Revolution and Republic

1. Revolution and Republic The Battle of Gonzales to the Battle of the Alamo Unit Six, Section One Notes

2. Why were the Texans angry with the Mexican Government?

3. Causes of the Texas Revolution • Pressures of the United States • The Instability of the new Mexican Government • Cultural Differences • Governmental Differences • Slavery • The Physical Isolation of Texas • The Creation of a Centralist Government

4. Important Events Leading to the Revolution • Mexican Constitution of 1824 • Law of April 6, 1830 • Turtle Bayou Resolutions – 1832 • Stephen F. Austin’s Arrest – January 1834 • Battle of Gonzales – October 2, 1835

5. The Battle of Gonzales: Oct. 2, 1835 The original “Come and Take It” Flag was sewn from a wedding gown. The original brass cannon from Gonzales was found in 1936 after a rainstorm uncovered it a century after it was buried in a creek bed.

6. What Caused the Battle of Gonzales?

7. Capture of Goliad: Oct. 10, 1835 After the Mexican troops failed to retrieve the cannon and fled the town of Gonzales, General Martín Perfecto de Cos ordered 300 Mexican troops to Texas to put down the rebellion at Gonzales. The soldiers were met by settlers from Matagordo and Victoria, Texas. Texas men named George Collinsworth and Ben Milam commanded the Texas forces. On October 10, they surrounded the Mexican garrison and forced them to surrender.

8. Where else have we heard the name “Ben Milam”?

9. Siege of Bexar(Also called the Battle of San Antonio): October 12 to December 10, 1835 This gave the Texans the confidence to make a planned attack on San Antonio, where General Cos and his men were stationed. The Texans chose Stephen F. Austin as their general and began their long march to San Antonio. The Texans had the help of some angry Tejanos who disagreed with Santa Anna, including Juan Seguin, the son of Erasmo Seguin. After a few smaller battles that were won by the Texans, Cos’ men were weak and unorganized.

10. What is a Tejano? And why would they be angry, too?

11. Siege of Bexar: October 12 to December 10, 1835 On December 5, 1835, the Mexican and Texas armies began their fight in the city of San Antonio. After three days, Milam was killed, but the Texans were winning and the Mexican army was forced to retreat. On December 10th, Cos surrendered and almost every Mexican soldier was forced out of Texas. This made many Texans believe that they had won – that they could create their own state government and operate under the Constitution of 1824. But Santa Anna did not agree.

12. If this battle is called the “Siege of Bexar,” what does it suggest about the situation for the two sides?

13. Debating Independence During the debate about what to do next, two factions emerged: the pro-war Texans and pro-peace Texans. The pro-war group believed that Texas should declare independence from Mexico, while the pro-peace group argued that they would lose the support of Tejanos in Texas if they did so.

14. What should the Texans decide? Why?

15. A Compromise: The Declaration of November 7, 1835 The factions reached a compromise with a Declaration of November 7, 1835. With it, they pledged their loyalty to Mexico and claimed that they were only defending themselves. They warned that if Mexico did not restore the Constitution of 1824, they would create an independent government of Texas. While waiting for a reply, they created a provisional government. Sam Houston was chosen as commander of the army and Henry Smith was elected governor.

16. What would be the importance of creating a provisional government while they waited for a reply?

17. Santa Anna Marches Into Texas Though the Texans thought the fight was over, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was far from giving up. He decided that he would march his own army of 6,000 soldiers into Texas and end the revolution himself. He led half of the forces to San Antonio, while his senior general, José de Urrea, took the other half towards Goliad. Sam Houston prepared for war, though he was worried that they were ill prepared to fight Santa Anna and his huge army.

18. As Santa Anna Marched Toward Texas… Sam Houston sent Jim Bowie to San Antonio to evaluate the situation there and to see if they were ready to defend San Antonio if necessary. Bowie told Houston and Governor Smith that he believed that the Alamo should be defended, as it could provide protection against Santa Anna. Because of his recommendation, William B. Travis was ordered to gather men and head to San Antonio to help prepare the Alamo. More U.S. volunteers came, including Davy Crockett and James Bonham.

19. Santa Anna Arrives in San Antonio Not long after William Barret Travis arrived at the Alamo, Santa Anna and his army reached San Antonio. The defenders and their families rushed into the walls of the Alamo, along with provisions and ammunition. Santa Anna raised a red flag of no mercy over the church tower, signaling that the men at the Alamo should surrender. Travis replied with a cannon shot.

20. What do you think William B. Travis was trying to say with the cannon shot?

21. “To the People of Texas…” Not long after Santa Anna’s arrival, Jim Bowie became sick with pneumonia and collapsed. Travis took over full command of the men at the Alamo and began writing letters, begging for reinforcements. On February 24th, Travis wrote his famous plea “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World.” He then sent Juan Seguin and others to Sam Houston to ask for help.

22. “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.” What does the word “besieged” mean in this sentence?

23. As the Battle Nears… As Davy Crockett and his men began firing on nearby Mexican troops, the Mexicans tried to cut off the water supply to the Alamo. Fearing that the main battle was near, James Butler Bonham was sent to Goliad to ask Col. James Fannin to come help defend the Alamo. In an attempt to forget some of their worries, the Texans at the Alamo had a party, with Crockett playing his fiddle, but his music was not as loud as the Mexican army playing outside the Alamo walls.

24. Lead Up to the Battle… General Santa Anna soon began reorganizing his troops and not long after, 32 men from Gonzales rode into the Alamo. Travis wrote one last letter, pleading for more soldiers, but the men from Gonzales were the only ones who came to their aid. The Texans began firing the cannon towards Santa Anna’s headquarters, not knowing that at the same time, the Texas Declaration of Independence was being confirmed at Washington-on-the-Brazos.

25. A Line in the Dirt Soon, James Bonham rode back through the Mexican troops to the Alamo, where he informed Travis that Fannin would not be coming with the other 400 soldiers. Mexican troops began sending shots into the north and west walls of the Alamo, and Travis knew that there was no hope. He drew a line in front of the Alamo chapel, and asked any man who would stay and fight to cross it. Jim Bowie was carried across by other men on a cot. Only one man left, and his name was Moses Rose.

26. Why was James Bonham brave?

27. The Fall of the Alamo As the Mexican troops moved into position, the band began playing “The Deguello,” meaning that the Mexican army would take no prisoners. On the morning of March 6, 1836, Travis told his men not to surrender, and he was one of the first to die. The battle was quickly over. At least 182 Texans died, which was every soldier in the Alamo. Some historians believe there could have been more unaccounted. There were 1800 Mexican soldiers, and 600 Mexican casualties. Santa Anna allowed women and children to live, along with one or two other noncombatants, some who were slaves.

28. El Deguello http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPYIafVxMUw&feature=related

29. Santa Anna’s Letter of Victory Not long after the battle ended, General Santa Anna wrote a letter of victory, stating that their win was “a complete and glorious triumph.” Santa Anna believed that the fall of the Alamo would convince Texans to surrender. Instead, the Alamo became a symbol to many Texans that they must fight for their freedom at any cost.