1. Section 2-Polling Question
Would you be willing to move far away from home if you were offered free land?
A. Yes
B. No A B

2. Chapter 12 Manifest Destiny (1818-1853)
Section 2 Independence for Texas

3. Why did Texans fight for their independence from Mexico?
Essential Question
Why did Texans fight for their independence from Mexico?

4. Conflict Over Texas Conflict began in 1803
Louisiana Purchase- Americans claimed land in present day Texas
Spain protested
In the Adams-Onis Treaty the US agreed to drop its claim to this region

5. Land Grants Few people lived in Texas
Most were Tejanos (Mexicans living in Texas)
Native Americans (Comanches, Apaches, and Kiowas) also lived in this area
The Spanish offered large amounts of land to people who agreed to bring families to settle there
The people who received this land and recruited the settlers were called empresarios

6. More Land Grants
American Moses Austin received the first land grant in 1821
Moses Austin died before he could establish his colony
Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821
Austin’s son, Stephen F. Austin, received permission from the Mexican government to organize a colony
300 American families settled in Texas
From Mexico sold land at extremely low costs
In return settlers agreed to learn Spanish, become Mexican citizens, convert to Catholicism, and obey Mexican law
Most settlers came from the US

7. A B C D How did Mexico attract settlers to Texas?
Section 2
How did Mexico attract settlers to Texas?
A. It jailed the empresarios for keeping most of the land in Texas for themselves.
B. It removed all taxes on American-made goods.
C. It offered land to people who agreed to settle it.
D. It agreed to allow freedom of religion. A B C D

8. Growing Tension
By There were more Americans in Texas than Mexicans
Plus they did NOT adopt Mexican ways
The US had twice offered to buy Texas from Mexico
The Mexican government became alarmed at the American influence and passed a decree that stopped all immigration from the US
Trade between Texas and the US were discouraged by placing a tax on goods imported from the US
These policies angered Texans who depended on US trade and also had friends and relatives who wanted to come to Texas
Slave holders in Texas were also upset at the Mexican governments plan to end slavery

9. Attempt at Reconciliation
1833- General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna became the president of Mexico
Stephen F. Austin traveled to Mexico City with the Texans’ demands to remove the ban on American settlers
Also to make Texas a separate state of Mexico
Santa Anna agreed to remove the ban on American settlers, but not on the second request
Austin sent a letter to Texas suggesting plans for independence get underway
The letter was intercepted and Austin was arrested

10. Attempt at Reconciliation Continued
Austin was in jail
Santa Anna named himself dictator and overthrew Mexico’s constitution in 1824
Santa Anna placed Texas under greater control
The Texans’ lost all power
Austin was released from prison and saw that dealing with Santa Anna was impossible
He knew war was inevitable

11. The Struggle for Independence
1835- unrest among Texans sometime resulted in fighting
Santa Anna sent an army to punish the rebels
In October- Some Mexican troops tried to seize a cannon held by the Texans in Gonzales
The Texans taunted them with a white flag that said “Come and Take It”
After a brief battle, the Mexicans were driven back
Texans considered this the first fight of the Texas Revolution
Volunteers joined (including Tejanos and African Americans)
December Texans freed San Antonio from a larger Mexican force

12. The Battle of the Alamo
Santa Anna was furious and marched north to San Antonio in February 1836
The Texans were barricaded inside a nearby mission called the Alamo
The Texans had cannons, but little gunpowder
The Texans had only about 180 soldiers
Santa Anna’s army had several thousand
The Texans had brave leaders like Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie

13. More of the Battle of the Alamo
The Texan commander was 26 year old William B. Travis
Travis was determined to hold his position at the Alamo
Travis sent messages asking for help from Texans and from the US
For 12 days, The Alamo defenders kept Santa Anna at bay with rifle fire
March 6, Mexican cannon fire smashed the Alamo’s walls
The Mexicans entered the Alamo killing all the defenders
Only a few women and children and some servants survived
The defenders killed hundreds of Mexicans, but more importantly bought Texans some much needed time

14. A B C D Why was the battle at the Alamo important to the Texans?
Section 2
Why was the battle at the Alamo important to the Texans?
A. The tragic loss led to their overall defeat in the war.
B. Their victory at the Alamo was the turning point of the war.
C. The Texans’ stand gave them much-needed time and inspiration.
D. Davy Crockett became the first president of Texas. A B C D

15. During the Alamo Texan leaders were writing a new constitution
March 2nd, American settlers and Tejanos declared independence
The Republic of Texas was established
Texans could not vote because of Mexican occupation, so Texas leaders set up a temporary government
Sam Houston was named commander in chief

16. Goliad Houston ordered troops at Goliad to abandon their position
Before they could leave they were met by Mexican troops and had a fight
Several hundred Texans surrendered
Santa Anna ordered them all executed
The Texans called it the “Goliad Massacre”

17. The Battle of San Jacinto
Houston gathered an army of about 900 at San Jacinto (Near present day Houston)
Nearby was Santa Anna with more than 1,300
April 21- Texans launched a surprise attack yelling
“Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad”
They killed more than 600 and captured more than 700 more (including Santa Anna)
May 14, Santa Anna signed a treaty that recognized the independence of Texas

18. The Lone Star Republic
September Sam Houston was elected president of Texas
Houston sent delegates to Washington D.C., asking the US to annex Texas
Andrew Jackson refused the request… why?
Another slave state would upset the balance of slave states and free states in Congress
Texas would remain an independent country… for now

19. Continued Difficulties
Texas still had problems with Mexico
Also had debt
Many wanted to join the US
Southerners favored Texas annexation, Northerners opposed it
The slavery issue kept Texas from joining the US

20. 1844 Election 1844 presidential campaign changed the situation
Manifest Destiny was a popular idea at the time
When Polk became president, Congress passed a resolution to annex Texas
Texas joined the Union in 1845

21. Why did Texans fight for their independence from Mexico?
Essential Question
Why did Texans fight for their independence from Mexico?
-Americans in Texas were upset about the actions of the Mexican government, including limitations placed on immigration from the US
-Taxation on US imports, which discouraged trade and hurt Texans’ livelihoods
-Plans to end slavery

22. Chapter 12 Section 2 Quiz

23. 6. Mexicans who claimed Texas as their home were called
Texans.
Tejanos.
empresarios.

24. 7. The Mexican government arrested Stephen F
7. The Mexican government arrested Stephen F. Austin because he worked for
the American government.
Texas independence.
President Santa Anna.
overthrowing the government.

25. 8. During the battle in Gonzales, Texas bore a flag on the cannon on which was printed,
"Come and Take It."
"Freedom or Death."
"Texans Are Americans."
"Texas or Die."

26. 9. After which victory did Santa Anna sign a treaty recognizing the independence of Texas?
Goliad Massacre
the Alamo
Battle of San Jacinto
Battle of the Rio Grande

27. 10. Who did the provisional government of the Republic of Texas name as commander in chief of the Texas forces?
Davy Crockett
Sam Houston
Jim Bowie
John Tyler

28. Participant Scores Participant 1 Participant 2 Participant 3
Participant 1
Participant 2
Participant 3
Participant 4
Participant 5

29. Team Scores
Team 1
Team 2
Team 3
Team 4
Team 5