Untitled Flashcard Set

What was the Alamo?

The Battle of the Alamo was a very important fight in Texas history. It happened long ago when Texas was still part of Mexico. The people living in Texas, called Texians, wanted to have their own free country. The battle took place at an old mission (like a church) in San Antonio named the Alamo.

Famous Heroes

• William B. Travis: He was the young leader in charge of the Alamo. He wrote a famous letter asking for help and promised he would never give up.

• Jim Bowie: He was a brave fighter known for his famous "Bowie Knife." He was very sick during the battle but stayed to help his friends.

• Davy Crockett: He was a famous frontiersman and storyteller from Tennessee who wore a raccoon-skin hat. He came to Texas to help the Texians fight for their freedom.

• Santa Anna: He was the leader of the Mexican army. He led thousands of soldiers to the Alamo to stop the Texians.

The 13-Day Siege

• The Surprise: On \text{February 23, 1836}, the Mexican army arrived much sooner than anyone expected.

• The Wait: For 13 days, the Texians stayed inside the Alamo. There were only about 180 to 250 Texians, but Santa Anna had thousands of soldiers.

• The Big Battle: The final fight started very early in the morning on \text{March 6, 1836}, at about 5:00 AM while it was still dark.

Why We Remember It

• "Remember the Alamo!": Even though the Texians lost the battle at the Alamo, their bravery made other people want to keep fighting for freedom. This became a famous shout that soldiers used later.

• Texas Wins: Just a few weeks later, on \text{April 21, 1836}, the Texians won another big battle and Texas finally became its own country called the Republic of Texas.