Exhaustive Review of the Texas Revolution and the Republic of Texas

Unit 1: Pre-Revolution Review and Conflict Origins

In the era preceding the Texas Revolution, political dynamics were defined by shifting loyalties and systemic instability within the Mexican government. The Turtle Bayou Resolutions represent a critical moment where Texans articulated their political stance. In these resolutions, Texans explicitly claimed loyalty to $Santa Anna$ and expressed their support for federalism, which emphasizes local control. This was a direct response to the centralist policies of the government under $Bustamante$. The political environment in $Mexico$ was characterized by constant leadership changes and frequent revolutions. This instability was deeply problematic for the Texan settlers, who were not accustomed to such volatility, leading to widespread confusion and a breakdown of trust.

A fundamental cause of the impending revolution was the deep-seated ideological divide between the beliefs of the $Mexican$ government and those of the Texans. Analysis of these differing perspectives shows that $Mexico$ believed in strong central control, direct involvement of the Church in government affairs, and the illegality of slavery. Conversely, Texans believed in self-government (local control), the separation of church and state (no church control), and the legality of slavery. These irreconcilable differences created a high probability of conflict between the two groups. Other early signs of unrest included the Fredonian Rebellion, led by $Haden Edwards$, which marked the first actual attempt at independence from $Mexico$.

Tensions escalated further due to specific incidents and legislative actions. The Law of April $6$, $1830$, which was influenced by the reports of $Mier\,y\,Terán$, restricted American influence in $Texas$. At $Anahuac$, historical accounts cite that $William\,B.\,Travis$ was arrested by $Bradburn$ for protesting custom duties (taxes). While Texans claimed they were not rebelling but rather supporting $Santa Anna$ (a claim connected to the Turtle Bayou Resolutions), military actions continued, such as the fighting at $Velasco$. Politically, Texans attempted to address their grievances through the $Convention\,of\,1832$ and the $Convention\,of\,1833$. In the $Convention\,of\,1832$, delegates wrote a constitution and requested separate statehood, though these resolutions were never officially sent to the $Mexican$ government. However, the $Convention\,of\,1833$ resulted in a drafted constitution being ivory-sent for consideration by $Mexico$. The arrest of $Stephen\,F.\,Austin$ followed his attempt to deliver a statehood request, further fueling the drive toward revolution.

Unit 1 Questions and Practice

Practice (Turtle Bayou Resolutions): Anglos in $Texas$ pledged loyalty to which leader in the Turtle Bayou Resolutions? Answer: $C.\,Santa\,Anna$.

Practice (Mexico Instability): What was the MAIN effect of frequent leadership changes in $Mexico$? Answer: $C.\,Confusion\,and\,instability$.

Practice (Belief Comparison): Based on the chart of beliefs, what is the BEST conclusion? Answer: $B.\,Texans\,would\,likely\,conflict\,with\,Mexico\,over\,government$.

Practice (Fredonian Rebellion): Who led the Fredonian Rebellion? Answer: $C.\,Edwards$.

Practice (Anahuac Justification): Texans justified their actions at $Anahuac$ by saying they were: Answer: $B.\,Supporting\,Santa\,Anna$.

Practice (Post-Anahuac Conflict): Where did fighting continue after $Anahuac$? Answer: $B.\,Velasco$.

Practice (1832 Convention): Which event included writing a constitution and requesting statehood although never sent on to the $Mexican$ Government? Answer: $A.\,Convention\,of\,1832$.

Practice (1833 Convention): Which event resulted in a constitution being sent to $Mexico$? Answer: $A.\,Convention\,of\,1833$.

Practice (Arrest): Who was arrested for protesting $Mexican$ customs duties? Answer: $B.\,Travis$.

Unit 2: The Texas Revolution - Full Test Review

Upon the outbreak of the revolution, an Ad Interim Government was established to manage the nascent Republic. This government included $David\,G.\,Burnet$ as the Interim President, $Lorenzo\,de\,Zavala$ as the Vice President, and $Thomas\,Rusk$ as the Secretary of War. $Stephen\,F.\,Austin$ initially served as the Army Commander but resigned to become an ambassador to the $United\,States$. The military conflict was defined by several pivotal battles and tactical decisions. The revolution began with the $Battle\,of\,Gonzales$, famous for the slogan "Come and Take It," which was a skirmish over a cannon. This was followed by the $Siege\,of\,Béxar$, characterized by urban, house-to-house fighting where Texans used battering rams made of logs to punch through adobe walls.

The $Siege\,of\,the\,Alamo$ remains one of the most significant events of the war. Command of the $Alamo$ was initially split, with $William\,B.\,Travis$ leading the Regulars and $Jim\,Bowie$ leading the Volunteers. After $Bowie$ became ill, $Travis$ assumed command of all forces. $Travis$ penned a famous letter during the siege, acknowledging that the situation was desperate but appealing to the patriotism of $Americans$ in $Texas$ for reinforcements. Ultimately, $Santa\,Anna$ ordered the attack on the $Alamo$. The mission was considered a poor defensive position because the site was too large to be effectively protected by the garrison of fewer than $200$ people. Following the defeat at the $Alamo$ and the subsequent surrender at $Goliad$, the "Runaway Scrape" occurred as civilians fled eastward in fear of the advancing $Mexican$ army.

The massacre at $Goliad$ followed the $Battle\,of\,Coleto\,Creek$, where Colonel $James\,Fannin$ and his men were surrounded in an open prairie by $Mexican$ forces under General $Jose\,de\,Urrea$. Despite utilizing a hollow square military formation, the Texans were outnumbered and surrendered. On $Palm\,Sunday,\,1836$, over $300$ men, including $Fannin$, were executed at $La\,Bahía$. The revolution concluded at the $Battle\,of\,San\,Jacinto$ on $April\,21,\,1836$. The $Texian$ forces, led by $Sam\,Houston$, launched a surprise attack near $Buffalo\,Bayou$, catching the $Mexican$ army off guard and securing a fast victory. $Sam\,Houston$ chose to spare $Santa\,Anna$'s life so that the leader could sign the $Treaty\,of\,Velasco$, which recognized the Republic. Independence had been officially declared earlier on $March\,2,\,1836$, during the $Convention\,of\,1836$.

Unit 2 Questions and Practice

Practice (Government Matching): Burnet served as $Interim\,President$, Zavala as $Vice\,President$, Austin as $Army\,Commander$, and Rusk as $Secretary\,of\,War$.

Practice (Battle Identification): A soldier describes a sudden attack catching the enemy off guard and defeating them quickly. Battle: $C.\,San\,Jacinto$.

Practice (Alamo Order): Who ordered the attack on the $Alamo$? Answer: $C.\,Santa\,Anna$.

Practice (Runaway Scrape): Texans fleeing east to escape the $Mexican$ army is known as: Answer: $B.\,Runaway\,Scrape$.

Practice (Travis Letter): What does $Travis$'s letter suggest? Answer: $C.\,He\,needed\,reinforcements\,and\,support$.

Practice (San Jacinto Aftermath): Who decided to spare $Santa\,Anna$ after $San\,Jacinto$? Answer: $B.\,Houston$.

Practice (Independence Date): When did $Texas$ declare independence? Answer: $B.\,March\,2,\,1836$.

Practice (Leader Background): Which leader had prior $U.S.$ political and military experience as the former Governor of $Tennessee$? Answer: $B.\,Houston$.

Practice (Urban Fighting): A description of house-to-house fighting best describes: Answer: $B.\,Béxar$.

Practice (Alamo Command): Who took command at the $Alamo$ after $Bowie$ became ill? Answer: $C.\,Travis$.

Practice (Map): A map showing troops attacking near water (Marsh/Buffalo Bayou) and catching the enemy off guard is: Answer: $B.\,San\,Jacinto$.

Practice (Coleto Creek/Goliad): Who is associated with surrender at $Coleto\,Creek$ and massacre at $Goliad$? Answer: $C.\,Fannin$.

Practice (Formation): In which battle was the hollow square formation utilized? Answer: $D.\,Coleto\,Creek$.

Practice (Defensive Positioning): Why was the $Alamo$ a poor defensive position? Answer: It was too big to be protected by less than $200$ people.

Unit 3: Republic of Texas - Full Test Review

The history of the Republic of $Texas$ was marked by the competing visions of its leaders, primarily $Sam\,Houston$ and $Mirabeau\,Lamar$. $Sam\,Houston$, who served as the first and third president, advocated for peaceful relations with $Native\,Americans$, lower government spending, and a smaller standing army, preferring to use the $Texas\,Rangers$ for protection. He was a strong proponent of annexation to the $United\,States$. In contrast, $Mirabeau\,Lamar$ favored war with $Native\,Americans$, which contributed to significant increases in the national debt. $Lamar$ supported a larger army, the expansion of the Republic, and permanent independence rather than annexation. He is also known for moving the capital to $Austin$ and supporting public lands for education.

Key individuals during this period included $Juan\,Seguin$ and $José\,Navarro$, who were prominent $Tejano$ leaders; $Mary\,Maverick$, who documented historical accounts; and Native leaders such as $Chief\,Buffalo\,Hump$ (Comanche) and $Chief\,Bowles$ (Cherokee). Legal and territorial conflicts were common, such as the $Archives\,War$, involving a dispute over the relocation of the capital, and the $Regulator-Moderator\,War$ in $East\,Texas$ over law and order. The $Mier\,Expedition$ was a failed military endeavor resulting in the "Black Bean Episode," where $Texian$ prisoners were forced to draw beans to determine who would be executed; a black bean signified death. Other significant events included the $Cordova\,Rebellion$, the $Council\,House\,Fight$ (a violent meeting between Texans and $Comanche$ leaders), the $Great\,Raid\,of\,1840$ (the largest Native raid in $Texas$ history), and the $Battle\,of\,Plum\,Creek$.

Expansionist efforts, such as the $Santa\,Fe\,Expedition$, which aimed to control trade routes to $New\,Mexico$, ended in failure. However, diplomatic efforts eventually led to the annexation of $Texas$. On $December\,29,\,1845$, the $Texas\,Admission\,Act$ was signed, and $Texas$ officially joined the $Union$ as the $28th$ state. This period is summarized by the quote from $Blake\,Pfeffer$: "Mankind is ruled by Oppression until some are willing to die that others may live free."

Unit 3 Questions and Practice

Practice (Houston vs. Lamar): Who believed in peaceful relations with $Native\,Americans$? Answer: $Sam\,Houston$. Who moved the capital to $Austin$? Answer: $Mirabeau\,Lamar$. Who supported education and public land? Answer: $Mirabeau\,Lamar$.

Practice (Archives War): Texans moved government papers to avoid relocation of the capital. This event is called: Answer: $Archives\,War$.

Practice (Santa Fe Expedition): What was the goal of the $Santa\,Fe\,Expedition$? Answer: $B.\,Control\,trade\,routes$.

Practice (Mier Execution): How were prisoners selected for execution after the $Mier\,Expedition$? Answer: $B.\,Drawing\,beans$.

Practice (Native Conflict): Which battle involved $Rangers$ stopping a $Comanche$ war party after the sacking of $Linnville$? Answer: $Plum\,Creek$.

Practice (Chief Buffalo Hump): Who was the leader of the $Penateka\,Comanche$, witness to the $Council\,House\,Fight$, and primary negotiator at $Tehuacana\,Creek$? Answer: $Chief\,Buffalo\,Hump$.

Practice (Annexation Statehood): $Texas$ became the… Answer: $28th$ state.