US History: Spanish Mexico; Mexican Revolution; Texas Independence, The Alamo

This Power Point presentations contains a wealth of information and may be thought of as a “picture book” to be read.True!Much reading with some questions within.It might be what you are looking for or maybe you could pick and choose the slides.My goal was to create a discussion. Some of the slides did just that. I had to prompt the class many times because the reading can be difficult and boring.

112 slidespresented by “Hoosier11”at NCHS

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The People, Locations, Events, and Decisions

• Texas Territory• Spain• Mexico• Louisiana• San Antonio d’ Bexar• The Alamo• Sabine River• Red River• San Jacinto River• Coahuila State• Zacatecas State• Fredonia• Rio Grande River• Gonzales

• Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana• James Fannin• James Bowie• Davy Crocket• William Travis• President Andrew Jackson• John Quincy Adams• Ben Milam• Colonel de Cos• President Bustamante• Hayden Edwards• Sam Houston• Juan Sequin• Texians• Tejanos• Filibusters• Empresarios

• Federalists• Centralists• Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)• Fredonia Revolution• Nacogdoches• Texas Rangers• Republic of Texas• Louisiana Purchase• Goliad• Battle of the Alamo• Battle of San Jacinto• Mexican Revolution• Texas Revolution• Mexican Constitution 1824• Missions

NO, you will not need to memorize this list.

To the instructor:

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When a appears, a multiple choice question is given.

When a appears in the lower right portion, the next “click” will advance to

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The Alamo

Creative thinking applied to the conflict

over Texas-Mexico

OutlineWho has controlled the Texas territory throughout history?

GoliadThe Alamo

MexicoCoahuila Province

Texas Province

SpainLouisiana PurchaseMissionsAmericans to Texas territoryFilibusters

Mexican Rebellion

MexicoEmpresariosSanta Ana

Texas RebellionThe AlamoBattle of San Jacinto

Texas

OutlineWho has controlled the Texas territory throughout history?

Louisiana Purchase

Who would be at this meeting? Who were the major players in the Louisiana Purchase?The Louisiana Purchase is a separate unit of great interest in the history of the United States. Study of which would be profitable.

1803 President Jefferson obtained the Louisiana Purchase from France. The borders were confusing and debated. Conflicts arose quickly with Spanish Texas. Was their land within the borders of the Louisiana Purchase or in Spanish territory?

Louisiana Purch

ase

This latter territorial “settlement” was never accepted by American Southerners in general or Louisianans in particular.

They later migrated from Louisiana territory and crossed into Spanish Texas

The United States is anxious about European influence in North America.The British to the north…..the Spanish to the south.

President John Quincy Adams’ representatives agreed to a treaty with Spain that would reduce the tensions.

1819

Treaty between the United States and Spain The USA received Florida Territory.A boundary was set between the USA and Spanish Mexico.

1819

The boundary dispute was settled.Note the Red River and the Sabine River. This is the new border.

Red River

Sabine River

Spain believed they had to garrison their outposts in the Texas territory.

These garrisons were to defend against whom?

Spain was feeling pressure. Texas was a remote outpost. Spain never had enough men to garrison the region or control the region.

Mexican–American WarMexican–American War

Missionary Period

Originally named Mission San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo served as home to missionaries and their Indian converts for nearly seventy years.

Construction began on the present site in 1724. Catholic missions were constructed throughout the Texas area in 17th and 18th Centuries.

What is the meaning of “secularized”……?

What was the effect upon1. The Cherokee ?

2. The Catholic Church ?

3. Immigrants from Louisiana?

4. Native Mexicans in Texas ?

Spanish officials,1793, secularized San Antonio's five missions distributing their lands to the remaining Indian residents.

Each of the four warrants a discussion……

EACH ONE…….. start discussing.

Spanish Texas Territory

The two main trade routes through the Mexican State of Texas to the United States.

Red River

Sabine

(Troops present)

A Presidio is a fortified outpost , most with a Catholic Mission, of the Spanish.

These borders

are in disp

ute

Sabine RiverThese

borders were agreed to

in

the Adams-Onis T

reaty.

Goliad Presidio

The Alamo was the location of a Spanish missionary effort aimed at the native Indians.

The missionaries from Spain were of what religion?(a-e)a. Catholicb. Protestant- Lutheranc. Protestant- Presbyteriand. Indian Spiritiste. Islam

Americans head for the

Texas Territory

This is an old 3-d slide. It might work for you in 2-d, just look at the slide with your eyes crossed!

Describe the immigrants heading into the

Spanish territory of Texas.

Who?….

Why?....

How?...

Families?

The US had a desire to expand in the early 19th C. with Florida and Texas being good targets for immigration.

Most Americans in the early 19th C. saw the Spanish territories to the west as eventually becoming part of America.Critical Thinking:

“Should America consider expansion into the Spanish territories?”

List the factors that determine the answer. Argue.

The government of Spain wanted people to move into the Texas territory.

WHY?

Before Mexican independence , Texas had failed to attract settlers from Spain and subsequently proved difficult to secure against Indian raids.

Give the Spanish some ideas.

Since few Mexicans would settle in Texas, the Spanish government sought to entice American colonists through generous land grants. By 1831, 8,000 Texan-American farmers and their thousand slaves worked the

cotton fields of the Brazos and Colorado river valleys (near Houston).After independence Mexico thought they could ensure that Texas would become integrated into Mexico.

While the conflict at the Alamo was 25 years in the future………Mexican rebels were working for

independence from Spain.

In the early 1800s, the Spanish military stationed a cavalry unit at the former mission. The soldiers referred to the old mission as the Alamo.

The post's commander established the first recorded hospital in Texas in the Long Barrack.

The Alamo was home to both Revolutionaries and Royalists during Mexico's ten-year struggle for independence.

The military — Spanish, rebel, and then Mexican — continued to occupy the Alamo until the Texas Revolution.

“The Groups”List every “group”

( see slide #2 but only after we have tried)

If the media chose to create a racist situation, what would be there headline?

1st as a pro-Texas independence writer2nd as a pro- Mexican writer.

Citizens of the United States• heading into Texas territory of Spain with the intent

of profiting.• escaping US and the US law with the intent of

avoiding prosecution.

Former US citizen emigrants, now Spanish citizens.Local Native IndiansSpanish citizens living in the Texas territory.Native Mexicans now under Spanish control.

With Mexican Independence of 1821:• Filibusters: armed US citizens looking for a fight,

volunteers• Texians: Americans living in Texas territory• Tejanos: Mexicans living in Texas territory• Loyalists to Santa Ana: of Mexican descent• Federalists-anti Santa Ana Mexicans• Centralists-anti Santa Ana Mexicans

“An Amazing List”

Was it “amazing”? Explain.

But in 1800 the controversial Filibusters began their rabble rousing.

They crossed the border as a para-military organization taking action against Spanish territory even though Mexico and the US were at peace with each other.

A Filibuster was a private citizen, armed, who was taking military action against a country at peace with the US.

Question:What are your views of the filibusters if you were1. An American immigrant

living in the Texas territory of Spain?

2. An official of the Spanish government?

3. A Tejanos-born in Spanish Mexico, living in the Texas territory?

The Americans thought the filibusters to be freedom-fighters whereas Spain called them

rabble-rousers.

Freedom-fighters

Rabble-rousers

In 1813 the American filibusters joined the Spanish colonists (Tejanos) in opposing the rule of Spain in Texas.

They had secretly negotiated with Secretary of State James Monroe (later to become the 5th President of US).

Question: What was Monroe’s plan?

Monroe believed these rebels would deliver Texas Territory

to the US.

News reports surfaced in Mexico and in the USA that the US was supporting the filibusters and in secret.

Money and supplies were sent into East Texas by the US government.

What will the US government do about this

situation?

Filibusters

in the

Texas state

of

Spanish Mexico

When news of this government support of the filibusters got out, the US government denied it.

A community of filibusters, to the surprise of Monroe, declared their own independence from Spain-

The Green Flag Republic.

What was Monroe’s reaction?

That declaration ended all US support for the cause of the American emigrants to Texas.

The Spanish government sent troops, ordered to suppress the rebellion and show no quarter.

It was a slaughter. 400 POWs were executed.Antonio y Lopez de Santa Ana was a young officer during the event.

Historians believed this experience was big influence on how he would treat the enemy in future engagements.

Mexican war of Independence

from Spain

The movement to independence had been going on for many years when finally the many disparate insurgent groups were united. Plan of Iguala called for the union of all insurgent factions and it had the support of the aristocracy and the clergy of New Spain.

Finally, the independence of Mexico was consummated on September 27, 1821.

Constitution was based on the constitution of the United States of America, but the Mexican constitution made Roman Catholicism the official, and only, religion of the country, and outlawed slavery.

Mexican independenceIn 1821, the Mexican War for Independence severed the control that

Spain had exercised on its North American territories, and the new country of Mexico was formed from much of the lands

that had comprised New Spain, including Spanish Texas. The following month the citizens of San Antonio de Bexar established a governing committee for the province of Texas. The new Mexican

constitution was adopted on October 4, 1824, making the country a federal republic with nineteen states and four territories.

TheEmpresario System

Empresario SystemThe Mexican immigration policy was aimed at

making the filibusters loyal citizens of Mexico.

The Empresarios would be land agents, drawing immigrants into the Texas territory by offering cheap and fertile land. They would be working for the Mexican government.

They were looking for hard-working, industrious farmers, God-fearing men with families. The industry of these farmers would benefit Mexico. They could purchase a league (4000 acres) for $30 on credit. In return they would become Mexican citizens and become Catholic.

The most successful of the Empresarios was Steven F Austin who worked well with the government of Mexico. Most of the Empresarios practiced benevolent leadership over their own colonies, in harmony with the government of Mexico.

Research Steven F. Austin

Land and freedom ! Cheap Come to the Texas Territory

The Mexican Government welcomes you to the Texas Territory

Become a Land Agent for the Mexican Government .We want Filibusters to become Empresarios.

We are looking for Hard-working, industrious farmers, God-fearing men with families.

See your local Empresario and own your land, fertile soil,………..and…….cheap!

The “sale”!

The first Empresario grant had been made under Spanish control to Stephen F. Austin, whose settlers, known as the Old Three Hundred, settled along the Brazos River in 1822.

Austin advertised the opportunity in New Orleans, stating that the land was available along the Brazos and Colorado Rivers.

A family of a husband, wife and two children would receive 1,280 acres at twelve and a half cents per acre. Farmers could get 177 acres and ranchers 4,428 acres .

In December 1821, the first U.S. colonists crossed into the granted territory by land and sea, on the Brazos River in present-day Brazoria County, Texas.

By late 1825, Austin had brought the first 300 families to his settlement, the Austin Colony.

These 300 are now known in Texas history as the Old Three Hundred.

Austin had obtained further contracts to settle an additional 900 families between 1825 and 1829. He had effective civil and military authority over the settlers, but he was quick to introduce a semblance of American law –

the Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas was agreed on in November 1827.

Also, Austin organized small, informal armed groups to protect the colonists, which evolved into the Texas Rangers.

Despite his hopes, Austin was making little money from his endeavors.

The colonists were unwilling to pay for his services as Empresario and most of his revenues were spent on the processes of government and other public services.

Comparisons: Austin’s plans to the Pilgrims plans. Give it a try.

Texas Rangers

One of the most successful of the Empresarios was Hayden Edwards. He united his land owners and declared their independence.

The Fredonia Rebellion

The flag of th

e new

“Republic of “Fredonia””

THE REPUBLIC OF FREDONIA

In 1928 the Mexican Government sent troops to “Fredonia” quickly ending the rebellion and ending the “Republic of Fredonia”Q: what was the reaction of the other

Empresarios to Edwards’ move to independence?

a. They were in total sympathy with Edwards.

b. They feared the Mexican use of force against any other move toward independence.

c. They were glad that Edwards’ republic had been squashed, leaving more land and wealth for them.

d. They were totally against Edwards’ move to independence.

For this case, Austin raised troops to fight with Mexican troops against the Texas rebels.

Any thoughts?Irony?

Supporters declared their independence from Mexico.

The nearby Cherokee tribe signed a treaty to support the new republic.

Overtures from Mexican authorities and respected Empresario Stephen F. Austin convinced tribal leaders to repudiate the rebellion.

On January 31, 1827, a force of over 100 Mexican soldiers and 250 militiamen from Austin's colony marched into Nacogdoches to restore order.

Many of the participants, including Edwards, fled to the United States.

WHY?

Q: Why were the other Empresarios against Edwards’ independence effort?a. Edwards was such an unlikeable character that he could never have gained

the support of the others.b. They felt a need to unite many of the colonies before any move toward

independence.c. They were in support of the Mexican government and the Mexican

government supported them. It was a good deal for both sides.d. Edwards had ruined the grand plan of the other colonies by going off on

his own instead of waiting for the unity movement by all.

The same year, Mexico enacted the General Colonization Law, which enabled all heads of household, regardless of race or immigrant status, to claim land in Mexico.

Texas War of Independence from Mexico

Mexican Texas is the name given by Texas history scholars to Texas during the period between 1821 and 1836, when Texas was an integral part of Mexico.The period began with Mexico's victory over Spain in its war of independence in 1821. For the first several years of its existence, Mexican Texas operated very similarly to Spanish Texas.

The 1824 Constitution of Mexico joined Texas with Coahuila to form the state of Coahuila y Tejas

This troubled Mexico, fearing US military intervention.

The Mexican response in April,1830, was to pass an anti-immigration law.

But the Mexican government entered a chaotic period, internal squabbles caused them to disregard the Texas question.

The Federalist Party was squabbling with the opposition party, the Centralists. It was states’ rights versus a strong centralized government.

Santa Ana led the Federalists against the Centralists and their President Bustemonte.

The Texians were against a strong centralized government and therefore were backing the Federalists and thus, Santa Ana.

1833 The Federalist defeated the Centralists at the polls and Santa Ana became President.Reasoning……..what will Santa Ana do now that he is President?

States’ Rights versus Strong Centralized Government. Heard it before?Compare to Civil War times, the Progressive period, post-WW II, Reaganism

President John Quincy Adams offered Mexico $1m for Texas.Q: What was the response of Mexico?a. $1 m-no. $2 m- yes.b. A flat “no.”c. The Texas province of Mexico had been nothing but trouble, the answer was “yes.”d. The Texas province of Mexico had been nothing but

trouble, the answer was “ you can have it for nothing.”

President Andrew Jackson offered Mexico $5m for Texas.

Q: What was the response of Mexico?a. $1 m-no. $2 m- yes.b. A flat “no.”c. The Texas province of Mexico had been nothing

but trouble, the answer was “yes.”d. The Texas province of Mexico had been nothing

but trouble, the answer was “ you can have it for nothing.”

Antonio Lopez de

Santa Ana

His first move was to dump the Constitution of 1824 and declare himself dictator.No longer a Federalist but now the ultimate centralist.

“This information begs a question………” What does that mean and when was this scenario repeated?

It means that he was a Federalist, a states’ right –ist, but now he is a Centralist, a big government-ist. As dictator he is bigger than “big Government”.

And……when was it repeated?

HITLER 1936

San Antonio and the Alamo played a critical role in the Texas Revolution. In December 1835, Ben Milam led Texian and Tejanos volunteers against Mexican troops quartered in the city. After five days of house-to-house fighting, they forced General Martín Perfecto de Cós and his soldiers to surrender.

The victorious volunteers then occupied the Alamo — already fortified prior to the battle by Cós' men — and strengthened its defenses

Identify

TejanosTexiansMexican soldiersSpanish soldiersNative Indian soldiersPro-Santa Ana soldiersPro-Bustamonte soldiers

?

Points to be remembered:The Mexican Constitution made Roman Catholicism the official religion.The Mexican Constitution outlawed slavery.There were 19 states and 4 provinces. The Texas Territory was considered

one of those provinces.Spain had encouraged American immigration to the Texas Territory.Mexico continued to encourage settlement in the Texas Territory.The Empresario system was a success.A few rebels seeking independence from Mexico were crushed.

Identify:TexiansTejanos

William Travis was running from his past; indebtedness, abandonment of his family, hoping to start a new life in Texas.

He became a leader of the War Party, a militant faction in Texas advocating armed conflict to break away from Mexico.

Who do you think belonged to the War Party?

Open violent conflict occurred in Anawak against Mexican officials. The Texas colonies refused to side with Travis and his War Party. They told Travis to shut-up and stop causing trouble. Travis was jailed for 2 months.

When Mexico combined their states of Coahuila and Texas, Austin objected strenuously and was jailed for 18 months. This action spurred other Texians to consider rebellion.

Why would Austin be against the Coahuila-Texas State?

Jim Bowie also recommended Texas Independence.From Kentucky he had been an adventurer and a large scale criminal in real estate scams and fraud. When he was discovered he headed for Texas. He had been involved with many

fights and skirmishes with Indians especially.

His personal qualities now seemed to outweigh his criminal personality and

became well liked. He married the daughter of the Mexican state’s governor.

His “Bowie Knife” was as famous as he was.

"The Salvation of Texas depends in keeping Bexar out of the hands of the

enemy. It serves as the frontier piquet guard . . . Col. Neill & Myself have come to the solemn resolution that we will rather die in these ditches than give it up to the enemy."

Bowie also spoke fluent Spanish and French. This was one unusual dude.

A cholera epidemic struck Texas. Fearing the disease would reach San Antonio,

Bowie sent his pregnant wife and their daughter to the family estate in Monclova in the company of her parents and brother.

The cholera epidemic instead struck Monclova, and between September 6 and September 14, Ursula, their children, her brother, and her parents all died of the disease.

Davey Crocket was elected to congress from Tennessee, a real celebrity and a real outdoorsman with a legend to carry. The newspapers and magazines built his legend. After losing his next election he headed for Texas.

He was angry over his loss in the Tennessee

House of Representatives.He joined a group of 65

men who had signed their allegiance to fighting for Texas

independence.

Crocket’s coonskin cap was famous-mostly myth.

Note where we are in our study of

Spain-Mexico-Texas History- - - -Who , what, where, why………for

eachSpain

Mexico

Texas

United States

Texians

Tejanos

Filibusters

Santa Ana

William Travis

The AlamoMissions

Cherokee Nation

The Fight for Mexican

Independence fromSpain

The Fight for Texas Independence from Mexico

David Crocket arrived at the Alamo on February 8th

The Legends of the Battle of The Alamo

Filibuster Action- moves toward

Texas independence

The Tejanos, the people of Mexican descent but favoring Texas Independence, were now in trouble with Santa Ana’s plans to stop the rebellion.

A rebellion occurred in Zacatecas State, the uprising was put down by Santa Ana- - - - - -brutal murders, pillaging, rape.

The Texans believed they were next.October 2nd, 1835, the city of Gonzales had a cannon, previously used against warring Indians. Santa Ana sent an army to get the cannon.Santa Ana’s plan was to confiscate all weapons that might be used in a rebellion. The local militia in Gonzales drove the Mexican army out and retained the cannon.

What is the “trouble”?

What is the mind-set of the Texians?

What is the mind-set of Santa Ana after the report of failure by his army in Gonzales?

1835In San Antonio d Bexar Mexican troops fought the Texians house to house with 200 Mexican troops killed , only four Texians.

1836 When the Mexican troops surrendered the Texians took their weapons and sent them home with a promise not to fight again.

Another loss for Santa Ana’s army. It is time for him to bring 1500 troops to the Texas territory.

An amazing accomplishment-Santa Ana’ leads 1500 men on a forced march in winter over mountains to the Texas territory.

They arrive in San Antonio de Bexar on March 1st, 1836.

The American press printed all the stories about the rebellion. They made the rebellion like an exciting adventure. They encouraged many to go and many headed to Texas to join the rebellion.

Who are these guys?

Several months previously, Texians had driven all Mexican troops out of Mexican Texas. Approximately 100 Texians were then garrisoned at the Alamo.

The Texian force grew slightly with the arrival of reinforcements led by eventual Alamo co-commanders James Bowie and William B. Travis.

On February 23, approximately 1,500 Mexicans marched into San Antonio de Béxar as the first step in a campaign to re-take Texas.

For the next 10 days the two armies engaged in several skirmishes with minimal casualties. Aware that his garrison could not withstand an attack by such a large force, Travis wrote

multiple letters pleading for more men and supplies, but fewer than 100 reinforcements arrived.

William B. Travis was disliked by the garrison.

Travis fares rather poorly in the popular media, usually portrayed as a pompous martinet with few friends.

In reality, Travis was outgoing, gregarious and respected by his peers. One fact that has helped create the notion that the men of the Alamo disliked Travis was the volunteers' refusal to take orders from him, electing James Bowie as their leader instead.

The election of Bowie had more to do with the ongoing philosophical dispute between regulars and volunteers than it did the garrison's opinion of Travis.

The volunteers simply did not want to take orders from a regular officer, even someone they respected such as Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis of the Texas Army.

Summarize the last slide

Battle of the

Alamo

Santa Anna marched north to bring Texas back under Mexican control by a show of brute merciless force. His expedition posed challenges of manpower, logistics, supply, and strategy far beyond what he was prepared for.

On 6 March 1836, at the Battle of the Alamo, Santa Anna's forces killed 189 Texan defenders and later executed more than 342 Texan prisoners;

including James Walker Fannin at the Goliad Massacre (27 March 1836) in a manner similar to the executions he witnessed of Mexican rebels in the 1810s as a young soldier.

The only Texans who rallied to the aid of the Alamo were 32 men from Gonzales.

One question frequently asked about the Battle of the Alamo is why did not more Texans answer Travis' poignant pleas for help.

Much scorn has been heaped on Colonel James W. Fannin, whose 400-man battalion remained at Goliad, only 100 miles away.

Fannin's detractors ignore the fact that he also faced an advancing Mexican column and could not leave his post unguarded.

Can you defend Colonel Fannin? Try.

Travis’ letters

Travis, Crocket, Bowie

From the movie “The Alamo”

YES! The hats were accurate for the time.

Travis’ speech before the battle

“…I fear no one is coming.”

Santa Ana's View of Alamo

The men of the Alamo could have left at any time because they were volunteers.Although the majority of the Alamo's garrison was composed of volunteers, they were volunteers in the 19th century military sense of the word. These men had signed an oath of allegiance to the Provisional Government of Texas, declaring"I will serve her honestly and faithfully against all her enemies and oppose whatsoever, and observe and obey the orders of the Governor of Texas, the orders and decrees of the present and future authorities and the orders of the officers appointed over me according to the rules and regulations for the government of Texas." Citizen-soldiers, these men were bound to defend any post they were assigned and were not free to leave on their own.

Given the chance

would you have left?

Mythical views of the battle

Are these depictions accurate or not?

Death of Travis

Travis was seen to hesitate, but not about the death he would choose.

“He would take a few steps and stop, turning his proud face toward us to discharge his shots; he fought like a true soldier. Finally he died, but he died after having traded his life very dearly.

None of his men died with greater heroism, and they all died.Travis behaved as a hero; one must do him justice, for with a handful of men without discipline, he

resolved to face men used to war and much superior in numbers, without supplies, with scarce munitions, and against the will of his subordinates.”

Quote-Mexican Colonel Jose Enrique de la Pena

How much truth, how much myth is in this paragraph?

On March 6 the Mexicans attacked before dawn, and all 188 defenders of the Alamo perished. Santa Anna asked to see the corpses of Bowie, Travis, and Crockett, and Bexar mayor Francisco Ruiz identified the bodies. Bowie lay on his cot in a room on the south side.He had been shot several times in the head. During his lifetime he had been described by his old friend Caiaphas K. Ham as "a clever, polite gentleman...attentive to the ladies on all occasions...a true, constant, and generous friend...….a foe no one dared to undervalue and many feared." Slave trader, gambler, land speculator, dreamer, and hero, James Bowie in death became immortal in the annals of Texas history.

Death of Bowie

There were no survivors.

It is true that nearly all of the Texans under arms inside the fort were killed in the March 6, 1836, attack.

However, nearly twenty women and children, who experienced the twelve days of siege leading to the final assault, were spared and allowed to return to their homes.

The survivors also included Joe, the slave of William B. Travis. The best known Alamo survivor, Susanna Dickinson, was sent to Gonzales by Santa

Anna with a warning to the Texans that the same fate awaited them if they continued their revolt

The defeat at the Alamo however served its purpose buying time for General Sam Houston and his Texas forces.

Houston and his soldiers defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto on 21 April 1836, with the Texan army shouting

"Remember Goliad, Remember the Alamo!“ The day after the battle, on 22 April, a small band of Texan forces led by James

Sylvester captured Santa Anna, dressed in a dragoon private's uniform and hiding in a marsh.

More than 200 volunteers had gathered at Gonzales in preparation to march to the Alamo's relief when news of its fall reached the town.It was this collection of men that formed the nucleus of Sam Houston's army.

Sam Houston’s Army defeats Santa Ana’s forces at the San Jacinto River.

Santa Ana, captured, is forced to sign the document granting the Mexican state of Texas their independence.

Battle of San Jacinto

The Texas

Republic

Various notes and comments to follow.

The End

The men at the Alamo died not knowing that Texas had declared its independence.

It is true that the Alamo garrison most likely died unaware that the delegates at the constitutional convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos had adopted a Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. Nevertheless, the Alamo garrison was in favor of independence and fully expected the delegates to secede from Mexico.The garrison had even sent its own delegates to the convention with instructions to vote

for independence. Travis addressed the issue of independence in a letter sent from the Alamo on

March 3, 1836: "Let the Convention go on and make a declaration of independence,

and we will then understand, and the world will understand, what we are fighting for.

If independence is not declared, I shall lay down my arms, and so will the men under my command.“

Thus, Texas' Declaration of Independence would not have surprised them - it was what they desired and expected.

The Battle of the Alamo bought time for Sam Houston to build his army.The notion that the men of the Alamo died buying time for Sam Houston to build an army is well-entrenched in Alamo lore,

but a review of Houston's activities shows it to be unfounded. On November 12, 1835, the Consultation (the provisional government of Texas) appointed Sam Houston Commanding-General of the Texas Army. His authority, however, extended over the regular army, leaving him unable to legally issue orders to the volunteers already in the field. Houston dispatched recruiters to raise the regular army as well as agents to acquire arms, uniforms, and other supplies. With no troops to command, Houston received a furlough on January 28 in order to take care of personal business. He spent part of his leave conducting negotiations with the Cherokee Indians.With a treaty successfully concluded, Houston rode to Washington-on-the-Brazos, where he served as a delegate to the constitutional convention, remaining there until March 6. During his stay, the new government reconfirmed his appointment as commanding-general of the Texas

Army, giving him control over all troops - regulars and volunteers. Houston arrived at Gonzales on March 11 to lead a relief expedition to San Antonio but by then the Alamo had already fallen. Thus, during the siege Houston was not building an army but engaged in other important business.

Sam Houston’s Army

Many of the Anglo-American settlers owned slaves. Texas was granted a one-year exemption from Mexico's 1829 edict outlawing slavery but Mexican president Anastasio Bustamante ordered that all slaves be freed in 1830. To circumvent the law, many Anglo colonists converted their slaves into indentured servants for life. By 1836 there were 5,000 slaves in Texas.

The issue of slavery arose when it was instituted in the new colonies. Mexico had outlawed slavery in 1829 but allowed those that had slaves to retain them. But, there was no assurance that the Mexican government would keep that policy. The Mexican government worked hard at eliminating slavery in Texas.

William Travis was a militant supporter of slavery, owning “Joe” as his personal property