The Texas Revolution

The Alamo Today

Mexican Independence

Mexico gains independence from Spain in 1821

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna overthrows the government and takes power in 1833

Americans settle in Texas

•Mexico invites Americans to settle in Texas and develop the area and control Indian Attacks

•Stephen F. Austin leads 300 families as settlers into Texas

• By 1830, 20,000 Americans live in Texas

Mexican Stipulations

• Americans had to become citizens of Mexico

• All had to worship in the Roman Catholic Church

Mexico enforces its laws• Mexico feared Texas would

become part of the United States

• Most Texans ignored Mexican laws

• Mexico tried to force Texans to become Catholic

• Mexico banned slavery in Mexico

• Rumors spread that Santa Anna was coming with troops to enforce the laws

Texans Take Action

• Tejanos (Mexicans living in Texas) supported the Texans because they wanted to get rid of Santa Anna

Battle of Gonzales

• October of 1835 Texans in the town of Gonzales clashed with Mexican Troops

• The Texans forced the Mexicans to retreat

• Two months later the Texans attack San Antonio

Battle of GonzalesOctober 1835

The "Lexington-Concord" of Texas

The Republic of Texas

• Texans declared independence on March 2, 1836

• Wrote a constitution

• Appointed Sam Houston as commander of the army

The Siege at the Alamo•Texans

gathered at the Alamo in the winter of 1835-1836

•Supplies of ammunition, food, water and medicine were low

Battle of the Alamo• 250 Texans vs. 6,000

Mexican troops• The Mexicans bombed the

Alamo for 12 days• Cannon fire broke through

the walls on March 6, 1836

• Mexican troops poured in • 183 Texans died and

1,500 Mexicans died, mostly in hand to hand combat

• Texan survivors were executed

Famous People Who Died at the Alamo

James Bowie• Invented the

Bowie Knife

Famous People Who Died at the Alamo

Davy Crocket• Famous Frontiersman• Fought under Andrew

Jackson• U.S. Congressman• Captured and

executed at the Alamo

Famous People Who Died at the Alamo

William Travis• Attorney• Led Texas troops at

the Alamo• 26 years old when

he was killed

“The enemy have demanded a surrender. . . I have answered the demand with a cannon shot and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. . . Victory or Death!”

Execution Order

“All foreigners taken under arms will be treated as pirates and executed!” Antonio Lopez de

Santa Anna

GoliadOn March 25th, 350 Texans are

marched onto an open prairie and shot near Goliad

Rallying Cries

• “Remember the Alamo!”

• “Remember Goliad!”

Battle of San Jacinto

Battle Map

910 Texans attacked 1,200 Mexican troops

Then the whole line, led by Sherman's men, sprang forward on the run, yelling, "Remember the Alamo!" "Remember Goliad!" All together they opened fire, blazing away practically point-blank at the surprised and panic-stricken Mexicans. They stormed over the breastworks, seized the enemy's artillery, and joined in hand-to-hand combat, emptying their pistols, swinging their guns as clubs, slashing right and left with their knives. Mexicans fell by the scores under the impact of the savage assault.

Many threw down their guns and ran; many wailed, "Me no Alamo!" "Me no Goliad!" But their pleas won no mercy. The enraged revolutionists reloaded and chased after the stampeding enemy, shooting them, stabbing them, clubbing them to death. From the moment of the first collision the battle was a slaughter, frightful to behold. The fugitives ran in wild terror over the prairie and into the boggy marshes, but the avengers of the Alamo and Goliad followed and slew them, or drove them into the waters to drown. Men and horses, dead and dying, in the morass in the rear and right of the Mexican camp, formed a bridge for the pursuing Texans. Blood reddened the water. General Houston tried to check the execution but the fury of his men was beyond restraint.

Santa Anna SurrendersThey took the captives to camp, and on the way, Mexican prisoners

recognized him and cried, "El Presidente!" Thus his identity was betrayed; it was indeed the dictator from below the Rio Grande. He was brought to General Houston, who lay under the headquarters oak, nursing his wounded foot. The Mexican President pompously announced, "I am General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, and a prisoner of war at your disposition." General Houston, suffering with pain, received him coldly. He sent for young Moses Austin Bryan and Lorenzo de Zavala Jr. to act as interpreters. Santa Anna cringed with fright as the excited Texas soldiers pressed around him, fearing mob violence. He pleaded for the treatment due a prisoner of war. "You can afford to be generous," he whined; "you have captured the Napoleon of the 'West." "What claim have you to mercy?" Houston retorted, "when you showed none at the Alamo or at Goliad?"