CHAPTER 9:ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
Identify the where the first shots of the Revolution were taken, and how Texans took small steps to begin creating a provisional government to protect themselves
Understand how the provisional government put in place in Texas during the 1830s was unsuccessful
Comprehend how Texans put in place an ad interim government as Santa Anna began to advance on San Antonio, and how that government has affected Texas today
SECTION 1: REVOLUTION BEGINS
MEXICO ARRIVES IN TEXAS
A Mexican Army Arrives in Texas Mexican General Cos increases the amount of Mexican soldiers in
San Antonio to 650
Texans were uncomfortable with the increase in soldiers
Tensions begin to arise between settlers and Mexican forces
Texans begin to unite to defend themselves against any potential threats:
Committees of safety
Road patrols to warn of approaching troops
Committees of Correspondence: local groups that shared political and military information to keep everyone informed
REVOLUTION BEGINS
Leader of the Mexican forces in Texas
GONZALES
___________________ - The Lexington of Texas Gonzales: The first conflict between Mexican troops and Texans
Occurred before the start of the Consultation at Washington-on-the-Brazos (December 2, 1835)
______________________(San Antonio Mexican commander) ordered Texans to surrender their cannon- who brought this cannon? Think of what other battle occurred because of this cannon?
Texans buried the cannon in a peach orchard, gathered reinforcements from nearby towns, made ammunition out of metal scraps, and decorated the cannon with a flag that said "Come and Take It"
Colonel John H. Moore commanded the Texan forces & fighting lasted 1 day
One Mexican soldier died
No Texan casualties
General Cos viewed Gonzales as the __________________and redirected troops to San Antonio
THAT FAMOUS FLAG
BATTLE OF GOLIAD
On to _____________ One week after Gonzales, the Texans capture the _________
garrison by surprise (October 9, 1835)- battled for about 30 minutes until garrison was taken Only other major Mexican force in Texas was occupying San Antonio and
commanded by ______________
Stephen F. Austin commanded the __________________assembled at Gonzales and marched to San Antonio
Texans lay siege to the city and try to avoid any major fighting by running out of supplies and then surrender
Because the battle at Goliad didn’t last long- the Texans believed that they could defeat the Mexican troops easily
The Texans then cried _______________________
CONSULTATION
Peace Party Prevails at the Consultation November 3, 1835: __________________________
Occurs while Texans are laying siege to San Antonio
58 Representatives from 14 towns & districts attended
_____________________: want immediate Declaration of Independence from Mexico because the fighting at Gonzales and Goliad showed that Texans could not live under Mexican rule any longer
_____________________: agreed on opposition to Santa Anna, but did not want an immediate declaration from Mexico. Instead, they wanted Texas to declare that they were fighting for the Constitution for 1824 which had been overthrown by Santa Anna- they hoped to win Mexico’s support
TERMS OFT EH PEACE PARTY
Peace Party Prevails at the Consultation ___________________The motion for immediate independence had lost
(14 votes for independence versus 33 against) Declaration of the People of Texas in General Convention Assembled
Adopted Nov. 7, 1835 Texans ____________themselves loyal citizens of Mexico ______________________the Mexican Constitution of 1824 Stated that they only took up arms to ____________ themselves against Santa
Anna Texas was no longer bound by the compact of union but would support
Mexican officials that ___________________________ The message was intended for Mexican citizens, Texan settlers, and U.S.
citizens to join in the fight Declaration was in both spanish and english- why?
Offered land to volunteers as an incentive
PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT IN TEXAS
A Provisional Government Begins The Declaration of the People also created a provisional government for
Texas
Includes: _____________(Henry Smith of Brazoria & War Party)
Lieutenant Governor (James W. Robertson of Nacogdoches & War Party)
A general council with one representative from each municipality
________________powers of the governor and council were vaguely defined and would eventually lead to conflict
________________________________________– full time paid soldiers
Sam Houston was appointed as the ______________ of the regular army, but not the volunteer army camped outside of San Antonio Consisted of full-time soldiers
Commissioners to represent Texas in the U.S.: Stephen F. Austin, William H. Wharton, and Branch T. Archer Gather troops, supplies, & money to support the expected war effort and aid in the struggle
against Santa Anna
SECTION 1 RECAP
SECTION 2: THE CAPTURE OF SAN ANTONIO
THE GRASS FIGHT
The Grass Fight ___________________commanded the volunteer army in Stephen F.
Austin's absence Austin went to the U.S. to find aid for the war
_______________________(army scout) reported that a Mexican cavalry and mule train were transporting silver to San Antonio Silver was intended to pay for Cos's soldiers
Texans intercepted the mule train and discovered that the bags were filled with grass
Skirmish became known as the ___________________
Overall, little activity occurred around San Antonio between October & November in 1835.
Texan volunteer troops began to return to their homes in late November
December 1835: San Antonio siege was called off
HISTORICAL MARKER
SIEGE OF BEXAR
The Assault on San Antonio Burleson was about to leave San Antonio when he heard that Cos
had a weak army and could not win an attack
Ben Milam began marching towards San Antonio _________________________________
Did not want to give up on the attack of San Antonio because it would be detrimental for Texas's independence
Brought 300 volunteer Texans with him and divided his forces into two columns
1. Led by _________________
2. Led by _________________(wanted war & independence from Mexico)
SIEGE OF BEXAR
The Assault on San Antonio San Antonio was eventually captured after ___________of fighting beginning
on December 5
Milam's troops had the advantage Mexican forces only knew how to fight in _____________________
_______________________(December 7th, 1835) Milam was killed
Johnson took command
Mexican forces were driven into the center of San Antonio & took refuge in the abandoned Alamo mission
Cos asked for terms of surrender on December 9th & was sent back to Mexico with his soldiers
San Antonio was a _________________________ 1,000 Mexican troops vs. 400 Texans
150 Mexican soldiers were killed and only 2 Texans were killed
______________: Texan forces occupy both Goliad and the Alamo Mexican troops were forced out of Texas
BATTLE MAP
WHO ELSE IS FIGHTING FOR TEXAS?
Tejanos and African Americans Join the Fight Siege of Bexar ______________San Antonio Tejanos
Some remained neutral
Some supported Cos and the Mexican movement
Approximately 100 Tejanos were involved in the Texan army and served as scouts Commanded by Captain _________________
Other notable Tejanos: Placido Benavides
Manuel Flores
African Americans fighting for Texan independence Hendrick Arnold
Greenbury Logan
PERMANENT COUNCIL
The Provisional Government The Permanent Council's work was continued due to the
____________________________
The Council was a group that was formed before the Consultation had met
Created:
Post Office
Plans for a navy and army
Appealed to U.S. citizens for more men, money, and supplies
March 1836: General council voted to hold a convention of the people & quarrels between the general council and governor would continue to arise
________________: Governor Henry Smith rejected the convention and vetoed the proposal, but was overridden by the general council
________________Proposed expedition to capture the town of Matamoros was rejected by the governor
THIS IS GETTING NO WHERE
The Provisional Government Overall, neither side would cooperate with one another nor agree on
anything. This government accomplished very little by the beginning of 1836.
SECTION 2 RECAP
SECTION 3:THE CONVENTION OF
1836
SANTA ANNA COMES TO TEXAS
Santa Anna Crosses Into Texas The Convention of 1836 is called by the _________________to be
held in ______________
Mexican President _______________ was marching towards San Antonio with a large army
Texans had hoped that Santa Anna would not advance into Texas until after the Convention would be held
Santa Anna arrives in San Antonio on _________________
Texas troops moved to the Alamo and to Washington-on-the-Brazos
THE CONVENTION OF 1836
The Convention Declares ___________________ Began on March 1, 1836 on Washington-on-the-Brazos
59 Delegates Only two delegates were native Texans: Jose Antonio Navarro & Jose
Francisco Ruiz
45 delegates were southerners of the U.S.
7 delegates were northerners of the U.S.
5 delegates were from international countries including Scotland, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, & England
Convention accomplishments: Chairman: Richard Ellis
Secretary: H.S. Kimble
Created a _______________________the Declaration of Independence
Historians suspect that the draft was written by _________________
THE CONVENTION OF 1836
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Texas Declaration of Independence Adopted ____________________on March 2, 1836
Similar to the U.S. Declaration of Independence and states the following:
1. Santa Anna violated the liberties under the Mexican Constitution of 1824
Included: freedom of religion, right to trial by jury, right to bear arms, right to petition from the government
2. Mexico had failed to provide a system of public education
3. Texan protests of these policy violations were met with force due to the occupation of Mexican troops in Texas.
4. Declares Texas to be free, sovereign, and an independent republic from Mexico
A CONSTITUTION FOR TEXAS
The Delegates Write a Constitution A Constitution was required for the _________________and it
needed to be completed quickly due to Santa Anna's advancement on San Antonio
Two weeks was required for writing the document
________________________: the Texas Constitution was approved
Similar to the U.S. Constitution, with some ideas taken from Mexican law court practices, and a few provisions that were unique to Texas
TEXAS’ CONSTITUTION
Texas Constitution:1. ____________________of Government Legislative Executive Judicial
2. ___________________ Guaranteed freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion,
trial by jury, & other basic human rights
3. Property was owned by both husbands and wives4. Measures to assist people in debt5. Ministers and priests were banned from public office (strict
interpretation of the separation of church and state6. _____________________ Legislature was not allowed to free slaves or prevent their importation from
the U.S. Congressional permission was required for freed slaves to live in Texas
WHO IS IN CHARGE?
The Ad Interim Government Takes Control General elections could not be held due to Mexican occupation of
Texas
An ad interim government (____________________) is put in place by the convention
___________________is elected as the ad interim president
___________________was elected as the ad interim Commander in Chief of the army (both volunteer and regular army, unlike the Consultation)
SPOILER ALERT1
Santa Anna Advances March 15: __________________________, was in control by the
Texans & the war was officially underway
March 17: Convention had adjourned & reports reached the convention that Santa Anna was marching towards Washington-on-the-Brazos
Panic began to spread throughout Texas
Convention members began to flee
Burnet & his cabinet left Washington-on-the-Brazos and headed towards Harrisburg, near present-day Houston
SECTION 3 RECAP