Texas Revolution Heating Up Get one of the handouts off the table. Someone can pass out the profile sheets from yesterday. Get your “Texas Heroes” foldable out! JUMPSTART Read the Alamo Journal directions and the project rubric. Write your name on it, fold it and keep it in your Alamo journal.

Texas Revolution Heating Up Write your name and class period on the back cover of your Alamo journal. Using your biography sheet from yesterday, write the name of the person you chose on the cover of your Alamo journal. Inside on the back of the front cover, write the details of your defender.

Texas Revolution Timeline 1835 Oct. - General de Cos, acting under the orders of President Santa Anna, fortified the Alamo shortly after his arrival in San Antonio at the head of a small army. Dec. 10- General Cos and about 1,200 troops surrendered the Alamo to a volunteer Texan Army of fewer than 400 after a fierce battle for the city. 1836 Jan. 6- Colonel James Neill, commander of the Alamo, reported to the acting governor that he had 104 men, but they lacked food or clothing. Jan. 7- General Santa Anna and his army arrived at Saltillo, 365 miles from San Antonio. Jan. 14- Col. Neill wrote to Gen. Sam Houston, “Men in field four months. Today we were to receive pay for the first month. I have 100 men. If they do not get paid, 20 of them will leave immediately for home.” Jan. 15 Alamo garrison had decreased to 80 men as the volunteers continued to leave. Jan. 17- Sam Houston ordered Col. James Bowie to San Antonio to evaluate the situation.

Texas Revolution Timeline 1836 Jan. 18- Capt. Jameson, a military engineer with the Texan Army, wrote Gen. Houston to say,” You can plainly see that the Alamo never was built by military people for a fortress.” Jan. 19- Col. Bowie arrived in San Antonio with 30 men. February 1836 Tues. 2- Col. Bowie & Neill held a conference in which they decided that the safety of Texas depended on maintaining the Alamo as a fortress. Wed. 3- Col. Travis arrived in San Antonio with 25 men. He agreed with Bowie and Neill that the Alamo must be defended. Mon. 8- David Crockett arrived in San Antonio with 16 men. Wed. 10- Col. Neill reported that the Alamo’s garrison, boosted by recent arrivals, totaled 142. Thurs. 11- Col. Neill left the Alamo on a leave of absence due to an illness in his family. Fri. 12- Col. Travis assumed the role of Alamo commander.

Texas Revolution Timeline February 1836 Sat. 13- Gen. Santa Anna’s army—headed for San Antonio– was caught in a blizzard that left more than a foot of snow on the ground. Sun. 14- Col. Travis and Bowie agreed to share command of the 150 man garrison after a dispute arose over control of the volunteers. Tues. 16- Gen. Santa Anna crossed the Rio Grande and started for San Antonio. Wed. 17- Gen. Santa Anna arrived at the Nueces River, 119 miles from San Antonio. Thurs. 18- A scout reported to Col Travis that the Mexican Army had crossed the Rio Grande.

Santa Anna’s Speech, Feb. 17, 1836

Document A – Santa Anna’s Speech Who gave this speech? Where and when did he give it? According to the speaker, who were the “miserable wretches”? What were two of the things that they did to Mexico? According to the speaker, what mistake was made by Mexican officials? Many of the assembled soldiers listening to this speech were ordinary men recruited from the area around Saltillo in northern Mexico. How do you think they would have responded to this speech?

Notes Santa Anna wrote this speech for an audience larger than his soldiers. He sent a copy to Mexico City to be read before Congress. It was also in Mexican newspapers. Santa Anna refers to Mexico’s own problems. He was also dealing with issues on the home front as well. Mexicans feared he was becoming a dictator after a massacre at Zacatecas near Coahuila.

Journal Entry #1 Date your entry “Evening, February 20, 1836.” Santa Anna’s words certainly get your attention, along with everyone else’s. And the Mexican army is only a few days’ march away! You practically run to your journal. What is your reaction to the speech? How do you feeling knowing he is close? What do your friends, or comrades think?

February 20, 1836 Imagine that you are in a battle in which you and your troops are outnumbered. You realize that no one else is coming to help you. You could retreat, but you promised to fight the battle until the end. Would you stay and fight or would you leave? Why?