1. Steps Toward Texas Independence Chapter 9

2. Early Events in the Texas Revolution
First conflict between
Mexico and Texas
occurred at Gonzales-
was known as the
Lexington of Texas.
Texans refused to
give a small cannon
to the Mexicans.

3. Results of the Battle at Gonzales
After a brief few minutes
of fighting and only one
Mexican killed,
the Mexican troops
withdrew and rode
toward San Antonio
General Cos regarded the fight at Gonzales as the outbreak of war.

4. On to San Antonio
One week after the fighting at Gonzales, a force of 50 Texans attacked and won at Goliad.
Stephen F. Austin took command of the Texas Army of 600 volunteers.
The Texas Army laid siege to the city of San Antonio and decided to make camp outside of the city hoping General Cos would run out of supplies and surrender.

5. The Consultation Met on November 3, 1835 at San Felipe
Attended by 58 delegates
Members of the war party favored an immediate declaration of independence from Mexico, as Texans could no longer live peacefully under Mexican rule.

6. The Consultation (continued)
Members of the peace party disagreed with those of the war party.
After voting the Texans
declared the following:
1. Loyalty to Mexico
2. Support of the Constitution of 1824
3. Fought only to defend themselves
4. Opposed the rule of Santa Anna

7. The Provisional Government A Temporary Government
Set up by The Consultation
Chose members of the war party, Henry Smith as governor and James W. Robinson as lieutenant governor
Chose a council with one representative from each municipality, who were from the peace party

8. Provisional Government (continued)
Created a post office
Made plans for an army and a navy
Sent McKinney to U.S. to raise $100,000 for loans
Quarreled with the result of a complete breakdown of the government

9. Winter of 1835-36 Stephen F. Austin left his command of the Texas
Army to plead for aid in
the United States.
Edward Burleson became commander and involved the Texas troops in the “Grass Fight.” Troops fought the Mexican mule handlers and captured several mules who were not carrying silver to pay Cos’s troops but grass
for Cos’s cavalry horses.

10. The Capture of San Antonio
Ben Milam, an old
empresario, led the
attack saying, “Who
will go with old Ben
Milam into San Antonio?”
Fighting from house to house by Anglos, Tejanos, and African Americans lasted four days.

11. The Capture of San Antonio (continued)
Johnson took over command after Ben Milam was killed.
After Cos
surrendered, the
Texans took
refuge in an old
abandoned
mission—
The Alamo

12. The Convention of 1836 Fifty-nine delegates began to arrive at
Washington-on-the-
Brazos in late February, 1836.
They first wrote the Declaration of Independence from Mexico.

13. The Convention of 1836 (continued)
The Declaration of
Independence stated
that Santa Anna’s
government had violated the liberties guaranteed under the Mexican Constitution. It charged that Texans had been deprived of freedom of religion, the right to trial by jury, the right to bear arms, and the right to petition

14. The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration also
stated that Mexico had
failed to provide a
system of public education.
It also noted that the Texans’ protests against these policies were met with force, as the Mexican government had sent a large army to drive Texans out of their homes.
It was adopted by unanimous vote.

15. The Convention’s Adoption of the Constitution of 1836
The Convention also wrote and adopted the Texas Constitution of 1836 which was similar to the Constitution of the United States.
The document made provision for three branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches.

16. The Texas Constitution (continued)
It contained a Bill of Rights guaranteeing freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, trial by jury, and other basic civil rights.
It made slavery legal—free African Americans were not permitted to live in the Republic of Texas—Congress was forbidden to free slaves or to prevent the importation from the U.S.

17. The Ad Interim Government
With Mexican troops in Texas, it was not possible to hold elections to ratify the constitution and vote for the leaders of the new republic.
The Convention’s last act was to select officers of a temporary government known as the Ad Interim Government.

18. Ad Interim Government (continued)
The following officers were to serve until regular elections
could be held.
President: David G. Burnet
Vice president: Lorenzo de Zavala
Commander in chief of the army:
Sam Houston (put in charge of volunteers as well as the regular army)

19. The Convention of 1836 Adjourns
Reports that the Alamo had fallen had been received two days earlier.
A messenger also reported that Santa Anna’s army was marching toward Washington-on-the Brazos.
President Burnet and his cabinet left for the small town of Harrisburg (part of Houston today).
Next they had to flee to Galveston as Santa Anna marched toward Harrisburg.

20. The War Had Begun
The future looked dark for the new Republic of Texas.