1836March 6, 1836 Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence signedsigned

March 20, March 20, 18361836

Goliad MassacreGoliad Massacre

April 21, 1836April 21, 1836 Battle of San Jacinto;Battle of San Jacinto;

Santa Anna defeated, Santa Anna defeated,

Mexico surrendersMexico surrenders

Question: Question: Why was the Battle of Gonzales Why was the Battle of Gonzales

important?important?► In October 1835, a Mexican In October 1835, a Mexican

army patrol went to Gonzales army patrol went to Gonzales to collect weapons from to collect weapons from Texans. The big prize of this Texans. The big prize of this collection was a six-pound collection was a six-pound cannon.cannon.

► The Texans refused to give up The Texans refused to give up the cannon. Instead, 160 the cannon. Instead, 160 settled armed themselves, settled armed themselves, fired the cannon at the fired the cannon at the Mexican army, and forced the Mexican army, and forced the Mexican Army to retreat.Mexican Army to retreat.

► This is considered to be the This is considered to be the beginning of the fight for beginning of the fight for Texas independenceTexas independence..

Question: Question: What is the importance of the Alamo?What is the importance of the Alamo?

► The Alamo became a battleground because it The Alamo became a battleground because it defended the Anglo settlements.defended the Anglo settlements.

► A total of about 180 men defended the former A total of about 180 men defended the former mission against more than 1,000 Mexican troops mission against more than 1,000 Mexican troops under the direct command of Santa Anna.under the direct command of Santa Anna.

Question: Question: Who was important at the Alamo?Who was important at the Alamo?

► Col. Jim Bowie – Commander of about 100 volunteers Col. Jim Bowie – Commander of about 100 volunteers from Tennessee and Kentucky. from Tennessee and Kentucky.

► David “Davy” Crockett – U.S. Congressman and militia David “Davy” Crockett – U.S. Congressman and militia leader from Tennessee. Led a dozen men to help defend leader from Tennessee. Led a dozen men to help defend the Alamo.the Alamo.

► William B. Travis – Led the regular army, even though he William B. Travis – Led the regular army, even though he

was only 26 years old. Had 60 men under his command.was only 26 years old. Had 60 men under his command.

Question: Question: What happened at the Alamo?What happened at the Alamo?

► Bowie and his men had orders from Sam Houston to Bowie and his men had orders from Sam Houston to destroy the fort and take all the weapons. Bowie destroy the fort and take all the weapons. Bowie decided to stay and fight instead.decided to stay and fight instead.

► Travis and his men arrived Feb. 3, 1836. Crockett Travis and his men arrived Feb. 3, 1836. Crockett and his volunteers arrived Feb. 8.and his volunteers arrived Feb. 8.

► Santa Anna and his Mexican troops arrived at the Santa Anna and his Mexican troops arrived at the Alamo on Feb. 23, 1836 and began a Alamo on Feb. 23, 1836 and began a siegesiege (lengthy (lengthy attack on a fortified position) that lasted 13 days.attack on a fortified position) that lasted 13 days.

► When Travis saw how many troops Santa Anna When Travis saw how many troops Santa Anna brought, he sent the famous “Victory or Death” brought, he sent the famous “Victory or Death” letter. In it, letter. In it, Travis wrote, “I am besieged by a Travis wrote, “I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans…”thousand or more of the Mexicans…”

Question: Question: Why did Santa Anna want to fight at the Why did Santa Anna want to fight at the

Alamo, and why didn’t Sam Houston?Alamo, and why didn’t Sam Houston?► Santa Anna hoped to trap Houston himself at the Santa Anna hoped to trap Houston himself at the

Alamo. In addition, Santa Anna promised to sweep Alamo. In addition, Santa Anna promised to sweep all Anglo and Tejano rebels from Texas. If Santa all Anglo and Tejano rebels from Texas. If Santa Anna failed to take the Alamo, his political enemies Anna failed to take the Alamo, his political enemies could use that fact against him.could use that fact against him.

► Houston’s experience as a military commanderHouston’s experience as a military commander gave him a different gave him a different frame of referenceframe of reference (experience (experience and culture which shapes opinion) from Santa Anna. and culture which shapes opinion) from Santa Anna. Houston believed the Alamo was impossible to Houston believed the Alamo was impossible to defend. He also knew the Texan army was nowhere defend. He also knew the Texan army was nowhere near ready to fight Santa Anna’s troops in a large-near ready to fight Santa Anna’s troops in a large-scale battle.scale battle.

Question: Question: How did the Siege of the Alamo work How did the Siege of the Alamo work

out?out?► By March 5, 1836 about 1,800 troops surrounded By March 5, 1836 about 1,800 troops surrounded

the Alamo. The Mexicans warned the defenders the Alamo. The Mexicans warned the defenders there would be no mercy by raising a red flag, and there would be no mercy by raising a red flag, and playing a marching theme known as “Deguello.”playing a marching theme known as “Deguello.”

► The actual battle lasted only 90 minutes before all The actual battle lasted only 90 minutes before all of the defenders and an estimated 600 Mexican of the defenders and an estimated 600 Mexican soldiers were killed.soldiers were killed.

Question: Question: How did Texas respond to the siege at How did Texas respond to the siege at

the Alamo?the Alamo?► On March 2, 1836, the provisional government of On March 2, 1836, the provisional government of

Texas signed the Declaration of Independence.Texas signed the Declaration of Independence.► George Childress is remembered as the man who George Childress is remembered as the man who

wrote the Declaration.wrote the Declaration. He modeled the document He modeled the document after the U.S. Declaration of Independence.after the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

► He listed complaints against the Mexican He listed complaints against the Mexican government, and appealed to the “impartial world” government, and appealed to the “impartial world” to help the Texans gain their freedom and maintain to help the Texans gain their freedom and maintain their rights.their rights.

Question: Question: What was happening while Santa Anna What was happening while Santa Anna

fought at the Alamo?fought at the Alamo?► While Santa Anna led the main Mexican force, While Santa Anna led the main Mexican force,

another force led by General Urrea marched north another force led by General Urrea marched north along the Gulf coast.along the Gulf coast.

► Urrea’s army killed about 100 Texans in Urrea’s army killed about 100 Texans in skirmishesskirmishes (small, brief battles) on his way to the presidio at (small, brief battles) on his way to the presidio at Goliad.Goliad.

► The Texans’ largest armed group was in Goliad, led The Texans’ largest armed group was in Goliad, led by James Fannin. Fannin tried to lend men to the by James Fannin. Fannin tried to lend men to the Alamo defenders, but supplies and transportation Alamo defenders, but supplies and transportation prevented it.prevented it.

► Urrea caught up to Fannin’s men. On March 20, Urrea caught up to Fannin’s men. On March 20, Fannin surrendered a few miles east of Goliad.Fannin surrendered a few miles east of Goliad.

Question: Question: Why is Goliad important?Why is Goliad important?

► After Fannin’s surrender, Urrea marched the After Fannin’s surrender, Urrea marched the prisoners back to Goliad. Santa Anna ordered all of prisoners back to Goliad. Santa Anna ordered all of the Texans executed.the Texans executed.

► The “Goliad Massacre” reinforced the idea that The “Goliad Massacre” reinforced the idea that Texans would either live free or die. Santa Anna Texans would either live free or die. Santa Anna refused to allow captured combatants to live. refused to allow captured combatants to live.

► Texans used “Remember the Alamo! Remember Texans used “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” as their battle cry in the Battle of San Goliad!” as their battle cry in the Battle of San Jacinto.Jacinto.

Question: Question: Where was Sam Houston during the Where was Sam Houston during the

Texans’ losses at the Alamo and Goliad?Texans’ losses at the Alamo and Goliad?► Houston was commander of the Texas Army, but Houston was commander of the Texas Army, but

was frustrated that the volunteer armies would not was frustrated that the volunteer armies would not follow orders.follow orders.

► Houston resigned briefly to negotiate a peace Houston resigned briefly to negotiate a peace treaty, but returned to command in early March treaty, but returned to command in early March 1836.1836.

► Houston’s army started with less than 400 men in Houston’s army started with less than 400 men in Gonzales. After learning of the fall of the Alamo, Gonzales. After learning of the fall of the Alamo, Houston broke camp and marched his troops east.Houston broke camp and marched his troops east.

Question: Question: Where was the decisive battle of the Where was the decisive battle of the

Texas Revolution?Texas Revolution?► By April 1836, Santa’s troops had gotten low on By April 1836, Santa’s troops had gotten low on

food, ammunition, and other supplies.food, ammunition, and other supplies.► On April 20-21, Houston’s 800 troops fought Santa On April 20-21, Houston’s 800 troops fought Santa

Anna’s 1,300 men at San Jacinto. While Mexican Anna’s 1,300 men at San Jacinto. While Mexican troops rested to prepare for a morning attack, the troops rested to prepare for a morning attack, the Texans stormed the battlefield. Texans stormed the battlefield. Santa Anna was Santa Anna was defeated April 21, 1836.defeated April 21, 1836.

Question: Question: What happened after the What happened after the

Battle of San Jacinto?Battle of San Jacinto?► Sam Houston became known as the George Sam Houston became known as the George

Washington of the Texas Revolution.Washington of the Texas Revolution.► Texas became an independent republic in 1836. Texas became an independent republic in 1836.

Houston was elected President, and Houston was elected President, and Lorenzo de Lorenzo de Zavala was vice president.Zavala was vice president.

► Lorenzo de ZavalaLorenzo de Zavala was also known for was also known for helping write helping write the Mexican Constitution of 1824the Mexican Constitution of 1824 and for and for assisting assisting in the Texas fight for independencein the Texas fight for independence..