The Events that Led to the Texas Revolution Road to Revolution The Events that Led to the Texas Revolution WAR!!!

Fredonian Rebellion Texas Fredonia!!! In Nacogdoches Group of Texans formed the Fredonian Republic Led by the Edwards Brothers Claimed the area was no longer under Mexican control Stephen F. Austin sided with Mexican Gov’t Mexico sends militia – ends quickly Mexico become suspicious of U.S. Fredonia!!!

Mier y Teran Investigates 1828 The Mexican government wanted to know what the heck was going on in Texas so the sent General Mier y Teran to investigate. Teran told the Mexican government that Texans outnumbered Mexicans 10 to 1. They should be worried about the growing American influence on MexicanTexas. Resulted in Law of April 6 If the MX gov’t doesn’t do something about the growing influence, Texas will be lost FOREVER!!!!!!!

Law of April 6, 1830 Stopped all immigration from the UNITED STATES Issued a decree (law) abolishing slavery in Mexico (including Texas) Suspended empresario contracts Encouraged immigration from MEXICO AND EUROPE Placed customs duties (taxes) on goods made in foreign countries (the United States)

Anahuac Mexican colonel John Bradburn sent to Texas to enforce Mexican Laws Finally, 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

Turtle Bayou Resolutions 1832 Texans pledge loyalty to Mexico Support for Santa Anna because he favors constitution of 1824 Santa Anna had said that HE supported the Constitution of 1824 Bradburn dismissed from command

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

Federalist (free) Centralist (center) The government’s powers are divided among several branches Citizens have less freedom. The national government has ALL of the power The state government has a lot of power Both have a national government Usually controlled by a dictator Citizens have more freedom

Texans Call a Convention To address grievances they still had with the Mexican Gov’t Stephen F. Austin was elected president of the convention Some guy named Sam Houston shows up at the convention What They Want from Santa Anna: 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 The delegates decided to send Stephen F. Austin to Mexico to present their resolutions to Mexico City

Austin in Mexico 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 Austin meets with Santa Anna (President) who agrees with some requests Rejects making TX a separate Mexican State Austin leaves Mexico City in December 1833 to head back to Texas

Arrest of Stephen F. Austin January 1834 Meanwhile, the Mexican authorities in Saltillo had read Austin’s letter to the delegates in Texas… they weren’t too happy… Arrested for Treason for letters he wrote to Texas official earlier

The Revolution begins!!! By 1835 Santa Anna was in full control of Mexico and he was proving he was a dictator. He disbanded the Mexican Congress and had a new constitution written to give all power to him He put down a revolt in Mexico and was extremely harsh to the rebels.

In Texas Santa Anna sent his brother in law, General Martin Perfecto de Cos to San Antonio de Bexar to watch over Texas and put down any rebellion. Cos sent soldiers to reopen Anahuac and to start collecting customs again. Martin Perfecto de Cos

Furious at the reopening of Anahuac, William Barrett Travis leads a small force of 25 men to destroy the fort. Travis uses a small ship called a schooner and fire a canon at the fort. The small Mexican force surrendered and agreed to leave Anahuac alone.

Austin Returns Two Texas lawyers secured Austin his release from prison in August of 1835. During his time in prison he learned of Santa Anna’s action and spoke positively of Texian independence. He convinced many in the peace party to call for a war for Independence.

Mottos in center: "Where Liberty dwells there is my country.“ Stephen F. Austin’s design for a Texas Flag Mottos in center: "Where Liberty dwells there is my country.“ "WASHINGTON-In his example there is safety"

Cos in San Antonio de Bexar General Cos knew the Texians were becoming more and more rebellious. He asked for more troops from Mexico and started fortifying military positions in San Antonio. He also felt he needed to disarm the Texians. He sent a small army patrol to the town of Gonzales to confiscate a small cannon there that was used for Indian defense.

Battle of Gonzales - 1835 1st Battle of the TX Revolution – Oct. 2, 1835 The citizens of Gonzales refused to give up the cannon. About a 160 Texians gathered around the small cannon and a flag inscribed “Come and Take It.” “Lexington of Texas” J.H. Moore

“Lexington of Texas” 1st Battle of the TEXAS Revolution 1st Battle of the AMERICAN Revolution Battle of Gonzales Battle of Lexington April 19, 1775 Lexington, MA Gonzales, TX October 2, 1835 Mexican officials had gone to Gonzales to get the cannon that had been loaned to them by the Mexican government to protect themselves from Native Americans British soldiers went to Lexington to get any military supplies or weapons that the Americans had stored Americans won!!! Texans won!!! Because of these similarities, the Battle of Gonzales is sometimes called “The Lexington of Texas”

The Texans attacked the Mexican soldiers and killed one. The Mexicans then retreated back to San Antonio

Create on Left Side of Journal Battle of Gonzales, October 2, 1835 Causes Effects

Battle of Gonzales, October 2, 1835 Causes Effects Santa Anna’s failure to follow the Constitution of 1824 rising tensions between Texans and the Mexican government demand that U.S. settlers at Gonzales hand over their cannon Texas rebel victory started a war between Texas and the Mexican government from which Texans could not turn back increased the resolution and confidence of the Texas rebels

The Battle at Goliad A week after Gonzales, Texans take the Presidio at Goliad They realize they may actually be able to beat the huge Mexican Army They decide to go to San Antonio– the biggest town in TX with the most soldiers The Mission at Goliad

“Army of the People” They organized themselves as the “Army of the People” and elected Stephen F. Austin to lead them with the goal of taking San Antonio de Bexar.

The Siege of Bexar A siege is when an army surrounds a fortified place and waits to attack. Mexicans were inside the Alamo & Texans surrounded them This siege would last 34 days with sporadic fighting.

Consultation of 1835 Peace Party War Party 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 -- it was delayed until Nov. 1. Peace Party War Party During the siege, delegates from across the state met in San Felipe to hold a conference. The Consultation voted 33 to 15 NOT to declare independence but instead declared they fought for the Constitution of 1824 They also elected Sam Houston as General of the Texian Army. Thought Santa Anna had become a dictator (not good) and war was their only option Thought war should be avoided at all costs

“War is our only recourse. There is no other remedy “War is our only recourse. There is no other remedy. We must defend our rights, ourselves, and our country by force of arms.” Stephen F. Austin at the Consultation of 1835 WAR!!

Declaration of the People of November 7, 1835 Consultation Pro-war Consultation Declaration of the People of November 7, 1835 Pro-peace wanted to declare Texas independence from Mexico wanted to remain loyal to Mexico and to have the Constitution of 1824 restored; did not want to lose Tejano support pledged loyalty to Mexico explained that Texans had used force only for defense warned that if the Constitution of 1824 was not restored, Texas would declare independence from Mexico

The Grass Fight There had been very little military activity in Oct. and Nov. because sieges were BORING A TX scout named “Deaf” Smith heard that the MX Army had some cavalry and mule train headed to San Antonio Some of the Texans, thinking it has silver for Cos’ soldiers ATTACK!!! It ends up to be just grass for their horses! This is the final straw… the siege is called off and the Texans start packing to go home 1835

Back at the Siege of San Antonio (Battle of San Antonio de Bexar) Ben Milam, an empresario, heard that the Texans were leaving and tried to rally the troops to fight (he really wanted independence) He and Frank Johnson organized about 300 of the troops that were left and attacked the Mexicans in the Alamo!!! The battle lasted about 4 days… and the Texans had won!! Cos surrendered and went home. Yay! “Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio?” With Cos gone… the Texans realized that he took with him the last of the Mexican soldiers in Texas… many Texans thought they had won the war!!!! Ben Milam

Or so they thought….. Santa Anna Mexico City General Cos President Santa Anna! The Texans have run us out of Texas!!! Santa Anna Geez, Cos!!! Can’t you do anything right? If you want something done right you have to do it yourself! Come on! Let’s go back to Texas and I’ll show you how to stop this rebellion!!!!

Overview of the Texas Revolution San Felipe Consultation of 1835 1835 The Battle of Gonzales The Battle at Goliad March of the Army of the People Siege of Bexar Consultation of 1835 The Grass Fight Battle of San Antonio Cos surrenders and returns to Mexico

Early Battles of the Texas Revolution