Texas Revolution

1820s to 1845

American Settlement of Texas

• Why did Americans want to settle in Mexican territory primarily Texas?– There was cheap land that was ideal for growing

cotton

• Spain had allowed American settlements to establish themselves in Texas.

• Upon Mexican independence (1821) from Spain a new agreement allowed Americans to Texas if:– Became Mexican citizens– Accepted Catholicism

• Stephen F. Austin is responsible for establishing a successful colony of Americans in Texas.– Empresarios (agents)– Americans outnumbered Spanish-speaking

Mexicans (Tejanos) 20,000 to 5,000 or what is the simplified ratio?• 4 to 1

• 1830s Mexico will ban slavery in Texas and prohibit further immigration

Texas Independence

• Declared March 2, 1836– 1834 General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna took

control of Mexico• Wanted to centralize power• 1835 marched troops north to regain control of Texas

• Independent Texas was modeled after the United States in hopes of being a state.– Slavery was legal

Texas Revolution

The Alamo• http://

www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/the-alamo?m=51896f7467b39

• Santa Anna was mad that Texas declared their independence– Amassed over 6,000 troops

to attack a group of Texas volunteers

• Approximately 200 Texas volunteers occupied the Alamo near San Antonio.– Their goal was to stall the Mexican Army while a larger

army was created– Stalled for 2 weeks– All but three defenders of the Alamo were killed by

the Mexican army.• No quarter given• Texans believed they had been massacred• Mexican Army faced heavy losses as well

• This battle will become the rally cry for the rest of the war for independence– “Remember the Alamo”

Battle of San Jacinto

• Santa Anna chased the Texas forces under Houston east to the coast.

• On the afternoon of April 21, 1836, Houston and his men attacked and surprised a confident Mexican Army– Shouting “Remember the Alamo. Remember

Goliad!”

• Santa Anna’s army was destroyed and he was captured– Forced to sign a treaty where he gave Texas its

independence

Independent Texas

• Sam Houston became the 1st President– Stephen Austin – 1st Secretary of State

• Many Southern planters would take advantage of land grants and move to Texas

Annexation of Texas

• Most Texans wanted to be part of the United States• U.S. Congress wanted Texas– North opposed the annexation

• Jackson believed it would upset the balance of power between slave and free states and would not allow it.

• Mexico refused to recognized the forced treaty until 1844– Texas Rangers are formed to protect the country from

frequent attacks from Mexico