The Great Plains and the Southwest Ch. 7-3, P. 258

Key Terms Great Plains Nomadic Presidio Texas war for Independence Battle of the Alamo

Essential Questions How did the lives of the plains Indians change from the 1500’s to the 1800’s? How did Spain integrate California and the Rio Grande valley into Hispanic North America? Why did Texas fight to win its independence from Mexico?

The Plains Indians For thousands of years, Native Americans had thrived in the western part of North America. Nomadic tribes in the southwest followed herds of buffalo. Further to the east, some tribes in the Great Plains also established permanent villages.

Impact of the Horse The Spanish introduced the horse to North America in the 1500’s. By the mid-1700’s, horses had spread as far as the Dakotas. Horses had a profound impact on the everyday lives of plains Indians. Everything from the nature of warfare to the division of labor between men and women was changed.

The Decline of Villages The horse made it possible for the tribes of the plains to migrate west. Many tribes abandoned village life and adopted a nomadic existence. Horses allowed these groups to hunt buffalo, but also to raid established settlements in the east. Village-dwellers found themselves pressed between raiding nomads in the west and white settlers in the east.

Hispanic North America The Spanish came to Mexico in the 1500’s. Mexico was less important to them than South and Central America – much less gold. Settlement was slow and spare. Most settlement was along the Rio Grande and in California.

California The Spanish established a series of missions and presidios – forts – along the Pacific coast. The Spanish feared the English or Russians would try to claim California. They put much effort into civilizing and Christianizing the Native Americans there.

Mexican Independence Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, after a 13-year struggle. In 1810, a priest named Miguel Hidalgo triggered a rebellion that led to a struggle for independence. In 1821, an Army general named Augustin de Iturbide joined with rebels to win independence.

Texas The Mexican government encouraged California, New Mexico, and Texas to trade with the United States. In 1822, a Virginian named Stephen Austin received permission to start a colony of several families in Texas. Wave after wave of immigrants followed, desiring to establish cotton plantations.

Texas Mexico offered protection and tax breaks to immigrants who would settle Texas. As their numbers grew, the immigrants demanded more political control and guarantees on slavery. They wanted the same rights that they had in America.

Texas In 1833, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna took power Mexico and made himself dictator. Texans, both American settlers and Mexicans, demanded independence. In October of 1835, the two sides fought, and Texas declared independence.

Texas Sam Houston of Tennessee (a close friend of President Jackson)became the Texans’ general. Santa Anna led an army of thousands into Texas in March of 1836. In San Antonio, a few hundred Texans fought them for 13 days at an old mission, The Alamo. Although defeated, the Texans’ stand at the Alamo would serve as a rallying point for the independence movement.

Texas Santa Anna chased the rebels back towards the American border. An 800-man force led by Houston stopped him in April with a surprise attack. In May, Santa Anna was captured and forced to sign a treaty recognizing Texas’s independence.