Texas

Sept 16, 1821 – México gained independence from España

TEXAS

El Cinco de Mayo

5th of May 1862

Victory over

The French

Tejanos – Texans

Drawing from 1836

The Alamo Today

Map

of

Texas

1836

TheLayout

of the

Alamo

Alamo Layout Cont.

The Attack

The The Alamo’sAlamo’s Flag Flag

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The Men

of The Alamo

William B. Travis(1809-1836)

Travis commanded the Texas defenders during the Siege and Battle of the Alamo. His appeal from the Alamo for reinforcements has become an American symbol of unyielding courage and heroism. Although a few reinforcements arrived before the Alamo fell, Travis and over 180 defenders gave their lives for Texas independence on 6 March 1836.

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The Travis Letter

Commandancy of the The Alamo

Bejar, Feby. 24th. 1836

To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World—

Fellow Citizens & compatriots—

I am besieged, 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 & everything 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 Barrett 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 and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.

Travis

Sam Houston(1793-1863)

Houston immediately took control of the Texas forces after the fall of the Alamo, and conducted a retreat of the army to the site of the Battle of San Jacinto, where on April 21, 1836, his force defeated Santa Anna and secured Texas’ long sought independence. In the fall of that year, Houston was elected the first President of the Republic of Texas. After statehood in 1845, Houston was elected Senator from Texas. Still later, in 1859, Houston was elected to serve as Governor of the State of Texas.

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James Bowie(1796-1836)

He was in command of a volunteer force in San Antonio when Travis arrived with regular army troops. The two men shared authority during much of the Siege of the Alamo, which caused some personal friction. But pneumonia disabled Bowie, and he was confined to his cot at the time of his death on March 6, 1836 at the Battle of the Alamo.

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Bowie Knife

David "Davy" Crockett

(1786-1836)

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Crockett’sCoonskin hat

In March, 1836, Davy Crockett, with 187 others, was massacred at the Alamo. Usually, in battles, someone is left to tell the story, but the Alamo had no one. One hundred and eighty-seven men for eleven days withstood the Mexican army. When the battle was done, all of the one hundred eighty-seven brave Americans, including Davy Crockett, lay dead on the ground; but with them also lay over two thousand Mexicans, who had died at their hands.

Antonio Lopez deSanta Anna

(1794-1876)

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In 1833 Santa Anna came to power in Mexico. He soon threw out the Mexican constitution and declared himself dictator. In 1835 he led his Mexican army against the rebellion in Texas. On Feb. 23, 1836 he began his siege of the Alamo. Twelve days later his forces stormed it resulting in the deaths of all of its 187 defenders. His army was finally defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21st. The outnumbered Texan attackers cried out “Remember the Alamo” as they charged to battle!

The Republic of Texas 1836-1845

Six Flags of Texas

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Spain

France

Mexico

Republic United States