1

Texas and Independence

2

Clash of Cultures

US claims after 1803 that Texas was part of Louisiana Purchase

Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819- US gives up claims to Texas to settle issue

3

I. Land Grants A. Most living in Texas were Tejanos- 3000

Mexicans claiming Texas as home

B. Empressarios given huge tracts of land to encourage settlement

4

1. Moses Austin -Missouri business man given first grant in 1821

2. Austin dies before he could go but his son Stephen receives permission

3. Stephen Austin leads the "Old Three-hundred" to area of Brazos and Colorado River -960 acres or more for each

5

Between 1823-1825 Mexico passed 3 colonization laws

a. low priced land and reduced taxes 1. must convert to Catholicism 2. Learn Spanish 3. obey Mexican law- which included no

slavery

6

C. By 1830 Americans outnumbered all others

1. Didn't follow Mexican law 2. US twice offers to buy Texas

7

a. 1830 Mexico passes a decree to end immigration

b. Encourages other immigration from other parts of Mexico and Europe

c. Trade discouraged between US and Texas by a tax on US goods

d. Tension mounts as a result

8

D. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna becomes president in 1833

9

Stephen Austin travels to negotiate with Santa Anna

a. Demands include end to limit on immigration b. And make Texas a separate state c. Santa Anna agrees to first but not second d. Austin send message to Texas to prepare for

independence e. The note is intercepted and Austin is arrested

10

Santa Anna takes over as dictator ending the constitutional government

11

Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state of Coahuila y tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835, to April 21, 1836.

12

Fight for Independence begins 1. First battle at Gonzales,

Texas October 1835 over a cannon

2. "Come and Take it"

13

Two weeks before the scheduled convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos

The Mexican commander at San Antonio ordered the people of Gonzales to surrender their brass cannon

The local officials refused 100 soldiers were sent to take it

14

Conflict ignites The people buried the cannon in a peach

orchard until reinforcements could arrive from the countryside

The Texan forces dug up the cannon and mounted it on a wagon

A local blacksmith forged some ammunition out of iron scraps and pieces of chain

15

The fighting started early morning After a brief struggle the Mexican

commander ordered his troops to withdraw to SanAntonio

News of the clash quickly spread Many who were indifferent about fighting

now were moved to join

16

Free land offered to those who would aid the Texans fight- those coming included Davey Crockett and others from Tennessee

December 1835 San Antonio is liberated from Mexicans

17

Convention of 1836 March 1st 1836- 59 delegates Motion to write a Declaration of

Independence

18

Declaration of Independence similar to that of the US- declaring grievances

against the Mexican government and violation of rights making this necessary

Government of Santa Anna had violated the liberties guaranteed under the Mexican Constitution of 1824

Texans had been deprived of freedom of religion, the right to trial by jury, the right to bear arms, right to petition or request something from the government

19

It stated the government had failed to provide education

Because the Mexican government had sent a large army their protests were met by force

20

1. March 2, 1836 independence declared

2. David Burnet selected as President 3. Lorenzo de Zavala vice President 4. Sam Houston selected commander of

the Army

21

22

Santa Anna Marches on the mission at San Antonio- the Alamo

a. Defended by 180 soldiers commanded by William Travis

23

Jim Bowie Too few soldiers to defend against a superior

force Travis surprised on Feb 23rd by the advance wing

of Santa Anna’s Army just making it into the fort Texan’s had a good defense, the walls were 2-3 ft

thick and 12 feet high with 21 cannons + 1 18 pounder

24

Alamo

25

Travis Declares “Victory or death”

Letter was sent for help but it would not come

Tennessee volunteers led by David Crockett

26

As the Mexican Army encircled the fort on March 5th, 1836 Col Travis explained staying meant certain death

Travis drew a line and gave all an opportunity to leave safely

Only one chose to leave

27

The defenders of the Alamo held the garrison against heavy odds

Since Feb 23rd Mexican cannons had bombarded the Alamo daily

@ 5:00 am March 6th the first assault took place and was riddled by cannon fire.

The second assault met the same fate

28

The third assault drove the Texans back and the walls were stormed

Fighting inside the fort was fierce with rifles giving way to knives and clubs

BY 8:00 THE ENTIRE GARRISON HAD BEEN OVERRUN

29

Although Santa Anna ordered all defenders to be put to death several women and children did escape

The Battle encouraged other Texans to come to the defense of those who had so bravely fought

“Remember the Alamo” became the battlecry

http://www.learn360.com/ShowVideo.aspx?ID=139797

30

Battle of Goliad- Slaughter of those surrendering from Goliad

31

March 27th the prisoners at Goliad (Col Fannin and troops from Coleto creek )were marched onto the prairie where they thought they were on a work detail

Instead the soldiers opened fire and 350 Texans were executed

32

The Texas cause seemed hopeless in March as the Mexican Army moved further North

Santa Anna ordered the burning of towns and settlements

Sam Houston began to put his forces together eventually growing to 1400 men

33

Battle of San Jacinto The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21,

1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen minutes. About 630 of the Mexican soldiers were killed and 730 captured, while only nine Texans died

34

Battle of San Jacinto

Sam HoustonThe Texans had attacked and the Mexican army was unprepared, some sleeping and some watering their horses

35

Battle for Independence

36

The EndDuring the battle Santa Anna disappearedand was pointed out as one of the prisoners

dressed as a common soldierHouston demanded Texas from Santa Anna and

Mexico and the Treaty of Velasco was signed on May 14,1836

He was granted his freedom in exchange for his efforts to have Texas recognized as an independent nation and the Rio Grande as the border

37

Victory for Houston

38

Sam Houston elected president Sept 1836 1. representatives sent to Washington to

seek annexation but it was refused due to balance of free and slave states

2. Question continues to arise as Texas and Mexico continue to battle- Santa Anna's treaty not recognized by Mexico

39

3. Finally in 1844 Polk is elected President and the Philosophy of Manifest Destiny wins out with the addition on Texas as a state in December of 1845