The AlamoThe Alamo

Analysis of two ArmiesAnalysis of two Armies

The commandersThe commanders

Why the Alamo?Why the Alamo?

The Siege of the AlamoThe Siege of the Alamo

The Mexican ArmyThe Mexican Army

► The infantry is made The infantry is made up of mostly up of mostly conscripts. conscripts. Conscripts are people Conscripts are people forced to become forced to become soldierssoldiers

► Their weapons are Their weapons are old and most officers old and most officers are inexperiencedare inexperienced

► They are not well They are not well trained to fighttrained to fight

The Texian ArmyThe Texian Army

► Mostly made up of Mostly made up of volunteers fighting for a volunteers fighting for a reasonreason

► Texians are not disciplined Texians are not disciplined but they have a strong but they have a strong sense of individualismsense of individualism

► Choose their commanders Choose their commanders and are deadly shotsand are deadly shots

► Most of Texan army are Most of Texan army are from the South?from the South?

Santa AnnaSanta Anna

► Commander of Mexican Commander of Mexican army who is army who is experienced in fighting experienced in fighting rebellionsrebellions

► Mean because it keeps Mean because it keeps him in power in Mexicohim in power in Mexico

► He wants to end the He wants to end the Texas revolt because he Texas revolt because he wants to show he is in wants to show he is in charge in Mexicocharge in Mexico

William B.TravisWilliam B.Travis

► Commander of Texans Commander of Texans army while James Bowie army while James Bowie commands Texas commands Texas volunteersvolunteers

► He is ambitious, has a He is ambitious, has a sense of honor and is sense of honor and is seeking a place in historyseeking a place in history

► Mistakenly believes that Mistakenly believes that he can hold off army he can hold off army because of walls and because of walls and cannonscannons

Santa Anna’s AdvanceSanta Anna’s Advance

► The Mexican army The Mexican army will march several will march several hundred miles and hundred miles and endure a Northernendure a Northern

► Commanche’s will Commanche’s will kill Mexican soldiers kill Mexican soldiers who fall behind on who fall behind on marchmarch

► Solderas are camp Solderas are camp followers who assist followers who assist Mexican soldiers Mexican soldiers

Gregorio EsparzaGregorio Esparza

► San Antonio resident San Antonio resident who fought at the who fought at the Battle of San Antonio, Battle of San Antonio, 18351835

► Led a cannon crew at Led a cannon crew at the Alamo, 1836 and the Alamo, 1836 and was killedwas killed

► Brothers requested Brothers requested permission to bury permission to bury their brother and their brother and provide a Christian provide a Christian burialburial

Why the Alamo?Why the Alamo?

►Mexican reasoning:Mexican reasoning: Santa Ann needs a Santa Ann needs a

victory to help his victory to help his image in Mexicoimage in Mexico

It is located in central It is located in central Texas making it a Texas making it a resting spot for resting spot for Mexican army and Mexican army and supplies.supplies.

San Antonio is San Antonio is largest city in Texas.largest city in Texas.

► Texians reasoning:Texians reasoning: Alamos sits on an Alamos sits on an

important roadimportant road Travis and Bowie felt Travis and Bowie felt

that they could hold that they could hold the Alamo and felt the Alamo and felt safe theresafe there

Alamo could slow Alamo could slow down the Mexican down the Mexican army because it is in army because it is in the middle of Texasthe middle of Texas

The Siege of the AlamoThe Siege of the Alamo

► The siege begins on The siege begins on February 26, 1836February 26, 1836

► Texans are outnumbered Texans are outnumbered 8 to 18 to 1

► It is a fortified area It is a fortified area which covers three acres which covers three acres and has several cannonsand has several cannons

► Texans believe that Texans believe that reinforcements will reinforcements will come, also have racists come, also have racists beliefs that can defeat beliefs that can defeat large force large force

The Siege of the AlamoThe Siege of the Alamo

► Cannons are fired Cannons are fired everyday at the everyday at the Alamo wallsAlamo walls

► The Mexican army The Mexican army surrounds the Alamosurrounds the Alamo

► Line in the sand Line in the sand never happened but never happened but Travis did make a Travis did make a short speechshort speech

Mexican Artillery pound the Mexican Artillery pound the Alamo walls daily.Alamo walls daily.

The Battle of the Alamo: The Battle of the Alamo: Phase OnePhase One

► The assault begins on The assault begins on March 6, around 5:00March 6, around 5:00

►Mexican infantry Mexican infantry attacks the Alamo attacks the Alamo from three sidesfrom three sides

► Brave Mexican infantry Brave Mexican infantry advance under cannon advance under cannon fire which bunches fire which bunches them towards the them towards the North Wall North Wall

The Battle of the Alamo: The Battle of the Alamo: Phase TwoPhase Two

► Mexican infantry Mexican infantry breaches North wallbreaches North wall

► 80 Texans make an 80 Texans make an attempt to escape attempt to escape by running out of by running out of AlamoAlamo

► The Mexican The Mexican cavalry will catch cavalry will catch them and kill all the them and kill all the escaping Texansescaping Texans

The North Wall is The North Wall is breached!breached!

The Battle of the Alamo: The Battle of the Alamo: Phase ThreePhase Three

►Mexican infantry inside Mexican infantry inside the Alamo turn the Alamo turn cannons on the cannons on the buildingsbuildings

► Crockett and several Crockett and several make last ditch effort make last ditch effort at mission but are at mission but are capturedcaptured

► The fighting is vicious The fighting is vicious hand to hand combathand to hand combat

The AftermathThe Aftermath

► All Alamo defenders are All Alamo defenders are killed but family killed but family members are sparedmembers are spared

► Crockett and 5 survivors Crockett and 5 survivors are ordered hacked to are ordered hacked to death by Santa Annadeath by Santa Anna

► The Alamo will give the The Alamo will give the Texian army Texian army determination to fight to determination to fight to beat Mexico beat Mexico

So what does this all So what does this all mean?mean?

► Compare and contrast the strengths and Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of the Mexican and Texian weaknesses of the Mexican and Texian armies?armies?

► Compare and contrast Santa Anna and Compare and contrast Santa Anna and William B. Travis as leaders.William B. Travis as leaders.

►Why did the Texians feel the need to stay Why did the Texians feel the need to stay and fight at the Alamo?and fight at the Alamo?

► Pretend that you are an eyewitness to the Pretend that you are an eyewitness to the siege of the Alamo. Write a report about the siege of the Alamo. Write a report about the battle to inform the people of Texas as to battle to inform the people of Texas as to what you have seen.what you have seen.