For six months during 1835 and 1836, the people of Texas, both Tejanos and colonist, fought for their independence from Mexico and from Santa Anna, who had been establishing new, stricter laws for those in Texas. In the most iconic battle of this revolution, the men at the Alamo went beyond what was expected of the typical Texas soldier in the revolution and their deaths created a thirst for revenge that lasted through the rest of the war. It was this thirst for revenge that played a significant role in the success at the Battle of San Jacinto. As was true with the rest of the Texas revolutionaries, there was variety in the group of men who fought at the Alamo. They were freemen and slaves, Tejanos’ and Texans, those who were willing to …show more content…
While Fannin 's attitude is not necessarily representative of the rest of the Texas Army, there was certainly a difference between the Texas Army and the men at the Alamo. Although all of the soldiers fighting in the revolution were putting their lives at risk, the men at the Alamo knowingly sacrificed their lives because of their commitment to their cause. Prior to the battle of the Alamo, San Antonio was taken by the Texas army with significant help from the local Tejanos population. Approximately 160 Tejanos fought, many from the city to which they were laying siege. While having the Tejanos on the same side as the Texans was incredibly beneficial, the relationship began to fall apart quickly, due in part to the Texas soldiers need for supplies and their lack of funds. The Texans started to simply take what they needed, be it crops or livestock. Although farmers and ranchers received assurances that they would be reimbursed in the years following the war, it was small comfort. Another problem was the difference in what the two groups were trying to accomplish. While the Texans were seeking complete freedom from Mexico, the majority of Tejanos wanted to become a Federalism within Mexico. This difference in end goals coupled
The Battle of the Alamo is probably the most famous battle to take place in the history of, and in the state of, Texas. The battle has given Texans the will to persevere against tough odds and the courage to endure through seemingly impossible situations for many generations. Many a Texan would draw inspiration during the fights following the defeat at the Alamo. This inspiration eventually led them to victory during the Texas Revolution following the Battle of San Jacinto. Had the Texas military correctly utilized their intelligence and combat assets available to them at the time, they would have been able to properly reinforce the Alamo. This would have allowed Texan leadership to develop an effective strategy to defeat the Mexican army
Crisp, James E. Sleuthing the Alamo: Davey Crockett's Last Stand and Other Mysteries of the Texas Revolution. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc, 2005.
In the December of 1835, during the Texas Revolution, the Alamo was occupied by two hundred Texan soldiers located near the present day in San Antonio. The Alamo was a church in the middle of San Antonio. William Travis and James Bowie were the commanders who were prepared to defend the Alamo from the Mexicans who wanted it back. Unfortunately, the Texan soldiers were outnumbered to secure the Alamo from General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna by thousands of his soldiers. The battle was only for thirteen days and Santa Anna slaughtered everyone except for a few such as a widowed wife named Susanna Wilkerson Dickinson, her infant daughter Angelina, and the one person who witnessed the final assault and survived named Joe. For the Texans, the battle of the Alamo is an "image of brave resistance and a rallying cry in their battle for freedom." This urged more Texans to join the military and lead the following fight to triumph against Mexico. The battle cry “Remember the Alamo!” within Texas culture was a symbol of “Patriotic sacrifice.”
The men fought very bravely and had some of the best fighters in America at their side, such as Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William B. Travis were all patriots who came together to fight for Texas’s freedom. All of the soldiers who fought for the Alamo were volunteers, all wanting their freedom from the Santa Anna. The Texan soldiers defeated over 700 of the Santa Anna’s soldiers but still lost the battle of the Alamo.
Sam Houston played a monumental role in sparking the Texas revolution. He believed that independence from Mexico was necessary saying that “war inevitable” and “urging volunteers to come to the aid of their Anglo brethren” (p. 60). Also, Houston’s role as commander-in-chief of the army was very important in winning the war for Texas Independence. After the capture of Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, many of the soldiers in the Texas Army wanted to execute him on the spot. But because of Sam Houston’s level head, he knew that “his prisoner was the key to removing all Mexicans soldiers from Texas without further bloodshed”, and “Jacinto became his password to Texas heroism forever” (p. 85-87). Furthermore, Houston’s leadership as the president of the Republic of Texas “kept the republic alive until it became a part of his mother country” (p. 198).
The film “The Alamo” revealed the history of Texas and battle of Alamo about Texas revolution, early back in the mid-1830s. The film was released in 2004, which reflected how the Texans fought bravely against Mexicans government to preserve their independence from the Mexico. Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, William Barrel Travis, Davy Crockett, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna were the main characters of the movie. Sam Houston was the governor of the Texas and used to live with Indians. Jim Bowie was the colonel with a huge knife and was opportunities. William B Travis was lieutenant colonel who divorced his wife and Jim used to call him “Buck” in the movie. Davy Crockett was renowned as a bear fighter and sharpshooter. He used to play violin and everybody
The battle at the Alamo is one of the most significant events in the Texas Revolution, as well as in both Mexican and American history. For Mexican President and General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, it was a tale of determination and holding to the principles of a strong, central government. For Americans living in Texas, the Alamo was a venture of small scale Revolutionary ideals; a people should be able to democratically express how they feel their homeland to be governed. As we know, both countries experienced the extreme opposites of their desired outcomes, if only initially. The tales of this specific point in time are many, though some certainly contain many varying details from the next. However, most can hardly be proven, as
The dictator of Mexico, General Santa Anna, set the control of military to prevent the Texans' revolution. About 100 Texans defended their settlements at the Alamo. The unforgettable moment of Texans' inspired quote, 'Remember the Alamo!' made a large impact on Mexican soldiers in the Alamo. The vision of battle of San Jacinto was full of painful bloody violence. It overwhelmed the Mexicans.
The Alamo first saw action when General Cos landed at Copano, and headed to San Antonio to meet up with Colonel Ugartechea. By now war was on everyone’s mind and many events prior to Cos marching toward San Antonio set the playing field for war, but not everyone really was for it,..... at least not yet. Meanwhile, in Gonzales the revolution had started over a cannon that the settlers would not give up. This is also were the phrase “come and take it!” was born. What had happen was Ugartechea sent a lieutenant with some men to unarm a group of colonist who had a cannon at their disposal in Gonzales. What the Mexican’s did not count on was that in the end they would be sent running off to San Antonio after being repulsed by the colonists. Now the colonists formed a small army to March on Cos and his men, which the settlers wanted out of Texas for good. As Lord points out Cos would be ready for the settlers in San Antonio. Lord also points out how the mission in San Antonio got its name, Lord states that the mission once held a colonial company from the Alamo de Parras in Mexico, and that the named carried over and was shortened to just being called the Alamo.
On February 15 and 16, 1836, General Santa Anna and his men crossed the Rio Grande to put down the uprising and prevent Texas from becoming its own state. The Mexican Army successfully won multiple skirmishes and battles, to include the Alamo and Goliad (Hardin, 2004).
The battle for Texas’ independence was a hard battle. Many lives were taken, home destroyed, and families were torn apart. Texas residents wanted to break away from Mexico and become a self-governing republic inside of Mexico because they did not like Santa Anna’s laws. Mexico did not allow slave immigration, so Texas wanted to be a part of the United States that allowed slavery. But the main reason was that Mexico would not change or consider any government ideas that the Anglos and Mexicans had for Texas, and resulted in Santa Anna ruling and making all the laws and decisions. Santa Anna also overthrew the Mexican government and made himself the Mexican dictator. Stephen Austin came to try and settle the trouble caused by the suggestion of Texas’ constitution, but instead Santa Anna imprisoned him for a year.
“Remember the Alamo!” became the battle cry of the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. Despite being ten years following the battle of the Alamo, the rally cry still incited deep-seeded emotion for many Texans.
The battle of the Alamo only spanned an approximate 13 days yet it’s a very critical battle in winning the independence of Texas and helping expand the United States to the west. There were many small conflicts that led up to this battle but it all started as white settlers
For six months in 1835 and 1836, the people of Texas fought for their independence from Mexico. Men from all over the country assisted in the war and the soldiers consisted of men of all ages and many different races and nationalities. The majority of the revolutionaries, though, were young, white men who had come to Texas from the United States. These men were angry about the new laws the recently elected Mexican President, Santa Anne, had instated. These new laws, coupled with the average Texans' lack of respect for the Mexicans, were the major contributing factors that caused started the Texas Revolution.
The battle of the Alamo has been one of the most significant events in not only the Texas Revolution, but American and Mexican history as well. The battle of the Alamo started in February of 1836 and ended in March of 1836, lasting less than two weeks’ total. The battle was between the Mexican army and the rebelling Texans. The Mexican army was led by the Mexican President and General, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, while the rebelling Texans were led by Lt. Colonel William Travis, Jim Bowie, and David Crockett. The battle of the Alamo happened to be one of the most pivotal points in the Texas Revolution causing both countries to experience the complete opposite of the projected outcome, eventually resulting in Texas’ independence.