Lesson 6: Independence for Texas

Question 1

Alamo Definition

Answer 1

an old Spanish mission building in Texas where Mexican forces under Santa Anna besieged Texans in 1836

Question 2

Annex Definition

Answer 2

to add on or take over

Question 3

Battle of San Jacinto Definition

Answer 3

an 1836 battle between Texans and Mexicans during the Texas war for independence from Mexico

Question 4

Dictator Definition

Answer 4

a ruler with absolute power and authority over a country, usually through the use of violence

Question 5

General Antonio López de Santa Anna Definition

Answer 5

He was the dictatorial president of Mexico during the 1830s and 1840s. He was a career soldier and politician.

Question 6

Sam Houston Definition

Answer 6

a soldier, lawyer, and politician who was instrumental in Texan independence and its subsequent annexation by the United States

Question 7

Siege Definition

Answer 7

a military blockade or encirclement of an enemy town or position with the purpose of forcing it to surrender

Question 8

Tejanos Definition

Answer 8

a person of Mexican descent born in Texas

Question 9

In 1820, what was the grant Moses Austin was given? Who took over the grant when he passed away?

Answer 9

In 1820, Spain gave Moses Austin a land grant and permission to colonize Texas with 300 Catholic families. Although Austin died before he could set up a colony, his son, Stephen, took over the grant.

Question 10

What happened in 1821, before Stephen Austin could establish his colony? Why did Mexico allow his land grant?

Answer 10

In 1821, before Stephen Austin could establish his colony, Mexico won independence from Spain. Austin went to Mexico City to make sure that the new government still supported his land grant. The new leaders agreed to let Austin bring settlers to Texas. As Spain had been, Mexico was eager for settlers to develop the land and help control Indian attacks. At the time, only about 4,000 Mexicans lived in Texas.

Question 11

What drove American settlers to Texas in the 1820s?

Answer 11

By the 1820s, most of the good land in the United States was already occupied, and land there could be expensive. There was a scarcity, or short supply, of affordable, fertile land, or land that is good for growing crops. In Texas, by contrast, there was a large supply of fertile land that settlers could buy very cheaply. This pulled many Americans to settle beyond the frontier. The eastern portion of the Spanish province of Texas contained some very fertile soil. The physical features of the land, especially the fertile soil, increased settlement to Texas, and agriculture remains important in this region to this day.

Question 12

When did Stephen Austin settle his colony, established by his grant? Where was he told to establish it?

Answer 12

Austin began to gather the 300 families who would settle his colony in Texas. Starting in late 1821, they began settling the colony. Many settlers came from the cotton country of the Southeast. Some built large cotton plantations and brought in slaves to work the land. Austin’s land grant was located between the Colorado and Brazos rivers. He made sure to divide the grant so that each colonist purchased a parcel of land that bordered a river to allow access to water. Having access to water was vital for the settlers as well as their farms and livestock.

Question 13

What did Mexico do as Austin’s colony grew and succeeded? How many Americans lived in Texas in 1830?

Answer 13

As Austin’s colony grew and succeeded, Mexico gave Austin several more land grants. Grants were also given to other entrepreneurs like Austin to attract settlers to Texas. Some of these settlers were from Mexico, but the largest number came from the United States. By 1830, about 20,000 Americans had moved to Texas.

Question 14

Who is the “Father of Texas”?

Answer 14

Often referred to as the “Father of Texas,” Stephen Austin was a major figure in the early history of Texas.

Question 15

What was the conflict over religion with the Spanish government?

Answer 15

In return for land, Austin and the original American settlers agreed to become Mexican citizens and to worship in the Roman Catholic Church. Later American settlers, however, felt no loyalty to Mexico. They spoke little or no Spanish and most were Protestant. These and other differences led to conflicts between the settlers and the Mexican government.

Question 16

In 1830, why did Mexico not allow any more American settlers in Texas?

Answer 16

In 1830, Mexico barred any more Americans from settling in Texas. Mexico feared that the Americans would try to make Texas a part of the United States. It had good reason to fear this possibility. The United States had already tried twice to buy Texas from Mexico.

Question 17

Remember: Americans were not the only immigrants to settle in Texas. Mexico also encouraged Europeans, like these Germans, to settle there.

Answer 17

Americans were not the only immigrants to settle in Texas. Mexico also encouraged Europeans, like these Germans, to settle there.

Question 18

What did Mexico do to assert its authority over the Americans in Texas?

Answer 18

To assert its authority, Mexico began to enforce laws that had long been ignored. One was the law requiring Texans to promise to worship in the Catholic Church. Another law banned slavery in the region. American settlers resented these laws. The law against slavery was a serious problem for American settlers. Many American settlers had brought enslaved people with them and relied on enslaved workers to grow cotton. Settlers’ anger grew when Mexico sent troops to enforce its will.

Question 19

What did General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna do in 1833? What rumor made people worried about his rule?

Answer 19

In 1833, General Antonio López de Santa Anna gained power in Mexico. Two years later, he threw out the Mexican constitution and began governing the nation as dictator. A dictator is a ruler with absolute power and authority. Rumors began to spread that Santa Anna intended to drive the Americans out of Texas.

Question 20

What were the Americans’ and Tejanos’ motivations to take action against Mexico under Santa Anna? What happened in October 1835 in Gonzales? What happened two months later in San Antonio? How did these two events influence people?

Answer 20

With Santa Anna in power, Americans in Texas felt that the time had come for action. They had the support of many Tejanos (teh HAH nohs), people of Mexican descent born in Texas. Tejanos did not necessarily want independence from Mexico. However, they did want to be rid of the dictator, Santa Anna. In October 1835, Texan settlers in the town of Gonzales (gahn ZAH les) clashed with Mexican troops. They forced the troops to withdraw. Inspired by that victory, Stephen Austin vowed to “see Texas forever free from Mexican domination.” Two months later, Texan settlers surrounded and then occupied the town of San Antonio. Determined to stamp out the rebellion, Santa Anna marched north with a large army.

Question 21

What were the Americans’ and Tejanos’ motivations to take action against Mexico under Santa Anna? What happened in October 1835 in Gonzales? What happened two months later in San Antonio? How did these two events influence people?

Answer 21

With Santa Anna in power, Americans in Texas felt that the time had come for action. They had the support of many Tejanos (teh HAH nohs), people of Mexican descent born in Texas. Tejanos did not necessarily want independence from Mexico. However, they did want to be rid of the dictator, Santa Anna. In October 1835, Texan settlers in the town of Gonzales (gahn ZAH les) clashed with Mexican troops. They forced the troops to withdraw. Inspired by that victory, Stephen Austin vowed to “see Texas forever free from Mexican domination.” Two months later, Texan settlers surrounded and then occupied the town of San Antonio. Determined to stamp out the rebellion, Santa Anna marched north with a large army.

Question 22

While Santa Anna was on the move, when did Texas declare its independence? Who was made general of the army of Texas? Which other groups joined in on the fighting?

Answer 22

While Santa Anna was on the move, a group of Texans declared independence for the Republic of Texas on March 2, 1836. Sam Houston was given command of its army. Volunteers from the United States and from other nations, along with African Americans and Tejanos, joined the fight for Texan independence from Mexico.

Question 23

What happened at the Alamo? What were the conditions both sides fought in? What was the result?

Answer 23

By the time Santa Anna reached San Antonio, the Texans had taken up positions in an old Spanish mission called the Alamo. There they waited for the Mexican attack.
The Texans were poorly equipped. Their supplies of ammunition, food, water, and medicine were low. Only about 150 Texans faced a force of 6,000 Mexican troops. Inside the mission, a young lieutenant colonel, William B. Travis, was in command. Among the volunteers at the Alamo were the famous frontiersmen Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett as well as several Tejano families, two Texan women, and two enslaved young African American men. On February 23, 1836, Mexican troops began the siege of the Alamo. In a siege, enemy forces try to capture a city or fort by surrounding and often bombarding it. The Texan defenders barely held out as cannons pounded the walls. Travis knew that without help the defenders were doomed. He sent a messenger through the Mexican lines with a letter addressed “to the people of Texas and all the Americans in the World”:

I shall never surrender or retreat…. I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all [speed]…. Victory or Death.

—William B. Travis, Letter, February 24, 1836

Travis also sent scouts to find more volunteers and food. About 40 men also managed to slip through enemy lines and joined the Texans in their fight inside the Alamo. Still, no large force arrived to help the defenders of the Alamo. For 12 days, the Mexican bombardment continued. At dawn on March 6, Mexican cannons shattered the mission walls. Santa Anna now launched an all-out attack. Thousands of Mexican soldiers poured over the broken walls, shouting “Viva Santa Anna!” (“Long live Santa Anna!”). Attackers and defenders battled in hand-to-hand combat. In the end, about 180 Texans and almost 1,500 Mexicans lay dead. Most of the few Texans who survived were executed.

Question 24

What happened at the Battle of San Jacinto? What motivated the strong attack?

Answer 24

The fall of the Alamo sparked Texan cries for revenge. A few weeks later, Texan fury grew when Mexican troops killed several hundred soldiers fighting for the Texan cause after they had surrendered at Goliad. News of these events inspired new volunteers to join the Texan forces. Many came from the United States. Houston worked hard to turn the volunteers into an effective army. Even though the Texans were eager to attack, Houston held them back until the time was right. Houston soon found the chance to attack Santa Anna. Scouts reported that the Mexican general and his army were camped near the San Jacinto (juh SIN toh) River. On the afternoon of April 21, 1836, the Texans caught their enemies by surprise. With cries of “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!” Texans charged into battle. The Battle of San Jacinto lasted only 18 minutes. Although the Texans were outnumbered, the element of surprise was their greatest ally. They killed 630 Mexicans and captured 700 more. The next day, they captured Santa Anna, forcing him to sign a treaty granting Texas independence.

Question 25

Why did Texans nickname their new nation the Lone Star Republic? What was used as a model for their constitution? In September 1836, who was elected president of the Republic of Texas?

Answer 25

In battle, Texans had carried a flag with a single star. After winning independence, they nicknamed their new nation the Lone Star Republic. A constitution was written using the United States Constitution as a model. In September 1836, voters elected Sam Houston president of the Republic of Texas.

Question 26

What were problems the Republic of Texas were faced with after becoming independent? How did they think to solve it?

Answer 26

The new country faced several serious problems, however. First, the government of Mexico refused to accept the treaty that Santa Anna had signed. Mexicans insisted that Texas was still part of Mexico. Second, Texas was nearly bankrupt. Third, Comanche and other Indian groups threatened to attack small Texan communities. Most Texans thought that the best way to solve these problems was to become part of the United States.

Question 27

What were the arguments for and against the annexation of Texas? What was the result?

Answer 27

In the United States, people were divided about whether to annex, or add on, Texas to the Union. The arguments reflected sectional divisions in the country. White southerners generally favored the idea. Many northerners opposed it. The main issue was slavery. By the 1830s, antislavery feeling was growing in the North. Because many Texans owned slaves, northerners feared that Texas would join the Union as a slave-owning state, strengthening support for slavery in the U.S. government. In addition, President Andrew Jackson worried that annexing Texas would lead to war with Mexico. As a result, Congress refused to annex the Republic of Texas.

Question 28

Who moved to Texas? What did the Texan Government do to promote immigration to Texas? When was Texas annexed?

Answer 28

For the next nine years, leaders of the Republic of Texas worked to attract new settlers. The new Texas government encouraged immigration by offering settlers free land. During the Panic of 1837, thousands of Americans moved to Texas, where land was less expensive than in the United States. Settlers also arrived from Germany and Switzerland. They helped the new nation grow and prosper. By the 1840s, about 140,000 people lived in Texas, including many enslaved African Americans and some Mexicans. The Republic of Texas remained an independent country until the United States annexed it in 1845.