Tx 11

Bellwork

What events caused a build up in tensions between Texans and the Mexican government?

Chapter 11: The Texas Revolution Section 1: The War Begins

The Capture of Gonzales & Goliad

• Santa Anna— president of Texas in the 1830s • Texans angry Santa Anna would not follow the Constitution of 1824

Antonio López de Santa Anna

The Capture of Gonzales & Goliad • Mexican officials demand that U.S. settlers at Gonzales turn over a cannon Gonzales Cannon

• Refused to hand over cannon

The Capture of Gonzales & Goliad

• Bury the cannon in an orchard • Seek reinforcements • Removed a ferry crossing the Guadalupe River

The Capture of Gonzales & Goliad

• “Come and Take It” • October 2, 1835: Texans attack Mexican force • One Mexican killed, no Texans killed

The Capture of Gonzales & Goliad • Mexicans retreat to San Antonio • General Martín Perfecto de Cos orders 300 more troops to Texas

General Martín Perfecto de Cos

The Capture of Gonzales & Goliad

• After Gonzales, the Texans attacked and defeated an army at Goliad • George Collinsworth and Ben Milam commanded a Texas force of about 50 settlers

The Capture of Gonzales & Goliad

• Outnumbered, the Mexicans at Goliad surrender • Texas had cut off the Mexican army’s supply route • Rebel army sets sights on San Antonio

The March on San Antonio • Volunteers at Gonzales begin to organize and attack on San Antonio • Stephen F. Austin elected general

The March on San Antonio • October 1835: Austin sets up camp outside of San Antonio • Received aid from Tejanos who had suffered after the arrival of Cos

The March on San Antonio • Texas Army ill trained and equipped • Infantry—foot soldiers • Cavalry—group of soldiers on horseback

The March on San Antonio

Jim Bowie

James Fannin

Andrew Briscoe

• 90 men sent out to search for a good defensive position • Search Party attacked by a force of 400 Mexican soldiers

Jim Bowie • Born 1796 in Kentucky • Spent most of his life in Louisiana • Caught & rode wild horses, rode alligators, & trapped bears

Jim Bowie • Signed up to fight in the War of 1812 • Engaged in illegal slave trading with Jean Lafitte • Had a fiery temper and got in many fights

Bowie Knife

• Designed by Jim’s brother, Rezin Bowie, Jeff Cleft created the first knife • Given to Jim for protection • Gained fame after the “Sandbar Fight”

The March on San Antonio • Texans had a good defensive position • Texans possessed more accurate rifles • Texan troops won • Stephen F. Austin waits for reinforcements

The Grass Fight • Austin & troops lay siege to San Antonio • Austin chosen as a commissioner to the U.S. • Col. Edward Burleson takes command

Col. Edward Burleson

The Grass Fight • “Deaf” Smith, a scout, reports of approaching Mexican soldiers • Rumors spreads that soldiers are carrying silver Erastus “Deaf” Smith

The Grass Fight • Texas troops attack • Find out Mexicans are carrying straw • Realize siege is effective

The Capture of San Antonio • Dec 4, 1835: Col Burleson orders a withdrawal from San Antonio • Captured Mexican officer says that the Mexican camp is weak and disorganized • “Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio?”

The Capture of San Antonio • 300 rebels under the command of Milam and Francis Johnson attack San Antonio • Dec 5, 1835: Fighting begins Ben Milam

• House-to-house fighting

The Capture of San Antonio • Milam killed on third day of fighting • December 10: Cos surrenders • Cos allowed to lead his troops out of Texas

The Capture of San Antonio • By December of 1835, Texans had driven nearly all the Mexican soldiers out of Texas • Most Texans thought the conflict was over

“First Battle of the Alamo” • Cos used the Alamo as his headquarters • Made improvements to the Alamo • Surrendered at the Alamo