14.2 Texas Independence pp. 451-456

Objectives: Explain the conflict between Mexico and settlers in Texas. Describe how Texas won its independence from Mexico.

Review: 1. What region included the present-day states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Canada? 2. The rough-and-tumble explorers who trapped furs in the Oregon Country were called __________________ ______________. 3. Define rendezvous— 4. Name the African American mountain man who discovered a pass through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 5. The _______________ _______________, which linked Independence, Missouri, with the Oregon Country, became a major highway across the country. 6. Define annex— 7. What was James K. Polk’s campaign slogan in 1844? 8. What parallel (latitude line) was finally accepted as the dividing line in the Oregon Country between the U.S. and British Canada?

A. Colonizing Texas (pp. 451-452) In 1820 Spanish-owned Texas included a handful of Americans and about 3,000 Tejanos, people of Mexican heritage who considered Texas their home. Around that time, the Spanish decided to offer large tracts of land to empresarios—people who agreed to recruit settlers. One empresario, Stephen Austin, carried out his father’s plan of establishing a Texas colony along the Brazos River.

B. Growing Conflicts (pp. 452-453) In exchange for land grants, the American colonists promised to: a. become citizens of Mexico b. obey Mexican laws c. accept the Catholic faith. 2. Many Americans who moved into Texas wanted to keep their own culture, which included owning slaves. 3. Tensions mounted and many American settlers talked of splitting away from Mexico and creating a separate Texas state.

C. The Fight for Independence (pp. 453-454) The new head of the Mexican government, Antonio López de Santa Anna, insisted that Texas remain part of Mexico. When Santa Anna became a dictator, many Texans decided to break away from Mexico. In response, Santa Anna ordered soldiers to seize a cannon in the town of Gonzales, where Texans had hung a flag over the weapon that dared the Mexican troops to “Come and Take It.”

D. The Alamo (p. 454) On March 2, 1836, Texans announced the creation of the Republic of Texas and placed Sam Houston in command of the army. Meanwhile, in San Antonio, fewer than 200 Texans—including William Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett—took cover in and defended an empty mission called the Alamo. On March 6, 1836, after a 12-day siege, Mexican forces overwhelmed the defenders of the Alamo; most were either killed or executed.

E. San Jacinto (p. 455) News of events at the Alamo, as well as of a prisoner massacre at Goliad, led volunteers to rush to join Sam Houston’s army. In April 1836, Houston’s soldiers shouted “Remember the Alamo” and “Remember Goliad” as they attacked Santa Anna’s forces near the San Jacinto River. The 18-minute Battle of San Jacinto became the most intense battle of the Texas Revolution—and a staggering defeat for Santa Anna’s forces.

F. The Republic of Texas (p. 456) On May 14, 1836, Texans forced Santa Anna to sign a peace treaty. In September 1836, Texans elected Sam Houston president of the new independent nation—The Republic of Texas. The U.S. officially recognized Texas, “the Lone Star Republic,” as an independent nation in 1837.

Review: 9. Define Tejanos— 10. Define empresarios— 11. Who carried out his father’s plan for organizing a colony in Texas? 12. List three things American colonists had to agree to before moving into Texas. 13. Who was the new head of the Mexican government? 14. What is considered the first battle in the Texas war for independence? 15. Where did fewer than 200 Texans hold off a massive Mexican army for nearly two weeks before being defeated and annihilated? 16. List three famous defenders at the Alamo. 17. Where were hundreds of Texas prisoners massacred? 18. Where did the intense final battle of the Texas war for independence occur? 19. Who was elected president of the Republic of Texas?