Remember the Alamo: how a 13-day siege became the most famous battle in the Texas War of Independence.At about 10 p.m. on March 5, 1836, Mexican General Antonio Lopez Antonio Lopez is also the name of:
Eighteenth-century mission in San Antonio, Texas, site of a historic siege of a small group of Texans by a Mexican army (1836) during the Texas war for independence from Mexico. . Inside, Lieutenant Colonel William Travis and about 189 Texan rebels gathered at the plaza. The 26-year-old commander delivered the bad news: The Mexican army The Mexican Army is the land arm of the Mexican Military, and the largest branch of Mexico's armed services. In September 2007, the Secretary of Defense reported it consists of 181 mil 356 men and women of the Mexican Army serving Mexico (about 0. had completely surrounded the fort, and no help was on the way. "Our fate is sealed," Travis said, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. one witness. "Within [a] very few days--perhaps a very few hours--we must all be in eternity. This is our destiny, and we cannot avoid it." Knowing that his men were outgunned by as many as 6,000 Mexican soldiers, Travis vowed to fight to his last breath. Only by continuing the battle, he declared, could the rebels delay Santa Anna and give General Sam Houston a chance to mount a defense of Texas. Travis offered his men two choices: join him in the fight or escape while the opportunity remained. One man, 50-year-old Louis Rose, was able to sneak away Verb 1. sneak away - leave furtively and stealthily; "The lecture was boring and many students slipped out when the instructor turned towards the blackboard" slip away, sneak off, sneak out, steal away . For the rest, destiny would arrive before the next sunrise. TEXAS, MEXICO Fifteen years before, in 1821, Mexico had won its independence from Spain. At that time, Texas was a sparsely populated pop·u·late tr.v. pop·u·lat·ed, pop·u·lat·ing, pop·u·lates 1. To supply with inhabitants, as by colonization; people. 2. province (state) of Mexico. Many Mexicans had refused to live there. They believed that the land was fit only for the areas Indian tribes INDIAN TRIBE. A separate and distinct community or body of the aboriginal Indian race of men found in the United States. 2. Such a tribe, situated within the boundaries of a state, and exercising the powers of government and, sovereignty, under the national . To develop the territory, the Mexican government invited foreigners Foreigners alienage the condition of being an alien. androlepsy Law. the seizure of foreign subjects to enforce a claim for justice or other right against their nation. gypsyologist, gipsyologist Rare. to settle and farm the land, which they could buy at 10 cents an acre. The deal proved irresistible to many people--especially Americans--who poured into Texas. As part of the deal, settlers agreed to become Mexican citizens and pledge allegiance (loyalty) to the Mexican government. By 1830, Americans living in Texas Far outnumbered Outnumbered is a British sitcom that aired on BBC One in 2007.[1] It stars Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner as a mother and father who are outnumbered by their three children. Mexicans in the province. The Mexican government worried that Spanish culture in the area would soon be wiped out. Americans, for their part, ignored the Mexican ban on slavery, refused to pay taxes, and smuggled smug·gle v. smug·gled, smug·gling, smug·gles v.tr. 1. To import or export without paying lawful customs charges or duties. 2. To bring in or take out illicitly or by stealth. goods in order to avoid paying tariffs (taxes on imported and exported goods). Mexico banned further American immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. in 1830 and began sending troops into Texas. In 1833, Santa Anna overthrew the Mexican government and ruled as a dictator. Angry that the Americans had defied conditions of the land deal, the General imposed heavy taxes throughout Texas and imprisoned im·pris·on tr.v. im·pris·oned, im·pris·on·ing, im·pris·ons To put in or as if in prison; confine. [Middle English emprisonen, from Old French emprisoner : en- some settlers. Texans rebelled. No longer considering themselves citizens of Mexico, they called for independence. In 1835, a Texan army, commanded by Sam Houston, began to attack Mexican forces throughout the province. By December of that year, Mexican rulers had been driven from Texas. But Santa Anna and his troops fought back, determined to crush the rebellion. On February 23, 1836, the army reached Bexar, now part of San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. . Travis and other rebels had holed up nearby in a former Spanish mission Spanish Mission may mean:
TAKING UP ARMS Joining William Travis and his soldiers at the Alamo were two prominent (important) figures of the day--Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett. Originally from Kentucky, Bowie had made his fortune trading slaves and smuggling smuggling, illegal transport across state or national boundaries of goods or persons liable to customs or to prohibition. Smuggling has been carried on in nearly all nations and has occasionally been adopted as an instrument of national policy, as by Great Britain goods throughout Texas. A leader in the fight for independence, he shared command of the fort with Travis. But when fighting at the Alamo started, Bowie became severely ill. He ceded (gave up) his leadership and spent most of the battle too weak to leave his bed. Crockett, a frontiersman and famous Indian fighter, was one of the most popular American figures of the time. After serving three terms in Congress as a Tennessee Representative, he set out for Texas to revive his political career. A charismatic man and gifted marksman, Crockett would prove to be an invaluable asset in the Texas rebellion. Other volunteers from the U.S. also answered the rallying cry Noun 1. rallying cry - a slogan used to rally support for a cause; "a cry to arms"; "our watchword will be `democracy'" war cry, watchword, battle cry, cry catchword, motto, shibboleth, slogan - a favorite saying of a sect or political group 2. of Texas independence. Immigrants from as far away as England, Ireland, Scotland, and Denmark remained at the Alamo to defend the new life they had started in Texas. About 20 to 30 Tejanos (Mexicans who considered themselves Texans) also took up arms against Santa Anna's troops. "VICTORY OR DEATH" Throughout the 13-day siege (prolonged assault), Travis dispatched scouts with appeals for help. Posters throughout Texas carried one of his impassioned pleas: "If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country--VICTORY OR DEATH." But by the evening of March 5, it became clear that no more help would arrive. Shortly before sunrise the next day, a bugle bugle, brass wind musical instrument consisting of a conical tube coiled once upon itself, capable of producing five or six harmonics. It is usually in G or B flat. summoned the Mexican soldiers to arms ! a summons to war or battle. See also: Arms . Suddenly, about 1,400 men rushed the walls of the fort. "Viva Santa Anna!" they cried. The charge bolted the Alamo defenders into action. "Come on, boys," Travis exhorted (urged). "The Mexicans are upon us, and we'll give them hell!" He was the first defender to be killed. Columns of Mexican soldiers attacked from every direction. The Alamo defenders answered with blasts of cannon and gunfire. Mexican soldiers continued charging, stepping over the bodies of their fallen comrades Fallen Comrades is a first season episode of Beast Wars which first aired on September 30, 1996. Plot The Axalon's cargo of Maximal protoforms in stasis pods had been launched into orbit before the crash, but eventually one of the pods fell to Earth in the northern . Some managed to reach the fort and set up ladders to scale the walls, only to be shot down. Seeing his men struggle on the north wall, Santa Anna released a reserve unit of 400 soldiers into battle. This last charge finally overwhelmed the Alamo defenders, and hordes Hordes may refer to:
Within 90 minutes, all of the Alamo's defenders were dead. (About 15 noncombatants, mostly women and children, were spared.) But the Mexican victory proved costly. An estimated 600 Mexican soldiers were killed, and many more were wounded in the battle. More important, as news of the Alamo's fall spread, Texans quickly rallied into action. "Remember the Alamo "Remember the Alamo" is an iconic quote in American culture. It spurred on the forces of Sam Houston at the battle of San Jacinto. Background "Remember the Alamo" was a battle cry for Texans during their battle for independence. !" became a familiar battle cry. On April 21, 1836, Texan forces led by Sam Houston sneaked up on Santa Anna's army at San Jacinto San Jacinto, river, c.130 mi (210 km) long, rising in SE Texas as the West Fork and flowing S to Galveston Bay. Its chief tributary is Buffalo Bayou, and both the bayou and the lower river are used for the Houston ship channel. , near present-day Houston. The Texans routed the army and captured Santa Anna. The Mexican dictator signed a treaty ending the war and granted Texas its hard-fought independence. Today, the Alamo stands as a symbol of courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Its soldiers, who gave their lives, are still honored as defenders of freedom. THE ALAMO www.thealmo.org Your Turn WORD MATCH 1. tariff A. urge 2. prominent B. give up 3. cede C. important 4. siege D. tax 5. exhort E. assault ANSWERS 1. D 2. C 3. B 4. E 5. A THINK ABOUT IT Would you have followed Lt. Colonel Travis in his call for "Victory or Death"? Why or why not? LESSON PLANS OBJECTIVES Students should understand * In 1836, Texan rebels and Mexican forces clashed at the Alamo during a famous battle in the Texan War 0f Independence. TEACHING STRATEGY Show students photographs of the following: the ancient pyramids of Egypt, France's Eiffel Tower Eiffel Tower, structure designed by A. G. Eiffel and erected in the Champ-de-Mars for the Paris exposition of 1889. The tower is 984 ft (300 m) high and consists of an iron framework supported on four masonry piers, from which rise four columns uniting to form one , and the Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty great symbolic structure in New York harbor. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : America Statue of Liberty perhaps the most famous monument to independence. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : Freedom . Tell students to identify the cultural or historical significance these places might have. BACKGROUND One of the most historically debated incidents of the battle is the speech that William Travis gave at the Alamo on March 5. According to legend, Travis drew a line in the sand with his sword. He told his men to step over the line if they wanted to join him in a likely battle to the death against General Santa Anna's forces. The entire garrison, except for Louis Rose, did so. But several eyewitness An individual who was present during an event and is called by a party in a lawsuit to testify as to what he or she observed. The state and Federal Rules of Evidence, which govern the admissibility of evidence in civil actions and criminal proceedings, impose requirements accounts offer inconsistent reports about whether this event actually happened. THINKING SKILLS CAUSE AND EFFECT: Why did the Mexican government outlaw further American immigration to Texas in 1830? (Mexican officials worried that the heavy presence of American settlers threatened to wipe out the Spanish culture in the region. Also, many American settlers had ignored key provisions of the earlier land agreement, angering Mexican officials.) COMPREHENSION: Despite being outgunned, why did William Travis urge his men to fight General Santa Anna's forces? (Travis believed that delaying Santa Anna in battle would give Sam Houston a chance to organize the defense of Texas.) ACTIVITY ALAMO PERSPECTIVES: Ask students to explore the historical and cultural significance of the Alamo. Instruct students to write a research paper that explains the differing perspectives that the Alamo holds for many Texans and Mexicans. STANDARDS SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8 * People, places, and environment: How 189 Texan rebels clashed against a superior Mexican force in a battle during the Texan War of Independence in 1836. * Culture: How the battle at the Alamo in 1836 stands as a historical event of varying perspectives for Texans and Mexicans. RESOURCES * Murphy, Jim, Inside the Alamo (Delacorte Press, 2003). Grades 5-8. * Garland, Sherry, In the Shadow of the Alamo (Harcourt, 2001). Grades 6-8. WEB SITES * The Alamo www.thealamo.org * Time line of the Alamo www.drtl.org/history/ QUICK QUIZ Select the word, phrase, or number that best completes each sentence.
-- 11. -- urged Texan rebels to remain at the Alamo
and continue battling Mexican forces in 1836.
A. Sam Houston
B. Davy Crockett
C. William Travis
-- 12. The Mexican government banned further American
immigration in 1830 --.
A. because foreigners outnumbered Mexicans
throughout the province
B. because the U,S. was about to fight the Civil War
C. to protest unfair U.S. trade policies
-- 13. The Alamo was founded as a --.
A. military fort
B. trade market
C. center for preaching Catholicism
-- 14. Mexican General Santa Anna ordered a huge
bloodred flag flown to signal --.
A. his intentions to surrender
B. that no mercy would be offered to the Alamo
defenders
C. that his troops needed supplies
-- 15. The Texan rebels in the Alamo were surrounded
by as many as -- Mexican soldiers.
A. 6,000
B. 1,400
C. 189
ANSWERS 11. C 12. A 13. C 14. B 15. A |
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