Alamo Detailed

1830: Americans in Texas outnumbered Mexicans, leading

Mexico to outlaw further American immigration and introduce

new taxes, angering the Texans.

1831: Mexico gave settlers a stronger voice in government,

creating the Department of Nacogdoches, followed by the

Departments of Béxar and Brazos. A department was a land

division within Texas. The Mexican government dealt with

settlers' concerns.

1833: General Santa Anna was elected Mexican president. While some

Texan requests were granted, their appeal for separate statehood was

rejected. Santa Anna made himself dictator, sending 500 Mexican

soldiers to Texas, where they clashed with Texan settlers. Mexican

forces eventually surrendered in San Antonio.

1835: The Texas Revolution officially began in Gonzales.

1836 - January: Texans

took control of harbors

north of Copano and held

forts, including the

Alamo.

Mid-February 1836:

Santa Anna led an army

targeting the Alamo.

February 23, 1836: Despite being warned, William Travis and his men

were surprised by the arrival of Mexican cavalry on February 23. Santa

Anna's forces surrounded the Alamo. Travis responded to Santa Anna's

demand for surrender with a cannon shot. The siege began, with

Mexican artillery bombarding the fort for 12 days.

March 3, 1836: Travis wrote a letter seeking reinforcements, pledging

never to surrender or retreat. Despite hopes for aid, no significant

reinforcements arrived.

February 23, 1836: Despite being warned, William Travis and his men

were surprised by the arrival of Mexican cavalry on February 23. Santa

Anna's forces surrounded the Alamo. Travis responded to Santa Anna's

demand for surrender with a cannon shot. The siege began, with

Mexican artillery bombarding the fort for 12 days.

March 3, 1836: Travis wrote a letter seeking reinforcements, pledging

never to surrender or retreat. Despite hopes for aid, no significant

reinforcements arrived.

1836 - January: Texans

took control of harbors

north of Copano and held

forts, including the

Alamo.

Mid-February 1836: Santa

Anna led an army

targeting the Alamo.

March 5, 1836: The Alamo's north wall began to crumble. Santa Anna planned to move north and

capture Texan leaders. He ordered an attack for the next day.

March 6, 1836: At 5 a.m., about 1,800 Mexican soldiers attacked the Alamo. Despite fierce

resistance, Mexican forces breached the walls. Travis was killed early in the battle. The defenders

made a last stand in the Alamo's buildings, including the Long Barracks and chapel. By 9 a.m., the

battle was over. Santa Anna's troops executed any survivors, including possibly American folk hero

David Crockett.

Post-Battle: Some non-combatants, including women, children, and an enslaved person named Joe,

were spared. The loss at the Alamo galvanized Texan volunteers, inspired by the phrase "Remember the

Alamo."

Aftermath: At the Constitutional Convention of 1836, Texan leaders declared independence from

Mexico and wrote the republic’s first constitution. With U.S. aid, Texas won the Battle of San Jacinto,

securing its independence. While the Mexicans suffered around 500 losses, the battle resulted in a

decisive victory for them. However, the loss at the Alamo galvanized Texan volunteers, who were

inspired by the phrase "Remember the Alamo" to continue their quest for an independent Texas.

The Significance of the Alamo: The Alamo had fallen, but so had some 600 Mexican soldiers. The fight

had helped the struggle for Texas independence by giving the leaders at Washington-on-the-Brazos two

weeks they might not have had otherwise. They used the time gained to declare Texas independent, write a

constitution, and set up a new government.

Why did Santa Anna allow this delay? He wanted to make a clear example of the men in the Alamo.

Santa Anna wanted to scare the rebels so badly that they would all leave Texas. Santa Anna got only part

of what he hoped for. The Alamo’s fall did scare a great many Texans. More importantly, Texans did not

forget. What had happened at the Alamo made them even more determined to have their own country.

“Remember the Alamo!” became a cry that rallied Texans to win the Texas Revolution.