  1st battle between the Texan colonists and Mexican troops over a small cannon.  Citizens of Gonzales would not give up a cannon that had been given to them by the Mexican government to protect them against Native Americans.  Lt. Castaneda (MEX) led 100 men to take the cannon. The Battle of Gonzalez October 2, 1835

  Militia of Gonzales flew a flag over it that said “COME AND TAKE IT!”  Militia fired the cannon at the Mexican soldiers and began the Texas Revolution The Battle of Gonzalez October 2, 1835

  First Texan victory – showed they would fight!  Called the “Lexington of the Texas Revolution”  First battle of the American Revolution occurred at Lexington The Battle of Gonzalez October 2, 1835

  Citizens of Gonzalez turn back Mexican forces trying to take cannon.  50 Texans capture Goliad.  700 Texans capture the Alamo from 1,000 Mexicans on their way to capturing San Antonio, and clearing Texan soil of Mexican troops. Texan Victories Fire Up Santa Anna

  Sam Houston sends James Bowie to destroy the Alamo, but when Bowie arrives he feels that the Alamo is too important.  Bowie and Travis begin recruiting men to defend the Alamo.  Santa Anna arrives in San Antonio on February 23 rd. Houston’s Orders

 The Battle of the Alamo February 24 - March 6, 1836

 Strengths of the Alamo  12 foot walls ; 2-3 feet thick  20 cannons  Food and water supplies very high

  Too much space to defend (3 acres) with Travis’s army possessing less than 200 men  A piece of the South wall, between the chapel and the main wall was built of fence planks and dirt.  With Gonzalez 71 miles away, and Goliad 95 miles away, reinforcements would be tough to come by quickly.  Juan Seguin left the Alamo to deliver a message to Sam Houston. He didn’t fight at the Alamo. Weaknesses of the Alamo

 Alamo Diagram

  Santa Anna flies the traditional RED FLAG from his headquarters, indicating “no quarter,” or no prisoners.  As the Mexican Army marched toward the Alamo, they sang, “El Deguello,” an ancient chant of no mercy!  WHAT WAS THE STATEMENT SANTA ANNA WAS TRYING TO MAKE? Santa Anna’s Statement!

  The Mexican bombardment of the Alamo began February 24th and lasted until March 5th (siege lasts 13 days)  The Alamo held up well with its tall, thick walls  The Texans were able to pick off Mexican troops from great distances by using the Kentucky Rifle The Siege and Bombardment

  Travis could obviously see he was severely outnumbered Mexicans v. 200 Texans Measuring the Odds

 William B. Travis’s Letter  Travis writes letter to recruit men to help defend the Alamo  “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World”

 Fellow citizens and compatriots; I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World”

 Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country. Victory or Death. William Barret Travis Lt. Col. Comdt. “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World”

 The Line in the Dirt  Sure to meet their death, Travis supposedly drew a line in the dirt with his sword and gave every man under his command the opportunity to flee.  Only one man left.  Why? The spirit of NATIONALISM!

 The Final Attack

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  The actual battle took an estimated 90 minutes -- 5:30am to about 7:00am.  All who defended the Alamo died, with the exception of women and children, and a Mexican soldier who convinced Santa Anna he was fighting against his will.  The Mexican armies lost an estimated 600 trained soldiers, all of whom were very hard to replace. The Final Attack

  Santa Anna lost enough professional soldiers to be set back two weeks, two weeks the Texans really needed.  The brutality of Santa Anna made him lose much respect from his troops.  In an attempt to squash the Texan spirit, Santa Anna couldn’t have done more to ignite the Texan passion for independence! REMEMBER THE ALAMO!

 Colonel Fannin and Goliad  Colonel James W. Fannin led about 300 Texans in another part of Texas while the battle at the Alamo raged on.  Travis wanted him to come to San Antonio with reinforcements, but he never made it.  On their way to San Antonio, Sam Houston ordered a retreat of the Texan army for fear that the Mexican army was too close.

  Fannin and his troops stopped in a field near Coleto Creek to rest but were surrounded by Mexican troops.  After two days of fighting, Fannin surrendered. Battle of Coleto Creek

 Goliad Massacre  March 27, 1836  All the Texan captives from the Battle of Coleto Creek thought they would be freed after the war ended.  Instead, they were marched to Goliad where Santa Anna ordered that they all be executed!

  When Anglo settlers heard of the massacres at the Alamo and Goliad, they feared for their lives.  As Santa Anna traveled through Texas after the Texan army, Texan citizens began to flee.  Some traveled all the way to Louisiana and some to places like Nacogdoches and Galveston Island. Runaway Scrape

  Days before the Battle of San Jacinto, Sam Houston was said to have had an estimated 1,000 soldiers.  Less than half of these soldiers were trained military men.  The majority of his soldiers were volunteers who knew very little about war. Houston’s Army

  Houston ordered his troops to attack at 3:30 the afternoon of April 21 st.  The Mexican troops were all resting, watering their horses, or eating.  Houston’s troops enter the camp virtually unnoticed. “Remember the Alamo!”

 The Battle of San Jacinto April 21, 1836  The battle lasted no more than twenty minutes.  10 Texans killed, 30 wounded including Sam Houston, who shattered his ankle due to a musket shot.  630 Mexicans killed, 750 taken prisoner including Santa Anna.

  Santa Anna surprised by the attack and predicting the defeat of his troops,attempts to escape.  He makes a soldier switch clothes with him, and tries to run for it.  He is caught later hiding in the tall grass of a field with other Mexican soldiers, but the Texans don’t realize who he is.  A Mexican soldier calls “Presidente!” and he is brought in to custody. Santa Anna the Coward

 Victory!

  Texans at San Jacinto demand Santa Anna be executed right away.  Sam Houston says no and says the famous quote “ You’ll settle for blood. I want Texas.”  In exchange for his life, Santa Anna signs over all rights to Texas. VICTORY!!!

  2 treaties were signed on May 14,  Public treaty  Santa Anna promised never to fight against Texans again  Called for exchange of prisoners of war  Secret treaty  Santa Anna promised to work for Mexican recognition of Texas independence and set boundary at the Rio Grande Treaties of Velasco