Warm Up The Constitution of the Republic of

Warm Up The Constitution of the Republic of Texas was very similar to the constitution of the United States but also differed from it in some ways. 1. Into what three parts of government were the Texas and U. S. divided? 2. What are 3 ways the U. S. Constitution differs from the Texas Constitution?

The Battle of the Alamo

�February 1836: Santa Anna, furious with Texas, personally leads an army from Mexico City in to Texas. • • They begin to approach San Antonio. The Texans were totally oblivious. 6, 000 Mexican Soldiers reach the Rio Grande. Santa Anna splits his army in two: one commanded by him headed to San Antonio and one commanded by General Jose de Urrea headed to Goliad.

�At this time, the Texan army was scattered throughout South Texas. • There were just 100 troops in San Antonio. • 400 were in Goliad under Colonel James Fannin. • Jim Bowie was sent to the Alamo with about 25 men to examine the stability of the mission. • The Governor sent William B. Travis and about 30 volunteers to the Alamo. They left on Feb. 3 rd.

�As news of the new rebellion spread, U. S. volunteers poured into Texas. • Davy Crockett led a dozen people from Tennessee into San Antonio. • James Bonham and a volunteer force from Alabama also joined the defenders at the Alamo. • William B. Travis was put in command, along with Jim Bowie.

�As Mexican forces approached San Antonio, Texans quickly did what they could to fortify the Alamo. �Because of its size, Texans knew they needed more troops to adequately defend it. • Enclosed about 3 acres, and needed about 1, 000 soldiers to defend it. The Texans numbered little more than 150.

� The defenders expected a siege, so they gathered everything they could to last them for a long time. � Santa Anna arrived just after everyone was inside. He demanded their surrender. • The Texans responded by firing a cannon in the direction of the Mexican Army. Santa Anna responded by raising a blood-red flag that meant there would be no survivors. The Siege of the Alamo had begun.

� February 24, 1836: Mexican forces begin firing on the Alamo. • WB Travis writes the “Victory or Death” letter, pleading for help. • Cannons bombard the Alamo for hours at a time. � February 25: Jim Bowie collapses, and WB Travis is in charge of both the Texan regulars and the volunteers. � February 28: Travis orders Texans to save their ammo and stop firing at the Mexicans.

� Travis sends more letters for help in the following days. • James Bonham and Juan Seguin sneak out to find aid and to get troops from James Fannin in Goliad. • No help arrives. � March 1, 1836: 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrive at the Alamo, led by captain Albert Martin. • The total number of Alamo defenders numbered 189. Mexican troops numbered around 1, 800.

�March 3, 1836: Travis sends his last letter: • “Colonel Fannin is said to be on the march to this place with reinforcements, but I fear it is not true, as I have repeatedly sent to him for aid without receiving any…. I look to the colonies alone for aid; unless it arrives soon, I shall have to fight the enemy on his own terms. ” (pg. 238)

�Early morning, March 6, 1836: • Texans are awakened suddenly. • The Mexican Army was shouting and playing the song “El Deguello”. �Meant no mercy would be shown. �(clip) � 5 a. m. : four columns of Mexican soldiers attack, but are held back by Texan artillery. They regrouped and overwhelmed the Texans. �Mexican soldiers entered the Alamo by the hundreds.

�Mexicans captured a cannon, turned it inwards, and started firing inside the Alamo. �Hand-to-hand combat followed until every Texan defender had been killed. �Some 600 Mexican soldiers had died as well. • Those who were spared were women, children, and slaves.

�Santa Anna believed that the fall of the Alamo would convince Texans to surrender. In a letter, he wrote that he had achieved “a complete and glorious triumph. ” Instead, the Alamo became a symbol to many Texans that they must fight on at any cost.

Diagram of the Alamo

Draw a Diagram of the Alamo �First, draw a rectangle. On one side of the rectangle, do not finish the side.

Draw a Diagram of the Alamo �Next, draw a square on the side of the rectangle that is not complete.

Draw a Diagram of the Alamo �Next, Draw a smaller square next to the square you just drew. Make sure this square is located near the gap in the wall in the first rectangle.

Draw a Diagram of the Alamo � Now that you have the diagram drawn, draw a mote around the Alamo. � Then, draw 2 cannons in the middle of the main plaza and one large (18 -pounder) cannon in the corner opposite the gap in the wall. � Then label: • • • Chapel Walls (North, South, East, West) The 18 - Pounder The Cannons Hospital Main Plaza

The ad interim government had only a few offices, but they were crucial to the war effort. 1. Who was chosen as the ad interim president of the Republic of Texas? 2. How can you tell from this list of government officers that the delegates to the Convention of 1836 were preparing for war? Warm Up

Urrea Sweeps Northward to Refugio � While fighting is going on at the Alamo, General Urrea leads second group of 1000 Mexican soldiers through South Texas. � Feb 27, 1836 He destroys Texans troops at San Patricio � March 2 He defeats Texans at Agua Dulce � March 13 He defeats Texans at Refugio and then Victoria. � Severe blow to the Texans

James Fannin-Commander at Goliad

Battle of Coleto � Fannin begins to withdraw from Goliad on March 19 after losing a skirmish with a group of Mexicans • Inability to make a decision hurts the Texas cause � Carrying cannons is heavy, so he and his troops take a break near Coleto Creek � Suddenly, he is surrounded by General Urrea. � Fighting takes place � Fannin surrenders on March 20 th when Urrea receives reinforcements

Goliad Massacre � Mexicans tell Fannin that they will be released � After the surrender is signed, Mexicans bring Fannin and the Texans back to Goliad and imprison them. � Santa Anna orders their immediate execution � March 27 About 350 prisoners lined up on the prairie and executed � Urrea regrets this: “It was painful to me, also, that so many brave men should thus be sacrificed, particularly the much esteemed and fearless Fannin” � “Angel of Goliad” Senora Francita Alavez (wife of Mexican officer) helped some Texans avoid execution

Lessons of the Alamo and Goliad � April 1836 Everything going well for Santa Anna � Thinks it will be easy to finish off the Texans � However, Texans may never have won their independence without the Alamo • Santa Anna is delayed and loses soldiers � Sam Houston realizes that he must have strong leadership over the army (forces cannot be separated) � Goliad Massacre angers Texans and inspires them to fight � “Remember Goliad” becomes another battlecry

Road to San Jacinto �After April 1836, Texas cause seems hopeless �Santa Anna orders his troops t o burn every town and settlement in Texas �He thinks he can crush the rebellion by arresting Burnet and starts to return to Mexico �However, General Filisola tells him that the Texans are stubborn and persuades him to stay in Texas

Houston Builds the Texas Army � Houston became the commander in chief of the Texas army on March 4, 1836 during the Convention of 1836 � Two days later, he leaves to join the army at Gonzales � He arrives at Gonzales on March 11 to find 370 volunteers anxious to fight Santa Anna • Edward Burleson • Colonel Sidney Sherman commanding Kentucky volunteers � Two days later, Houston learns that the Alamo has fallen and has to make a decision to fight or flee.

Houston Builds the Texas Army �With fewer than 400 untrained soldiers, Houston decides to retreat to the Colorado River �Sends a letter to Fannin, asking him to retreat and join Houston’s forces

Houston’s Army Retreats � March 13, 1836 � Cross the Colorado River at Burnham’s Creek � He trains his army for nine days in the rain. � He receives volunteers from the US (1400 soldiers), though most are untrained and poorly equipped � When he learns about Fannin and the Goliad Massacre (March 25), he retreats again to the Brazos River. � Soldiers do not like this, but Houston knows that they are too weak to fight. � He also knows that supply lines to Mexico will stretch

Runaway Scrape �Families living between the Colorado and Brazos River panic when they hear about the Alamo and Goliad �Scared of the Mexican army �These families got their belongings and fled to the Sabine River. �This movement was known as the Runaway Scrape.