texas war for independance

Texas War for Independence

• Beginning of the War

  • The Texas War for Independence began in October 1835 with the Battle of Gonzales, which ended in a victory for Texas.

• Santa Anna's Response

  • After the initial victory, Santa Anna, the President of Mexico, mobilized an army from Mexico City to quell the rebellion, reaching San Antonio by mid-February 1836.

• The Siege of the Alamo

  • In San Antonio, approximately 180 Texans were defending the Alamo, a former mission building.
  • From February 23 to March 6, 1836, 1,800 Mexican soldiers besieged the Alamo, preventing any food, supplies, or reinforcements from reaching its defenders.

• Declaration of Independence

  • On March 2, 1836, Texas declared itself a separate nation, known as the Republic of Texas.

• Fall of the Alamo

  • On March 6, 1836, the Mexican Army successfully breached the walls of the Alamo, resulting in the deaths of nearly all the defenders, including notable figures such as James Bowie (the designer of the Bowie knife) and Davy Crockett (a U.S. congressman).

• The Battle of San Jacinto

  • In retaliation for the fall of the Alamo, Texan commander Sam Houston led an attack on the Mexican Army near the San Jacinto River on April 21, 1836.
  • This decisive battle resulted in a victory for the Texan Army, and they captured Santa Anna.
  • Following the battle, Santa Anna agreed to withdraw and surrender, leading to Texas achieving its independence from Mexico.