Warm-Up 12/2/15Warm-Up 12/2/15► In your notebook, identify the In your notebook, identify the

important people at the Alamo and important people at the Alamo and why they were important. Write your why they were important. Write your answers in complete sentences. Name answers in complete sentences. Name as many individuals as you can.as many individuals as you can.

The Mexican ArmyThe Mexican Army

► The infantry is made The infantry is made up of mostly up of mostly conscripts. Conscripts conscripts. Conscripts are people forced to are people forced to become soldiersbecome soldiers

► Their weapons are old Their weapons are old and most officers are and most officers are inexperiencedinexperienced

► They are not well They are not well trained to fighttrained to fight

The Texian ArmyThe Texian Army

►Mostly made up of Mostly made up of volunteers fighting for a volunteers fighting for a reasonreason

► Texians are not disciplined Texians are not disciplined but they have a strong but they have a strong sense of individualismsense of individualism

► Choose their commanders Choose their commanders and are deadly shotsand are deadly shots

►Most of Texan army are Most of Texan army are from the South?from the South?

Santa AnnaSanta Anna

► Commander of Mexican Commander of Mexican army who is experienced army who is experienced in fighting rebellionsin fighting rebellions

►Mean because it keeps Mean because it keeps him in power in Mexicohim in power in Mexico

► He wants to end the He wants to end the Texas revolt because he Texas revolt because he wants to show he is in wants to show he is in charge in Mexicocharge in Mexico

William B.TravisWilliam B.Travis► Commander of Texans Commander of Texans

army while James Bowie army while James Bowie commands Texas commands Texas volunteersvolunteers

► He is ambitious, has a He is ambitious, has a sense of honor and is sense of honor and is seeking a place in historyseeking a place in history

► Mistakenly believes that Mistakenly believes that he can hold off army he can hold off army because of walls and because of walls and cannonscannons

Jim BowieJim Bowie► Legendary adventurerLegendary adventurer

► Mexican citizen who Mexican citizen who was sent to San was sent to San Antonio by Sam Antonio by Sam Houston to assess the Houston to assess the situation t the Alamo situation t the Alamo and destroy the fort if and destroy the fort if it was not ready to it was not ready to defenddefend

► Stayed in San Antonio Stayed in San Antonio and enforced the and enforced the AlamoAlamo

► Commanded the Commanded the Volunteer army at the Volunteer army at the Alamo until illness Alamo until illness forced him to give forced him to give Travis full commandTravis full command

Davy Davy CrockettCrockett• Crockett was a

legendary adventurer who had served in Congress.

• After being defeated in an election he told the voters “you all can go to hell. I am going to Texas”

•Offered a command by Travis, but refused it.

James BonhamJames Bonham•Lifelong friend of William Travis

•Was a great horseman

•Sent as messenger to get help from Texans around the Alamo

•Reportedly went to Goliad were Fannin refused to move

•Rode through the Mexican lines in order to get back into the Alamo

•He died defending the fort on March 6, 1836

Juan SeguinJuan Seguin► Native of Spanish and Native of Spanish and

Mexican TexasMexican Texas

► Led scouts during the Led scouts during the siege of San Antoniosiege of San Antonio

► Led his unit into the Led his unit into the Battle for San Battle for San Antonio on Dec 5, Antonio on Dec 5, 18351835

► Was with Travis and Was with Travis and the men at the Alamo the men at the Alamo in 1836 until he was in 1836 until he was sent to get more sent to get more volunteers at volunteers at Gonzales (main Gonzales (main character in “The character in “The Alamo” movie)Alamo” movie)

► Later served at the Later served at the Battle of San JacintoBattle of San Jacinto

Why the Alamo?Why the Alamo?

►Mexican reasoning:Mexican reasoning: Santa Ann needs a Santa Ann needs a

victory to help his victory to help his image in Mexicoimage in Mexico

It is located in central It is located in central Texas making it a Texas making it a resting spot for resting spot for Mexican army and Mexican army and supplies.supplies.

San Antonio is largest San Antonio is largest city in Texas.city in Texas.

► Texians reasoning:Texians reasoning: Alamos sits on an Alamos sits on an

important roadimportant road Travis and Bowie felt Travis and Bowie felt

that they could hold that they could hold the Alamo and felt the Alamo and felt safe theresafe there

Alamo could slow Alamo could slow down the Mexican down the Mexican army because it is in army because it is in the middle of Texasthe middle of Texas

Travis’s LettersTravis’s Letters

• Written to the Written to the people of Texas people of Texas and the United and the United States asking States asking for assistance for assistance at the Alamoat the Alamo

Travis’s Best Known LetterTravis’s Best Known Letter

““I am besieged by a thousand or I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna--I have sustained a continual Anna--I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours hours & have not lost a man--hours hours & have not lost a man--The enemy has demanded a The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, surrender at discretion, otherwise, the the

Travis’s LetterTravis’s Letter (continued)(continued) garrison are to be put to the garrison are to be put to the

sword, if the fort is taken--I sword, if the fort is taken--I have answered the demand have answered the demand with a with a cannon shot, & with a with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly our flag still waves proudly from the walls--I shall never from the walls--I shall never surrender or retreat Then, I surrender or retreat Then, I call on you in the name of call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to theeverything dear to the

American character, to come to American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch--The our aid, with all dispatch--The enemy is receivingenemy is receiving

reinforcements daily & will no reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of due to his own honor and that of his country--Victory or Death!”his country--Victory or Death!”

The Siege of the AlamoThe Siege of the Alamo

► The siege begins on The siege begins on February 26, 1836February 26, 1836

► Texans are outnumbered Texans are outnumbered 8 to 18 to 1

► It is a fortified area which It is a fortified area which covers three acres and covers three acres and has several cannonshas several cannons

► Texans believe that Texans believe that reinforcements will come, reinforcements will come, also have racists beliefs also have racists beliefs that can defeat large that can defeat large force force

The Siege of the AlamoThe Siege of the Alamo

► Cannons are fired Cannons are fired everyday at the everyday at the Alamo wallsAlamo walls

► The Mexican army The Mexican army surrounds the Alamosurrounds the Alamo

► Line in the sand Line in the sand never happened but never happened but Travis did make a Travis did make a short speechshort speech

Mexican Artillery pound the Mexican Artillery pound the Alamo walls daily.Alamo walls daily.

The Battle of the Alamo: The Battle of the Alamo: Phase OnePhase One

► The assault begins on The assault begins on March 6, around 5:00March 6, around 5:00

►Mexican infantry Mexican infantry attacks the Alamo attacks the Alamo from three sidesfrom three sides

► Brave Mexican infantry Brave Mexican infantry advance under cannon advance under cannon fire which bunches fire which bunches them towards the them towards the North Wall North Wall

The Battle of the Alamo: The Battle of the Alamo: Phase TwoPhase Two

►Mexican infantry Mexican infantry breaches North wallbreaches North wall

► 80 Texans make an 80 Texans make an attempt to escape attempt to escape by running out of by running out of AlamoAlamo

► The Mexican cavalry The Mexican cavalry will catch them and will catch them and kill all the escaping kill all the escaping TexansTexans

The North Wall is The North Wall is breached!breached!

The Battle of the Alamo: The Battle of the Alamo: Phase ThreePhase Three

►Mexican infantry inside Mexican infantry inside the Alamo turn the Alamo turn cannons on the cannons on the buildingsbuildings

► Crockett and several Crockett and several make last ditch effort make last ditch effort at mission but are at mission but are capturedcaptured

► The fighting is vicious The fighting is vicious hand to hand combathand to hand combat

The AftermathThe Aftermath

► All Alamo defenders are All Alamo defenders are killed but family members killed but family members are sparedare spared

► Crockett and 5 survivors Crockett and 5 survivors are ordered to be are ordered to be executed by Santa Annaexecuted by Santa Anna

► The Alamo will give the The Alamo will give the Texian army Texian army determination to fight to determination to fight to beat Mexico beat Mexico

So what does this all So what does this all mean?mean?

► Compare and contrast the strengths and Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of the Mexican and Texian weaknesses of the Mexican and Texian armies?armies?

► Compare and contrast Santa Anna and William Compare and contrast Santa Anna and William B. Travis as leaders.B. Travis as leaders.

►Why did the Texians feel the need to stay and Why did the Texians feel the need to stay and fight at the Alamo?fight at the Alamo?

► Pretend that you are an eyewitness to the Pretend that you are an eyewitness to the siege of the Alamo. Write a report about the siege of the Alamo. Write a report about the battle to inform the people of Texas as to what battle to inform the people of Texas as to what you have seen.you have seen.