 Why did many Texans choose to rebel against Mexico?  What events led Texas to win its independence from Mexico?

 US settlers ignored Mexican law  Not interested in becoming Mexican citizens  Texans – Americans & tejanos – thought Texas was underrepresented in Mexican government  Wanted the Mexican Constitution of 1824 to be strictly enforced (limiting the central gov.)  Too much power given to appointed officials rather than elected representatives

 Mexican officials said Texas didn’t show respect for authority  Americans outnumbered tejanos  Americans weren’t following laws Slavery was outlawed but people brought slaves Slavery was outlawed but people brought slaves  Mexican government restricted American immigration and enforce ban on slavery, raising tariffs on US goods, sent soldiers to enforce Mexican authority

 Stephen F. Austin tried to maintain peace between Texas & Mexico  Austin was thrown in jail when petitioning the Mexican president for more self-government in Texas Austin was released after a year and said: “War is our only recourse (option). There is no other remedy. We must defend our rights, ourselves, & our country by force of arms.”

-The Edwards brothers got armed settlers and took the Old Stone Fort (Dec. 16) -They raised a red and white flag that said, “Independence, Liberty and Justice” -Called it the Republic of Fredonia - The Mexican government (with the help of Stephen F. Austin) sent troops to Nacogdoches to stop the revolt. (January) - Some Fredonians were captured but most of them ran across the Sabine River (border) into the United States … the revolt was over December 21, 1826 to Jan. 31, 1827

 In 1827, Mexico sent Manuel de Mier y Teran to report on the situation in Texas. He was disturbed by what he found. He did not feel that Texans considered themselves “Mexican.” In 1828, Teran wrote the following to President Guadalupe Victoria of Mexico….

Teran urged Mexico to take some steps to make Texas more “Mexican.” He thought that more Mexican troops should be sent to Texas. Also, Mexico should trade more with Texas. Finally, Mexico should seek immigrants from countries other than the U.S. He did not say that he thought immigration from the U.S. should cease completely. However, in response to Teran’s report, the Mexican legislature passed the Law of April 6, among other measures, the law banned all immigration to Texas from the U.S.

End slavery: No slavery in Texas Pass anti-immigration laws: Limit amount of Americans moving to Texas Increase trade with Texas: More trade, more taxes Send Mexican and European settlers to Texas: Equalize American influence Collect taxes: Creates more money for Mexican government Send Mexican troops: Enforce laws, taxes and immigration.

Mexican efforts to keep control of Texas End Slavery Pass Anti- Immigration Law. Stop Immigration Increase Trade with Texas Send Mexican and European settlers to Texas Send Mexican troops to Texas collect Taxes

In Texas, leaders in the town of Columbia issued a call for a convention so people could discuss the situation with Cos and Santa Anna. This convention was known as the CONSULTATION and was supposed to be held at Washington-on-the-Brazos on October 15… however because of military hostilities (think Battle of Gonzales)… Colonists had mixed opinions -- War Party Peace Party Thought war should be avoided at all costs Thought Santa Anna had become a dictator (not good) and war was their only option it was delayed until Nov. 1.

Anahuac was a port where the Mexicans would collect taxes on imported goods The taxes were meant to raise money for Mexico and to encourage INTERNAL trade within Mexico (and not always with the US) Juan (John) Bradburn was the Mexican commander at Anahuac Bradburn did not always treat the Texans well… they had several disagreements Finally, in May 1832, after Bradburn arrested William Travis and Patrick Jack for interfering with his efforts to enforce the laws, the settlers had had it The Texans had captured Bradburn’s soldiers and held them hostage, demanding Travis’ and Jack’s release… when Bradburn refused, he fired on the town! The colonists realized they needed more fire-power so they sent one of the settlers (John Austin) to get a cannon from Brazoria

 The Texans said they were still loyal citizens of Mexico (they were NOT rebelling against Mexican authority)  Supported Santa Anna’s revolt against the Centralist president in Mexico (President Bustamante) because they were ignoring the Constitution of 1824  Santa Anna had said that HE supported the Constitution of 1824 June 13, 1832

Finally in 1833, Santa Anna became president of Mexico… most Texans were happy… I am a Federalist. NO, I am a Centralist because he had declared himself to be a FEDERALIST… he had promised to support the Constitution of 1824… which is what the Texans wanted…

Texas should be made a separate state (no more Coahuila!) Immigration from the U.S. should be allowed again Texans want to be exempt from certain import taxes They wanted more delegates in the state legislature Better protection from the Native Americans Leader of the convention! Sam! Stephen F. Austin was elected president of the convention Some guy named Sam Houston shows up at the convention a meeting of delegates of a political party to form policies and select candidates What They Want from Santa Anna:

The delegates decided to send Stephen F. Austin to Mexico to present their resolutions to Mexico City He left right after the convention, in April 1833 CONVENTION OF 1833 So now we know what we want… WHO’S GOING TO TELL SANTA ANNA? Let’s send Stephen! Everybody likes him! Guess I’m going to Mexico City…

In July 1833, Austin arrives in Mexico City as a cholera epidemic is sweeping through the city Austin’s meeting with Santa Anna is delayed because Santa Anna had left Mexico City… he did not want to be in the city while so many people were dying of cholera Austin gets frustrated (he had been waiting for 3 months) and writes a letter to the delegates in San Antonio telling them to give up on the Mexican government and go ahead and form their own government

In November, Santa Anna finally meets with Austin and agrees to some of the resolutions… mainly doing away with the law restricting immigration Austin is arrested in January 1834 and sent BACK to Mexico City Texans were appalled… they asked for Austin’s release… De nada Thanks, Santa Anna! Austin leaves Mexico City in December 1833 to head back to Texas Meanwhile, the Mexican authorities in Saltillo had read Austin’s letter to the delegates in Texas… they weren’t too happy…

 After being imprisoned for 1 ½ years, Austin was finally given his freedom in July of 1835…  he got back to Texas that September – over 2 years since leaving!!!

In Texas, leaders in the town of Columbia issued a call for a convention so people could discuss the situation with Cos and Santa Anna. This convention was known as the CONSULTATION and was supposed to be held at Washington-on-the-Brazos on October 15… however because of military hostilities (think Battle of Gonzales)… Colonists had mixed opinions -- War Party Peace Party Thought war should be avoided at all costs Thought Santa Anna had become a dictator (not good) and war was their only option it was delayed until Nov. 1.

General Cos The Texans were complaining about how the taxes at Anahuac were being collected unfairly. Several Texans were thrown in jail. ANOTHER battle was started and the Mexican official at Anahuac was forced to surrender and leave Texas! Some Texans disagreed with what the Texans had done and wrote a letter of apology to General Martin Perfecto de Cos, Santa Anna’s brother-in-law and commander of the Mexican forces in Coahuila. He arrested the offending Texans (including Lorenzo de Zavala) In early 1835, trouble began again in Anahuac! Apology NOT accepted!

 1st battle between the Texan colonists and Mexican troops over a small cannon.  “COME AND TAKE IT!”  First Texan victory – showed they would fight!

 Citizens of Gonzalez turn back Mexican forces trying to take cannon.  50 Texans capture Goliad.  FINAL BLOW: 700 Texans capture the Alamo from 1,000 Mexicans on their way to capturing San Antonio, and clearing Texan soil of Mexican troops. - Texans: 2 killed; 26 wounded - Mexicans: 150 casualties

Sam Houston Juan Seguin William TravisDavy Crockett

 November 1835  Texan army captured towns of Goliad & San Antonio  The Alamo (an old Franciscan mission) was occupied by Texans  Santa Anna became outraged and marched to San Antonio  Santa Anna led 6,000 troops to Texas to put down the revolt.  Only 189 Texan troops at 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.

 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?

 The Mexican bombardment began February 24th, and lasted until March 5th  The Alamo held up well with its tall, thick walls  Also with the KENTUCKY RIFLE, the Texans were able to pick off Mexican troops from great distances  The RIFLE vs. the MUSKET

 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.

 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

 They stopped in a field near Coleta Creek to rest and were surrounded by Urrea’s troops.  After two days of fighting, Fannin surrendered.  All the captives thought they would be returned to the US – 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 approaches Gonzales, the people there began to flee – some all the way to Louisiana and some to places like Nacogdoches and Galveston Island.

 Texan leaders met to declare independence (prior to Alamo)  Created a Texas Constitution Modeled on the United States Legalized slavery

 Days before the Battle of San Jacinto, Sam Houston was said to have had an estimated 1,000 soldiers.  It would be tough to say that even a half of these soldiers were trained military men.  The majority of his soldiers were volunteers who knew a whole lot about farming, and very little about war.

 Houston ordered his troops to attack at 3:30 the afternoon of April 21 st.  The Mexican troops were all for the most part resting, watering horses, or eating.  WHY? The Traditional Battle  Houston’s troops enter the camp virtually unnoticed.

Public Terms 1. The war between Mexico and Texas was officially ended, and Texas was declared independent. 2. Santa Anna would not take up arms against Texas. 3. All Mexican forces would withdraw beyond the Rio Grande. 4. Prisoners would be exchanged. 5. Mexico would return all captured property. 6. Texas leaders would promptly return Santa Anna to Mexico.

Secret Terms 1. Provided for Santa Anna’s immediate release 2. Santa Anna would try to persuade Mexican leaders to recognize the independence of Texas. 3. Santa Anna would push for the Rio Grande to be Mexico’s border with Texas.

Texans Respond: 1. A small force stopped Santa Anna 2. David G. Burnet imprisoned him Mexican Response: 1. Leaders did not recognize treaties or Texas independence