The Alamo: What were they The Alamo: What were they

thinking?thinking?

Sam Houston orders Jim Bowie Sam Houston orders Jim Bowie to destroy the Alamoto destroy the Alamo

Sam Houston Sam Houston wants the Alamo wants the Alamo destroyed. Why? destroyed. Why? Turn and talk to Turn and talk to your neighbor, your neighbor, write your write your response in your response in your journal and be journal and be prepared to share prepared to share it with the class. it with the class.

Governor Smith orders William Governor Smith orders William B. Travis to defend the AlamoB. Travis to defend the Alamo

Governor Henry Governor Henry Smith ordered Smith ordered William B. Travis to William B. Travis to San Antonio to San Antonio to defend the Alamo. defend the Alamo. Why? Turn and talk Why? Turn and talk to your neighbor, to your neighbor, write your response write your response in your journal and in your journal and be prepared to share be prepared to share it with the class. it with the class.

The Alamo BattlegroundThe Alamo Battleground

Santa Anna brings a force of Santa Anna brings a force of 5,000 men5,000 men

People of San Antonio People of San Antonio warned Travis that he warned Travis that he couldn’t defend the couldn’t defend the Alamo against 5,000 Alamo against 5,000 Mexican troops, but he Mexican troops, but he stayed. WHAT WAS HE stayed. WHAT WAS HE THINKING? Turn and THINKING? Turn and talk to your neighbor, talk to your neighbor, write your response in write your response in your journal and be your journal and be prepared to share it prepared to share it with the class. with the class.

Travis’s LetterTravis’s Letter I am besieged with a thousand or more of the Mexicans under I am besieged with a thousand or more of the Mexicans under

Santa Anna. I have sustained a considerable Bombardment and Santa Anna. I have sustained a considerable Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison is to demanded surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison is to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the wall. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on from the wall. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, and everything dear to you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch. The the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call 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 is neglected I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets which is due his possible and die like a soldier who never forgets which is due his honor and that of his country.honor and that of his country.VICTORY OR DEATH.VICTORY OR DEATH.

To the people of Texas and All To the people of Texas and All Americans in the World -- Americans in the World --

Travis sends a Travis sends a letter to the world letter to the world seeking help for seeking help for the men at the the men at the Alamo, signing off Alamo, signing off with “Victory or with “Victory or Death!” What does Death!” What does he mean by his he mean by his closing statement?closing statement?

The Travis LetterThe Travis Letter

How does Travis describe his situation?How does Travis describe his situation? Does Travis intend to surrender?Does Travis intend to surrender? What is he calling for in his letter?What is he calling for in his letter? What does he mean when he says, What does he mean when he says,

“Victory or Death!”?“Victory or Death!”? What was Travis thinking? Turn and talk What was Travis thinking? Turn and talk

to your neighbor, record your response to your neighbor, record your response in your journal and be prepared to in your journal and be prepared to discuss. discuss.

Santa Anna Comes to San Santa Anna Comes to San AntonioAntonio

Santa Anna sets up Santa Anna sets up at San Fernando at San Fernando Church where he Church where he can watch the can watch the AlamoAlamo

He ordered the red He ordered the red flag of “no quarter” flag of “no quarter” to be flownto be flown

What was Santa What was Santa Anna thinking? Anna thinking?

Myth or Reality?Myth or Reality?

According to stories, Travis, knowing According to stories, Travis, knowing that victory was most likely NOT at that victory was most likely NOT at hand, drew a line in the sand and hand, drew a line in the sand and told everyone who was still with him told everyone who was still with him to cross the line. All but one did.to cross the line. All but one did.

What was Travis thinking? What were What was Travis thinking? What were the men thinking? the men thinking?

Did Travis Draw a Line in the Did Travis Draw a Line in the Sand?Sand?

The Fall of the AlamoThe Fall of the Alamo

At dawn on March 6, 1836, Santa Anna At dawn on March 6, 1836, Santa Anna ordered his troops to attack the Alamo.ordered his troops to attack the Alamo.

The Mexican Army had to attack three The Mexican Army had to attack three times before gaining access to the times before gaining access to the garrison.garrison.

By 8 am it was over. All of the Texan By 8 am it was over. All of the Texan fighters were dead. Women, children, fighters were dead. Women, children, and slaves were allowed to leave the and slaves were allowed to leave the mission. mission.

Col. Francisco Ruiz, Alcalda of Col. Francisco Ruiz, Alcalda of San AntonioSan Antonio

Ruiz wrote a report Ruiz wrote a report to Santa Anna in to Santa Anna in the hours after the the hours after the fall of the Alamofall of the Alamo

Ruiz wrote about Ruiz wrote about Travis, Crockett Travis, Crockett and Bowieand Bowie

Analyze the Ruiz ReportAnalyze the Ruiz Report

AuthorAuthor Place and TimePlace and Time Prior KnowledgePrior Knowledge AudienceAudience ReasonReason The Main IdeaThe Main Idea SignificanceSignificance

Answer these Questions about Answer these Questions about the Ruiz Reportthe Ruiz Report

In your own words, describe the charges In your own words, describe the charges on the fortress as told by Ruiz. What on the fortress as told by Ruiz. What happened to the Mexican soldiers who happened to the Mexican soldiers who were making the charges? Explain why so were making the charges? Explain why so many of them might have died in the many of them might have died in the charge.charge.

What was Ruiz ordered to do while the What was Ruiz ordered to do while the battle was going on? battle was going on?

What did Santa Anna specifically request What did Santa Anna specifically request of Ruiz after the battle? of Ruiz after the battle?

Ruiz Report questionsRuiz Report questions

What happened to Travis, Bowie and What happened to Travis, Bowie and Crockett? Crockett?

How did the Mexican army deal with How did the Mexican army deal with the bodies of the dead for each side?the bodies of the dead for each side?

According to Ruiz, how did the According to Ruiz, how did the Mexican army view the defenders of Mexican army view the defenders of the Alamo?the Alamo?

The Mystery of Davy Crockett’s The Mystery of Davy Crockett’s DeathDeath

Ruiz said he died outside of the AlamoRuiz said he died outside of the Alamo Myth said he died swinging his rifle at Myth said he died swinging his rifle at

Mexican Soldiers as they stormed the Mexican Soldiers as they stormed the AlamoAlamo

Later diaries report he survived the Later diaries report he survived the battle, was taken to Santa Anna, then battle, was taken to Santa Anna, then executed.executed.

What do YOU think? What do YOU think?

How did the Alamo affect the How did the Alamo affect the Texas Revolution?Texas Revolution?

What impact did the Fall of the Alamo What impact did the Fall of the Alamo have on the rest of the Revolution?have on the rest of the Revolution?

What became the rallying cry of soldiers What became the rallying cry of soldiers in the Revolution after the fall of the in the Revolution after the fall of the Alamo?Alamo?

Santa Anna hoped to prove that it was Santa Anna hoped to prove that it was futile to try to fight him. Did he prove futile to try to fight him. Did he prove his point with the Battle of the Alamo? his point with the Battle of the Alamo?