The Alamo

The Mexican Army

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

►Officers are inexperienced

►Although most of the soldiers are inexperienced, they are an organized army

The Texan Army

►Mostly made up of volunteers fighting for a independence

►Texans are not organized army but have a cause

►Choose their commanders and are good shots

►Most of Texan army are from the South

Santa Anna

►President of Mexico and commands military

►Dictator who rules with an iron fist

►Wants to regain control of Texas and stop the revolution. Uses very ruthless (cruel) tactics

►Orders no prisoners are to be taken

William B.Travis

► Shares command with Jim Bowie until Bowie becomes ill

► Writes letters to Sam Houston and other Texans asking for help at Alamo

► Thinks that he will have more time to get troops and trusts the Alamo’s defenses

Santa Anna’s Advance

►Santa Anna marches over 1800 Mexican troops north from Mexico City to San Antonio

► Face harsh weather and attacks by Native Americans

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Why the Alamo?

►Mexican reasoning: Santa Ann wants

to regain control of Texas

San Antonio is largest city in Texas.

San Antonio is located in prime position for supply routes to and from Mexico

►Texans reasoning: Alamos sits on

an important road

Travis and Bowie felt that they could hold the Alamo and felt safe there

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

The Siege of the Alamo

► The siege begins on February 26, 1836

► Texans are outnumbered 8 to 1

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

► Texans believe that reinforcements will come

The Siege of the Alamo

►The Mexican army pounds the Alamo daily with cannon fire

►The Mexican army surrounds the Alamo

►Travis knows Texans will face “certain death” but chooses to make a stand

Mexican Artillery pound the Alamo walls daily.

The Battle of the Alamo: Phase One

►Santa Anna begins the attack on March 6th at 5:00 AM

►Mexican infantry attacks the Alamo from three sides

►Texans cannon fire forces Mexican troops to bunch up near the north wall

The Battle of the Alamo: Phase Two

►Mexican infantry breaches North wall

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

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

The North Wall is breached!

The Battle of the Alamo: Phase Three

►Mexican infantry inside the Alamo turns Texan’s own cannons against them

►The fighting is vicious hand to hand combat

The Aftermath

►All Alamo defenders are killed

►Some believe that 6 Texans, including Davy Crockett survive the fighting and are executed

►Texans rally behind the cry “Remember the Alamo.”