The Alamo and Goliad Summary Chapter 11 Textbook Materials

Lesson 01: A Clash of Armies The Texas army had several problems: a shortage of soldiers, disorganization, and the refusal of volunteers to accept Sam Houston as their leader.

Lesson 01: A Clash of Armies Continued... The Mexican army under Santa Anna marched north during the winter of 1836 rather than wait for the spring. The troops faced a lack of grass for their horses and mules to eat and muddy roads caused their biggest, heaviest cannons to get stuck in the mud.

Lesson 01: A Clash of Armies Continued... After the Texans learned that the Mexican army was advancing, Colonel Neill intended to hold them off at the Alamo even though Sam Houston wanted the mission abandoned.

Lesson 01: A Clash of Armies Continued... James Bowie, David Crockett, William Travis, and others arrived to help defend the Alamo and protect the eastern settlements.

Lesson 01: A Clash of Armies Continued... When Colonel Neill was called away, Travis and Bowie shared a joint command of the Alamo in order to unite the regulars and the volunteers.

Lesson 02: Victory or Death When Santa Anna reached the Alamo and asked for its surrender, the Texans responded with a single cannon shot.

Lesson 02: Victory or Death Continued... Even though the Texans had fortified the mission with cannons, the structure still had some weak or incomplete walls.

Lesson 02: Victory or Death Continued... Travis wrote to the people of Texas and the United States asking for help in defending the mission: his troops were outnumbered, and the Mexican army would show no mercy and take no prisoners

Lesson 02: Victory or Death Continued... On March 6, 1863, after 12 days of siege, Santa Anna ordered a final assault that lasted only about 90 minutes, killing all the defenders of the Alamo but one.

Lesson 02: Victory or Death Continued... Instead of creating fear of Santa Anna and his army, the battle at the Alamo immortalized the heroism of the defenders and strengthened the determination of the Texans.

Lesson 03: Defeat in South Texas The second half of the Mexican army was led by General Urrea, who was marching up the coast. The Texans were divided into smaller forces, making it easy for Urrea’s troops to defeat them as he marched toward Goliad

Lesson 03: Defeat in South Texas Continued... Colonel Fannin had a group of soldiers at Goliad, but they were far from any other Texas forces and were vulnerable. When his troops finally retreated, they moved slowly and ended up surrounded by Urrea’s forces

Lesson 03: Defeat in South Texas Continued... After a brief skirmish, Fannin surrendered to Urrea. As prisoners of war, Fannin and his men were taken back to Goliad where Santa Anna ordered them executed.

Lesson 03: Defeat in South Texas Continued... Santa Anna saw the Alamo and Goliad as two victories against the Texans; the Texans, however, were now strongly united against Mexico, as they used “Remember the Alamo” and “Remember Goliad” as rallying cries