The Battle of the Alamo
In the 1820’s, westward expansion was in full force. Americans continued to look for cheaper land past the western frontier and many found their homes in the vast territory of Texas.
In 1821, Mexico won independence from Spain and Texas was part the newly independent country. The Mexican government granted land rights to Americans settling in the area and many became Mexican citizens.
In 1829, Mexico's second president, Vicente Guerrero, abolished slavery throughout the country. At that time, many American settlers, primarily from the southern United States, had moved to Texas and brought enslaved Black people with them. Differences in language, religion, and cultural practices created divisions between these settlers and the Tejanos (Texans of Mexican descent).
By 1835, Mexican President Antonio LĂłpez de Santa Anna repealed Mexico's federal constitution and sought to centralize power under his government.
This decision was unpopular with many people in Mexico, including the Texians (American settlers in Texas) and Tejanos, who valued local control and self-governance.
Tensions increased as Santa Anna enforced laws that some settlers resisted, such as paying taxes and following immigration policies. These disagreements led the settlers, along with some Tejanos, to rebel against the Mexican government..Â
Santa Anna led his army to San Antonio, Texas to bring the area back under Mexican control by a show of force. On the long march Santa Anna's army suffered from insufficient supplies, raids by American Indian groups, and lack of water or medical supplies.
In San Antonio, a group of about 200 Texans were stationed at the Alamo, an old Spanish mission that was turned into a a fort.
The fort was on 3 acres of land and contained several buildings with cannons along the walls and on roofs. Among the group there were James Bowie, William Travis, Davy Crocket and other recent immigrants from the U.S.
Santa Anna and his army of about 1,500 soldiers arrived in February 1836 determined to retake Texas. They laid siege to the fort in order to drive out the rebels. The Texan volunteers held out for 13 days before the Mexican forces overpowered them.
Every Texan soldier in the fort was killed and the only survivors were women, children, those who had been enslaved by the Texans at the fort.
As a result of the devastating loss for the American settlers, the Alamo became a symbol of resistance and a rallying cry. Thousands of white Texans signed up to join the rebellion against the Mexican government.
Six weeks after the Alamo, Sam Houston led an army of over 800 Texans that attacked Santa Anna’s army at the San Jacinto River.
Soldiers shouted, “Remember the Alamo” as their battle cry and won the battle of San Jacinto after capturing Santa Anna.
Soon after, Santa Anna and the Texans signed a treaty granting independence to Texas. In September 1836, Sam Houston was elected the first and president of the Republic of Texas.