Texan Independence American History

Map 1) Borderlands 1700-1763

Map 2) Borderlands 1763-1800

Map 3) Borderlands 1800-1819

Map 4) Borderlands 1819-1848

Spanish Texas Tejas was rich and desirable, as it had forests, rich soil, and great grassy plains. Tejanos are people of Spanish heritage who consider Texas their home. The Spanish government wants to attract more settlers to move to Texas

Mexican Independence Stephen Austin created a colony in Texas that attracted 297 families. Tensions between American settlers and Tejanos increased because the Americans resented following Mexican laws.

Slavery in Texas Many Americans came from the South and brought slaves Slavery was still illegal in Mexico

Rising Tensions in Texas The Americans also didn’t want to learn Spanish or follow Mexican laws. Very few settlers had converted to Catholicism. The Mexican government:  stopped American immigration  levied taxes  sent troops to Texas

Texans Revolt Against Mexico [1833] Austin set off for Mexico City with a petition listing all the reforms supported by both Americans and Tejanos. In Mexico City, the Mexican president, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna learned of a letter Austin had written that threatened a rebellion if Santa Anna didn’t approve of his petition.

The Alamo The first battle takes place at on old mission that was used as a fort.

The Fight for the Alamo Only 183 Texans guarding the Alamo. Mexican army had 1,800 men. Texans held the Alamo for twelve days. On the thirteenth day, Santa Anna ordered his men to storm the fortress. When it was over, all but five Texans were dead. The men not killed in the battle were executed by Santa Anna. Texans were shocked by the slaughter at the Alamo and vowed to fight for their freedom.

Men of the Alamo Sam Houston Juan Seguin William Travis Davy Crockett

Victory at San Jacinto On April 21st, 1836, the Texans advanced on the Mexican army “with the stillness of death”. In just 18 minutes, the Texans killed more than half of the Mexican army. Santa Anna was forced to sign a treaty giving Texas its freedom. With the Battle of San Jacinto, Texas was now independent.

Lone Star Republic In September 1836, Texans raised a flag with a single star. Sam Houston was elected president The Texas government asked Congress to annex Texas, but Congress vetoed the annexation because it worried about the slavery issue and about another war with Mexico.