From Sea to From Sea to Shining SeaShining Sea

Part 3Part 3

A Country Called TexasA Country Called Texas

Americans in Mexican Americans in Mexican TexasTexas

►Ever since the early 1800’s many Ever since the early 1800’s many Americans had looked eagerly to Texas.Americans had looked eagerly to Texas.

►Spain at first would not let Americans into Spain at first would not let Americans into the region, knowing our past history of the region, knowing our past history of growth.growth.

►Mexico gained its independence from Spain Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, and agreed to let Americans move in 1821, and agreed to let Americans move in.in.

Mexico in 1825Mexico in 1825

►Not many Mexicans Not many Mexicans lived there, and Mexico lived there, and Mexico hoped Americans hoped Americans would develop the land would develop the land and help control Indian and help control Indian attacks.attacks.

►Stephen F. Austin was Stephen F. Austin was the first American the first American given permission to given permission to bring settlers to bring settlers to Mexican Texas. Mexican Texas.

►Americans were Americans were required to be loyal required to be loyal citizens of Mexico, citizens of Mexico, and had to worship in and had to worship in the Catholic church.the Catholic church.

►By 1830, about 20,000 By 1830, about 20,000 Americans were in Americans were in Texas.Texas.

Stephen F. Austin

Mexico Tightens its LawsMexico Tightens its Laws

As more and more Americans moved in, they did not feel loyal to Mexico. Plus, many did not want

to practice Catholicism because they were Protestants. In 1830, Mexico passed a law banning more Americans from moving in. They were afraid

the U.S. would try to take over the territory. We had already offered to buy the region. The military

was even sent to try and enforce the laws.

TexansTexans Take Action Take Action

►Americans and Americans and TejanosTejanos (Mexicans living in (Mexicans living in Texas) decided to take Texas) decided to take action. They did not action. They did not like General Santa like General Santa Anna, the military Anna, the military dictator who had taken dictator who had taken over Mexico. over Mexico.

►Skirmishes with Skirmishes with Mexican troops took Mexican troops took place.place.

►Texans took over the town Texans took over the town of San Antonio. Santa of San Antonio. Santa Anna was furious and Anna was furious and marched north with troops. marched north with troops.

►In 1836, Texans declared In 1836, Texans declared independence, and set up independence, and set up the Republic of Texas. the Republic of Texas. Sam Houston was their Sam Houston was their leader. leader.

►The army was made up of The army was made up of people from many different people from many different backgrounds.backgrounds.

Remember the Alamo!Remember the Alamo!

Much of the army had drifted away from San Antonio. Only a few hundred of people were left

to defend the town. They used an old mission called the Alamo to defend themselves. Its walls were 12 feet high, and 3 feet thick. They were

brave people, but were ill-equipped. Supplies of food, medicine, and ammunition were low. They numbered just under 200, while the Mexicans had

an army of close to 2,000!

The Alamo in 1836The Alamo in 1836

26 year old William Travis was the man in

charge of defending the Alamo against the advancing

Mexican forces.

On February 23, 1836, a lookout spotted the gleam of Mexican soldiers’ swords. William Travis had four guns placed by

each fighter so they could get off multiple shots before reloading. At first they easily

picked off the Mexican soldiers. Still Travis knew they were in big trouble unless help arrived. He secretly sent out scouts to get reinforcements, but not many arrived.

For 12 days they held out. On March 6, the Mexicans broke through the Alamo’s walls.

When the bodies were counted, over 180 Texans were dead, as well as were hundreds of Mexicans. Survivors were immediately

executed, and a few women and children were sent away to another town to warn others what had happened. Mexican soldiers were properly

buried, while the bodies of the Texans were piled up and burned.

►Popular frontier hero Popular frontier hero Davy Crockett was among Davy Crockett was among those killed at the Alamo.those killed at the Alamo.

►A few weeks later, A few weeks later, Mexicans slaughtered Mexicans slaughtered some troops at Goliad, some troops at Goliad, Texas, who had Texas, who had surrendered. surrendered.

►They were under the They were under the command of a somewhat command of a somewhat ineffective colonel, James ineffective colonel, James Fannin.Fannin.

The slaughter of Fannin’s forces was gruesome. He was forced to watch, as over 300 of his men were lined up and shot. Any survivors were clubbed to death or stabbed. Fannin himself was sat in a chair and blindfolded. The Mexicans ignored his final requests, and shot him in the face, spat on him, and burned his body. They also took his personal belongings.

►Santa Anna believed that this brutality Santa Anna believed that this brutality would scatter Texan forces and end any would scatter Texan forces and end any more thoughts of rebellion.more thoughts of rebellion.

►He was completely mistaken!He was completely mistaken!►These slaughters angered Texans, and These slaughters angered Texans, and

even more people poured into the army.even more people poured into the army.►Texans today are proud of their Texans today are proud of their

independent heritage, and the stories of independent heritage, and the stories of fighting back against the odds.fighting back against the odds.

►While the Mexicans were busy at the Alamo and While the Mexicans were busy at the Alamo and elsewhere, Sam Houston had organized his army.elsewhere, Sam Houston had organized his army.

►At a place called San Jacinto, with cries of At a place called San Jacinto, with cries of “Remember the Alamo”, Texans attacked Santa “Remember the Alamo”, Texans attacked Santa Anna and his troops.Anna and his troops.

►In a battle that lasted only 18 minutes, the In a battle that lasted only 18 minutes, the outnumbered Texans killed 630 Mexicans and outnumbered Texans killed 630 Mexicans and captured 700 more.captured 700 more.

►Santa Anna was captured the next day and forced Santa Anna was captured the next day and forced to sign a treaty granting Texas its Independence.to sign a treaty granting Texas its Independence.

The Battle of San JacintoThe Battle of San Jacinto

The Texas Revolution

was successful after the

battle at San Jacinto.

The Lone Star RepublicThe Lone Star Republic

►In battle, Texans had In battle, Texans had carried a flag with a carried a flag with a white star on it.white star on it.

►After gaining After gaining independence, they independence, they nicknamed their nicknamed their nation the Lone Star nation the Lone Star Republic.Republic.

►They created a They created a Constitution that was Constitution that was very similar to that of very similar to that of the United States.the United States.

►Sam Houston was Sam Houston was elected the first elected the first president of the president of the republic.republic.

Dallas Cowboys

Logo

Houston Texans Logo

►Texas faced some Texas faced some serious problems serious problems after the fight for after the fight for independence.independence.

►Mexico did not want Mexico did not want to accept the treaty, to accept the treaty, and still claimed and still claimed Texas as one of its Texas as one of its provinces.provinces.

►The nation of Texas The nation of Texas was also nearly was also nearly bankrupt from the bankrupt from the war.war.

►To solve their To solve their problems, many problems, many Texans wanted to Texans wanted to join the United join the United States.States.

Divisions over TexasDivisions over Texas►Most southerners were in favor of annexing Texas.Most southerners were in favor of annexing Texas.►They wanted more land in the South, and Texas They wanted more land in the South, and Texas

looked like a great place to grow cotton.looked like a great place to grow cotton.►Northerners did not want more slave territory added Northerners did not want more slave territory added

to the United States. More slave states would mean to the United States. More slave states would mean the North would have less power in Congress.the North would have less power in Congress.

►Andrew Jackson also worried that annexing Texas Andrew Jackson also worried that annexing Texas would lead to war with Mexico.would lead to war with Mexico.

►For awhile, Texas remained an independent nation.For awhile, Texas remained an independent nation.