Westward Ho How Texas Became a State

1
Westward Ho! How Texas Became a State

• In the early 1800s Americans began to move
  beyond their countries borders.
• They began to look to the Spanish colony of Texas
  as a place to settle.

2
Along came Stephen Austin

• He took 300 families into Texas to start a
  permanent settlement.
• That same year (1821) the Mexicans won their
  independence from Spain.

3
Texas now belonged to MEXICO

• Austin and his settlers worked hard and they did
  very well!
• They raised
• Cotton
• Corn and
• Cattle
• So more Americans wanted to come to Texas and
  they did.

4
At first, the Mexicans left the Americans alone.

• But soon Mexicos leaders worried about the
  growing number of Americans on their land.
• In 1830 the Mexican Government said, NO MORE
  MONKEYS JUMPIN oops, I mean No More Americans
  Can Come to our Land!

5
Then in 1834 General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
too control of Mexico and made himself
theDICTATOR

• What is a dictator?
• Yep, a leader who has total authority.

6
Santa Anna created some new rules.

• The Mexican government said that the Americans
  living there must abide by Mexicos laws.
• And they had to pay more TAXES.

7
Did This Make the Americans Angry?

• Yes, yes, yes.
• When Santa Anna sent soldiers to Texas to enforce
  Mexican laws, fighting broke out.

8
Did the Americans Fight Back?

• Yes. Working together a force of Americans and
  some Mexicans living in Texas attacked the town
  of San Antonio. After four days of fighting,
  the Mexican Army, under the rule of Santa Anna
  was forced out.

9
Did this make Santa Anna angry?

• Yep. So, what did he do?
• He gathered together a force of thousands of
  soldiers to go into San Antonio to regain the
  city.

10
What did the Americans do?

• They found shelter in an old abandoned Spanish
  mission church called The Alamo.
• Some Americans also heard about what was
  happening and they came to help.

11
WHAT FAMOUS AMERICAN CAME TO HELP?

• Davy, Davy Crockett. . . King of the Wild
  Frontier.
• For 13 days the Mexican soldiers attacked the
  Alamo.
• For 13 days the 187 Americans fought back.

12
Who Won?

• After 13 days of intense fighting, the Alamo fell
  and the 187 Texans were killed.
• Santa Anna spared the lives of the women and
  children.

13
Was Davy Crockett killed?

• Yes, unfortunately.
• But, the United States sent soldiers to fight
  against Santa Anna. The United States was led
  by Sam Houston.

14
What was their battle cry?

• REMEMBER THE ALAMO

Sam Houstons army surprised the Mexicans and
captured Santa Anna on April 21, 1836.
15
What Happened to Santa Anna?

• Houston offered to let Santa Anna live in return
  for Texass independence.
• Santa Anna agreed and his army returned to
  Mexico.

16
Did Texas become a state in the USA?

• Not yet!
• Texas remained an independent republic for
  several years.
• Who do you think served as its President?

17
The 1st President of Texas was Sam Houston

• Texas became known as the Lone Star Republic.
  Today it is known as the Lone Star State.
• Texas finally joined the USA in 1839.