The
Battle of the Alamo
was the most famous battle during the Texas Revolution
but the Goliad Massacre was also a most notorious event
involving the execution of over 350 Texans who had been
forced to surrender to the Mexican army of Santa Anna.
What were the Causes of the
Texas Revolution?
In 1821 the Mexicans
won their independence from Spain in 1821 and founded the Mexican
Republic. Soon after this event immigrants from the United States
settled in the northeastern part of the new republic - which was
called Texas. Why did the Texas Revolution start? The causes of the
rebellion of the Americans leading to the Texas Revolution were:
-
Cultural differences
between the Mexicans and the Americans
-
Language - Americans
unwilling to speak Spanish
-
Religion - Americans
unwilling to accept the Roman Catholic
-
Judicial system -
Mexican system 'guilty until proved innocent' as opposed to
American system of 'innocent until proved guilty'
-
Slavery - the Mexicans
opposed slavery, whereas many Americans had been raised in
the slave states of the south
-
Role of the Mexican
military to collect taxes
-
The autocracy of Santa
Anna and the bureaucracy of the government
-
Changes in the government
to a less democratic system
-
The Americans retained
trading links with the U.S.
-
Many Americans believed
that Texas, and other parts of Mexico, should belong to the U.S.
Texas Revolution Battles: The Battle of Gonzales
The
Battle of Gonzales was the first military conflict in
the Texas Revolution fought on October 2, 1835. The
small cannon sparked the conflict. The Mexican
authorities had given the American settlers of the town
of Gonzales a small cannon to help protect them from
frequent raids by Comanche Native Indians. As political
unrest increased with rebellions in different states the
Mexicans demanded the return of the small cannon. The
Texan colonists refused and the Battle of Gonzales
commenced that resulted in the death of one Mexican
soldier and the start of the Texas Revolution.
Texas Revolution Battles: The Battle of the Alamo
The
Battle of the Alamo
was the most famous battle in the Texas Revolution. A small group of
180
Americans, led by William B. Travis, Jim Bowie and Davy Crocket
battled against the force of a 4000 Mexican army led by General
Santa Anna.
Texas Revolution Battles: The Battle of Jacinto
The
Battle of Jacinto was the final battle of the Texas Revolution
fought on April 21, 1836. General Sam Houston led the Texan army in
the battle that was fought by the San Jacinto River. Vince's Bridge
played a critical role during the Battle of San Jacinto. Vince's
Bridge was a wooden bridge constructed by Allen Vince over Sims
Bayou near Harrisburg. Acting under the orders of Sam Houston
Vince's bridge was destroyed by Texan troops led by Deaf Smith. The
destruction of Vince's bridge
prevented the arrival of re-enforcements to General Santa Anna's
Mexican Army (who had divided his force) and resulted in the
decisive defeat of the Mexican army, effectively ended the Texas
Revolution. The Battle of Jacinto was a rout, as hundreds of
Mexican soldiers were killed or captured. General Santa Anna was one
of those captured and on May 14, 1836 signed the
peace Treaty of Velasco. The demoralized Mexican army,
crossed the Rio Grande back
into Mexico on June 15, 1836.
Texas Revolution: The Goliad Massacre
A
notable and tragic event of the Texas Revolution was the Goliad
Massacre. The Goliad Massacre occurred on March 27, 1836, when over
350 Texan prisoners, and their commander James Fannin, were executed
by Mexican forces. Most of the Texan prisoners had surrendered at
the Battle
of Coleto which was fought on March 19–20, 1836. The Texans had been
massively out-numbered by the Mexicans, led by José Urrea, and had
run out of ammunition. José Urrea, acting under orders from General
Santa Anna, could not accept anything but an unconditional
surrender. The terms of surrender are unclear but it is believed
that the Texans were promised their lives and deportment to New
Orleans if they laid down their arms and surrended to Urrea. The
captives were sent to Goliad. Santa Anna demanded they should all be
executed. Urrea tried to convince the general to spare them but he
failed. The Texans were to be executed under the command of Colonel
Nicolás de la Portilla. The executions were called the Goliad
Massacre. The actual number of executions is unclear but estimated
to be between 350 to 400. The men were shot, their bodies burned and
their remains left to the elements. The Goliad Massacre increased
the resolve of the men who were bravely fighting in the Texas
Revolution.
Facts about the
Texas Revolution: Facts and Timeline for kids
Interesting Texas Revolution Facts and Timeline for kids are
detailed below. The history of the Texas Revolution is told in a
factual timeline sequence consisting of a series of interesting, short facts
providing a simple method of relating the
history of the Texas Revolution
and its battles for kids, schools and homework projects.
1829: President
Andrew Jackson again offers to purchase Texas, for $1
million. Mexican President Vicente Guerrero declines
April 6, 1830: The
Mexican government bans American immigration to Texas
April 1, 1833: Santa
Anna is elected president of Mexico
October 2, 1835:
Battle of Gonzales - Texan Victory
October 10, 1835:
Battle of Goliad - Texan Victory
October 28, 1835:
Battle of Concepcion - Texan Victory
November 4–5,
1835:Battle of Lipantitlan - Texan Victory
November 1835: Sam
Houston was selected as Commander-in-Chief of the Texas
Army
November 26, 1835:
Grass Fight - Texan Victory
December 12, 1835:
Sam Houston issues a proclamation to recruit a Regular
Texas Army
December 17, 1835:
Sam Houston is ordered by the Texas Governor Henry Smith
to attack Matamoros. Houston orders Jim Bowie to lead
the Matamoros expedition
December 30, 1835:
Santa Anna and the Mexican Congress declare that that
all foreigners taken in arms against the government
should be treated as pirates and shot
February 27, 1836:
Battle of San Patricio - Mexican Victory
February 23 – March
6, 1836: Battle of the Alamo. Heroic leaders William
Travis, Jim Bowie and Davy Crocket are all killed during
the siege - Mexican Victory
February 24, 1836:
William B. Travis writes his
Victory or Death
Letter
March 2, 1836: Battle
of Agua Dulce - Mexican Victory
March 2, 1836: The
Texas Declaration of Independence is signed and the
Republic of Texas is declared
March 6, 1836: The bloody siege
of the Battle of the Alamo ends. Over 600 Mexicans were
killed during the Battle of the Alamo and
countless injured
March 14, 1836:
Battle of Refugio - Mexican Victory
March 19–20, 1836:
Battle of Coleto - Mexican Victory
March 27, 1836: The
Goliad Massacre - 350-400 Americans executed
April 21, 1836:
Battle of San Jacinto - Texan Victory
April 22, 1836:
General Santa Anna is captured
May 14, 1836: The
peace treaty of Velasco is signed by the Republic of
Texas and General Santa Anna of Mexico.
June 15, 1836: The
Mexican army, crosses the Rio Grande back
into Mexico
October 22, 1836: Sam
Houston is named President of the Republic of Texas
May 14, 1836: The
peace treaty of Velasco are signed by the Republic of
Texas and General Santa Anna of Mexico.
June 15, 1836: The
demoralized Mexican army, cross the Rio Grande back
into Mexico
December 29, 1845:
Texas becomes part of the United States - refer to
Texas Annexation
The
Texas Revolution for kids: The Texas Annexation Issue
Following the Texas Revolution and
their declaration of independence from the Republic
of Mexico the vast majority of Texas citizens
favored
Texas Annexation
by the United States. However, this suggestion
received significant opposition by the leaders of
both Important American political parties (the
Democratic party
and the
Whig Party).
The US politicians strenuously objected to
incorporating Texas, which was a vast slave owning
region, into the United States due to the volatile
political climate and
the bitter question of slavery
that divided the north and the south. In early 1845 John O’Sullivan initiates
the phrase 'Manifest Destiny'
and on December 29, 1845 at last became part of the
United States. |