Texas Gains Independence Convention of 1836 We are going to back-track for a moment to discuss the Convention of 1836, which happened during the Texas Revolution.

The Convention of 1836 While one group of revolutionaries was fighting for Texas at the Alamo, another group was meeting to decide Texas’s fate. The defenders at the Alamo were under fire from Santa Anna, and Texas still had not officially declared independence from Mexico. When delegates first met in November 1835, they had a decision to make...should they support Texas remaining a part of Mexico and continue to work on restoring the state’s rights granted in the Constitution of 1824? Or should they seek independence? They called a second meeting of the Consultation on March 1, 1836. The Siege of Bexar in December 1835 and Santa Anna’s march to Texas in January 1836 helped them make up their mind. Independence was the only course to take. By the time the meeting started, Santa Anna had made his way to San Antonio and was about to win his first major victory. The delegates gathered at Washington-on-the-Brazos for the Convention of 1836. They met in an unfinished building with one open side and the temperature was near freezing. The delegates declared Texas independent the next day, March 2… and within two weeks they would write a constitution.

Delegate Roll Call Sam Houston George Childress Lorenzo de Zavala Birthplace: Past Experiences: Experience at the Convention of 1836: Experience During and After Texas Revolution: George Childress Birthplace: Past Experiences: Experience at the Convention of 1836: Experience During and After Texas Revolution: Lorenzo de Zavala Birthplace: Past Experiences: Experience at the Convention of 1836: Experience During and After Texas Revolution: In your journal, copy the 3 thinking map boxes above… When finished go to www.txindependence.org You will click on “Delegate Connection” to complete the information for each delegate Or you may use the textbook (pages 224, 230)

Delegate Roll Call continued… In your journal, complete the following three sentences with facts you have learned about each of these men… 1) Sam Houston could be compared to __________________ in American history because… 2) George Childress could be compared to __________________ in American history because… 3) Lorenzo de Zavala could be compared to __________________ in American history because…

The Texas Declaration of Independence The Texas Declaration was modeled on the U.S. Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson 60 years earlier in 1776. Both declarations have three main sections… 1st Section: declares the right of revolution. 2nd Section: lists the grievances, or complaints, against the central government. 3rd Section: proclaims independence and pledges the support of all who sign the declaration.