questions to think about: 1. why did the mexican government encourage americans to settle in texas?...

Questions to think about:1. Why did the Mexican government encourage Americans to settle in Texas?2. Why did tensions eventually develop between the Mexican rulers and American settlers in Texas?3. For what reason did Stephen F. Austin visit Mexico City in late 1833? What was the result of his visit?4. What occurred at the Alamo? What was its significance?5. Why did Texas’s request for annexation to the United States cause controversy?6. What event took place on December 29, 1845?

““Don’t Mess with Texas”: The Story of Texas Don’t Mess with Texas”: The Story of Texas IndependenceIndependence

Mexican Settlement in the West

Mexico became independent in 1824 Present day states of TX, AZ, NM, CA, UT,

CO Mission System Small population (mix of natives and

mexican)

Mexican Settlement in the West

Mexico Invites U.S. Settlers Encouraged American farmers to settle in

Texas Land Grants given to empresarios Empresarios brought settlers (cheap land) Settlers had to obey Mexican laws

- had to become Roman Catholic- no slavery

Stephen F. Austin (1825)

Tensions Grow Among Texans

Most Texians were Protestant, spoke English, had cultural differences, and brought slaves

Disobeyed Mexican laws In 1830, Mexico closed its borders Anglo population doubled (45,000 by

1835)

Santa Anna: “The Napoleon of the West”

The Texas Revolution Texians rebelled in 1835 and wanted

independence 1835 First shots of the revolution were

fired at the Battle of Gonzales

The Alamo 1835 Texians succeeded in driving the

Mexicans from San Antonio Santa Anna led a Mexican army of 4000 on

a forced march through winter to crush the rebellion

Texians made their stand at The Alamo (187 men)

Three Roads to the Alamo

Davy Crockett Famous frontiersman and

congressman from TN Greatest shot in America Anti-Jackson Went to Texas to start

over ‘You can all go to Hell,

I’m going to Texas”

David vs. Davy

Jim Bowie Louisiana gambler,

duelist, slave-trader, and adventurer

The Bowie Knife Traveled to Texas to get

rich (married a wealthy Mexican woman)

Bowie and his Knife

Col. William Barrett Travis Abandoned his family in

Alabama Traveled to Texas to seek

glory and fight for independence

Commander of the Alamo Vain, stubborn, dramatic

Battle of the Alamo: March 6, 1836

Massacre at Goliad

Sam Houston From TN Wounded at Horseshoe

Bend Lawyer and former

governor Protégé of Jackson Lived with Cherokee Commanded Texian army

Battle of San Jacinto (April 26, 1836)

Following the Alamo and Goliad, Houston’s army retreated east

Ambushed Santa Anna at San Jacinto while the Mexicans were taking a siesta

Yellow Rose of Texas Crushing victory for Texas 18 minute battle

The Lone Star Republic September 1836: Texas became

independent Republic of Texas (Lone Star Republic) Sam Houston became 1st Governor of

Texas 1845: Texas later annexed into the United

States as the 28th state

Questions to think about:1. Why did the Mexican government encourage Americans to settle in Texas?2. Why did tensions eventually develop between the Mexican rulers and American settlers in Texas?3. For what reason did Stephen F. Austin visit Mexico City in late 1833? What was the result of his visit?4. What occurred at the Alamo? What was its significance?5. Why did Texas’s request for annexation to the United States cause controversy?6. What event took place on December 29, 1845?