Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla led an unsuccessful revolt of poor Indians and mestizos in 1810.

Independence from Spain came in 1821

Empresarios were hired to bring new settlers to the Mexican area called Texas.

An empresario was authorized to give land to people from other areas, including the United States, for the purpose of populating Texas.

In return, the empresario was given land for his own personal use.

an actual land grant document from 1828 by Empresario Don Jose Antonio Navarro

Stephen F. Austin was an empresario who later became a hero of the Texas revolution.

Later, a city in Texas was named after him.

New settlers to Texas had to obey certain laws imposed by the Mexican government, which was located in Mexico City.

Become a member of the Catholic Church

Swear allegiance to the Mexican government

Understand that slavery would not be tolerated in Texas

In the meantime, Mexico had fallen into the hands of a powerful dictator named General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who had been elected president.

A dictator is a ruler who rules with absolute power and authority.

Many Texans from the United States brought their slaves with them to Texas, even though slavery was illegal.

They refused to obey the no-slavery laws imposed by Mexico.

Texans also were mostly Protestant and not interested in becoming Catholic.

Neither did they care about learning Spanish as a new language.

Most “Texicans” were not good Mexicans.

Santa Anna responded to this by disallowing further settlement into Texas, which angered the new Texan citizens.

By 1830, about 20,000 Americans had moved into Texas.

This government was separate from Mexico.

On March 2, 1836, Texas was formed as a new republic.

Texas was modeled after the United States.

Slavery was allowed.

Delegates to the constitutional convention chose the leaders of Texas.

David Burnet was elected temporary President.

Empresario Lorenzo de Zavalo was elected Vice President.

Sam Houston, a Tennessean, was head of the army of Texas.

The actual Texas revolution

started at the Battle of Gonzales,

October 1835, in which the

“rebels” were victorious.

Santa Anna began to assemble a large army at a small, abandoned mission near San Antonio. It’s name was the Alamo.

Santa Anna’s 6000 soldiers surrounded the Alamo, which protected only about 150 Texas soldiers.

All of the defenders of the Alamo were killed. Only a few survivors were left to tell the story of their heroic deaths.

Davy Crockett, a famous Tennessean

William Travis Jim Bowie Juan Seguin,

a Tejano Joe, a slave of

Travis, whose life was spared

Bowie

Travis

Crockett

Sequin

Following the victory at the Alamo, Santa Anna moved his army to a town called Goliad, where he murdered over 300 Texas soldiers who had surrendered.

All over Texas, people were crying out.....

“Remember the Alamo!”“Remember Goliad!”

In the meantime, General Sam Houston and his Texan army was avoiding confrontation with Santa Anna until he felt the moment was right to insure victory.

That time came in the afternoon of April 21, 1836.

He divided his army.He chose a poor site for

his army to camp.His army was taking a

mid-afternoon siesta.His army was

completely surprised.

The Battle lasted 0nly 18 minutes.

Santa Anna’s army was completely destroyed.

Santa Anna was captured the following day and signed over to General Houston the area of Mexico called Texas.

He had a town named after him and he was elected the first president of Texas.

Stephen F. Austin was elected the first Secretary of State.

After nearly 200 years, why is the Battle of the Alamo remembered , and so important to the Texas Revolution?

The men who fought and died there were common citizens, who inspired other Texans to continue the fight.

They cared to fight for what they believed in, no matter the cost.