Unit 5Unit 5

1826-18351826-1835

The Road to The Road to RevolutionRevolution

18261826 The Fredonian Rebellion erupts

18301830 Mexico passes Law of April 6, 1830

18321832 Colonists and Mexican troops clash at Anahuac

18331833 Stephen F. Austin imprisoned

18351835 The Battle of Gonzales fought

18351835 Texans and Mexican troops face off at Battle of San Antonio

The Road to RevolutionThe Road to Revolution

MAIN IDEAMAIN IDEA

When Santa Anna gained control of the Mexican government, he sent Mexican troops into Texas once again. His actions convinced many Texans that independence was the solution.

Clashes between the colonists and the Mexican soldiers led to the beginning of the Texas Revolution.

WHY IT MATTERS NOWWHY IT MATTERS NOW

SANTA ANNA’S TRUE COLORSSANTA ANNA’S TRUE COLORS Texans quickly found out that Santa Texans quickly found out that Santa

Anna did not share their views on Anna did not share their views on government.government.

Once in power, Santa Anna dismissed Once in power, Santa Anna dismissed the Mexican Congress.the Mexican Congress.

Santa Anna had a new constitution Santa Anna had a new constitution written which gave him ALL the power.written which gave him ALL the power.

Santa Anna sent his brother-in-law, Santa Anna sent his brother-in-law, General Cos, to Texas to enforce Santa General Cos, to Texas to enforce Santa Anna’s laws and put down any rebellion.Anna’s laws and put down any rebellion.

Trouble in Anahuac AGAINTrouble in Anahuac AGAIN Cos sent Captain Tenorio to Anahuac to watch the Cos sent Captain Tenorio to Anahuac to watch the

Texans and continue collecting Taxes from the Texans and continue collecting Taxes from the Texan colonists.Texan colonists.

Two Texans were arrested for not showing respect Two Texans were arrested for not showing respect to Tenorio.to Tenorio.

The Texans decided to force Tenorio and his men The Texans decided to force Tenorio and his men out of Texas, so they assembled 25 men and out of Texas, so they assembled 25 men and headed to Anahuac.headed to Anahuac.– William B. Travis was the group’s leader.William B. Travis was the group’s leader.

The Texans fired one shot to announce their The Texans fired one shot to announce their arrival. arrival.

Tenorio and his men surrendered and agreed to Tenorio and his men surrendered and agreed to leave Texas.leave Texas.

WARWAR PARTYPARTY

Did not want Did not want war; but war; but wanted wanted Texas to be Texas to be separate separate Mexican Mexican statestate

PEACE PARTY

• Thought that war was inevitable for Texas’s independence

When Stephen F. Austin was released from prison, the Texans looked to him as to how to handle

this situation. He believed “war is the only recourse.”

I. The Mexican Army Arrives in TexasI. The Mexican Army Arrives in Texas

TensionTension continued to build in Texas as the continued to build in Texas as the actions of actions of TravisTravis and other radicals at and other radicals at AnahuacAnahuac caused concern for the Mexican caused concern for the Mexican authorities. Generalauthorities. General CosCos arrived in arrived in SanSan AntonioAntonio with 650 troops to bring order. with 650 troops to bring order. Result? Texans felt threatened by this action; Result? Texans felt threatened by this action; so so committeescommittees of of correspondencecorrespondence (local (local groups sharing political and military groups sharing political and military information) much like those formed during information) much like those formed during the the AmericanAmerican RevolutionRevolution—sprang up to keep —sprang up to keep the colonists informed.the colonists informed.

Battle of Battle of GonzalesGonzales

II. The Battle of GonzalesII. The Battle of Gonzales

It happened on It happened on OctoberOctober 22, , 18351835. . It is called It is called the the LexingtonLexington of Texas because it was the of Texas because it was the first official battle of the first official battle of the TexasTexas RevolutionRevolution. . Why Lexington? It is very Why Lexington? It is very similarsimilar to the first to the first battle of the battle of the AmericanAmerican RevolutionRevolution—when the —when the British attempted to take arms from British attempted to take arms from American colonists in Lexington, American colonists in Lexington, Massachusetts.Massachusetts.

II. The Battle of GonzalesII. The Battle of Gonzales

The Mexican commander Colonel The Mexican commander Colonel UgartecheaUgartechea demanded the return of a 20 demanded the return of a 20 inch inch brassbrass cannoncannon from the people at from the people at Gonzales.Gonzales. The people refused, The people refused, buriedburied the the cannon to hide it, dug it up, and mounted it cannon to hide it, dug it up, and mounted it on a on a wagonwagon. Then, they made a white flag . Then, they made a white flag out of a out of a weddingwedding dressdress with a taunting with a taunting mottomotto, or slogan, “, or slogan, “ComeCome and and TakeTake ItIt”!”!

II. The Battle of GonzalesII. The Battle of Gonzales

The Texan commander Colonel John The Texan commander Colonel John H. H. MooreMoore led led 160160 Texan soldiers Texan soldiers against against 100100 Mexican soldiers in a Mexican soldiers in a 1515 minute early morning battle. Only minute early morning battle. Only 11 Mexican soldier is killed and the Mexican soldier is killed and the TexansTexans win the battle as the Mexican win the battle as the Mexican army retreats!army retreats!

III. The Siege of San Antonio de BexarIII. The Siege of San Antonio de Bexar

A week after Gonzales, A week after Gonzales, 120120 Texans took Texans took GoliadGoliad by surprise! These two victories convinced many by surprise! These two victories convinced many Texans that the Mexican army could be defeated.Texans that the Mexican army could be defeated. SFASFA was appointed command of the “ was appointed command of the “ArmyArmy of of the the PeoplePeople” of about ” of about 300300 Texans as they set out Texans as they set out to defeat Cos’s army at to defeat Cos’s army at SanSan AntonioAntonio. There, SFA . There, SFA decided to lay decided to lay siegesiege (military blockade) around (military blockade) around the city because they didn’t have any the city because they didn’t have any heavyheavy artilleryartillery to attack Cos’s army. In late to attack Cos’s army. In late NovemberNovember, , SFA left his command at San Antonio to plead SFA left his command at San Antonio to plead for aid from the USA. Edward for aid from the USA. Edward BurlesonBurleson was was chosen to take over command of the volunteer army.chosen to take over command of the volunteer army.

III. The Siege of San Antonio de BexarIII. The Siege of San Antonio de Bexar

As Burleson prepared to call off the attack, news As Burleson prepared to call off the attack, news spread about Cos’s army getting weak and spread about Cos’s army getting weak and hundreds of hundreds of volunteersvolunteers arriving in Texas from the arriving in Texas from the USAUSA. A former empresario, . A former empresario, BenBen MilamMilam, arrived with , arrived with his army at San Antonio and motivated the his army at San Antonio and motivated the discouraged Texas Army to fight on to victory with discouraged Texas Army to fight on to victory with his famous his famous pleaplea: “: “Who will go with old Ben Milam Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio?” into San Antonio?” He and Frank W. He and Frank W. JohnsonJohnson each each led a led a columncolumn of of 150150 men into battle on men into battle on DecemberDecember 55, , 1835. The 1835. The SiegeSiege of of BexarBexar (as it became known) (as it became known) lasted lasted 44 days as Mexican forces were forced to take days as Mexican forces were forced to take refuge in an abandoned mission known as the refuge in an abandoned mission known as the AlamoAlamo! !

III. The Siege of San Antonio de BexarIII. The Siege of San Antonio de Bexar

MilamMilam was killed, but Johnson led was killed, but Johnson led 400400 Texans to victory as Cos Texans to victory as Cos surrenderedsurrendered his his army of army of 1,0001,000 men! Cos promised men! Cos promised NEVERNEVER to to fight on Texas soil again and was allowed to fight on Texas soil again and was allowed to return to Mexico. The return to Mexico. The capturecapture of San of San Antonio was a Antonio was a BIGBIG victory for the Texans— victory for the Texans—BUT many mistakenly thought the war was BUT many mistakenly thought the war was overover!!

Questions: Gonzales and San AntonioQuestions: Gonzales and San Antonio

1.1. How was the Texas Revolution How was the Texas Revolution similar to the American similar to the American Revolution?Revolution?

2.2. Why is Gonzales known as the Why is Gonzales known as the “Lexington of Texas”?“Lexington of Texas”?

3.3. Which two battles made the Which two battles made the colonists believe the Mexicans colonists believe the Mexicans could be easily defeated?could be easily defeated?

Questions: Gonzales and San AntonioQuestions: Gonzales and San Antonio

4. Explain why the Texas army had the 4. Explain why the Texas army had the advantage at San Antonio de Bexar.advantage at San Antonio de Bexar.

5. Explain why the Siege of San Antonio de 5. Explain why the Siege of San Antonio de Bexar was an important victory for the Bexar was an important victory for the Texas Army.Texas Army.

6. Why was Sam Houston so angry with 6. Why was Sam Houston so angry with Colonel James Fannin and Colonel James Colonel James Fannin and Colonel James Bowie after the Texans victory at San Bowie after the Texans victory at San Antonio de Bexar? What did Houston fear?Antonio de Bexar? What did Houston fear?