The Road to Independence

1
The Road to Independence

• A Mexican Army Arrives in Texas
• General Cos and 650 soldiers?San Antonio
• Results
• 1)settlers concerned
• 2) Committees of safety
• 3)Committees of
• correspondence

2
The Road to Independence

• Gonzales-Lexington of Texas (similar to the 1st
  battle of the American Revolution)
• 1st conflict October 2, 1835
• Colonel Ugartechea ordered Gonzales to surrender
  a cannon ?they refused and buried it until
  reinforcements arrived ?dug it up
• Painted Come and Take it on a white flag
• When Mex. troops arrived, TX commander was
  Colonel John H. Moore men forced Mex. troops to
  retreat toward San Antonio

3
(No Transcript)
4
(No Transcript)
5
The Road to Independence

• On to San Antonio!
• October 9, 1835 -120 Texans surprise the garrison
  at Goliad
• Results Mexican troops surrender the only
  large Mex. force left was in San Antonio(Cos)
• Stephen F. Austin commanded the Army of the
  People, 300 Texans _at_ Gonzales, who gathered to
  fight Cos 750 Mex. troops in San Antonio
• As they marched, 100 more joined the ranks
• Texans lay siege to the city-maybe Cos will run
  out of supplies

6
(No Transcript)
7
The Road to Independence

• Peace Party Prevails at the Consultation
• The Consultation met November 3, 1835 in San
  Felipe (printing press) while the Texans camped
  near San Antonio
• War Party favored declaration of independence
  from Mexico
• Peace Party agreed in opposing Santa Anna but not
  independence instead the fight was for the
  Mexican Constitution of 1824 won the vote
• November 7, 1835 they adopted the Declaration of
  the People of Texas in General Convention
  Assembled-1. Loyalty to Mexico 2. Support the
  Mexican Constitution of 1824 3. Oppose Santa Anna
  4.Support for anyone who was against Santa Anna
  5. Land to anyone who helped

8
The Road to Independence
9
The Road to Independence

• A Provisional Government Begins
• Consultation also created a provisional
  government
• Included
• Governor (Henry Smith) lieutenant governor(
  James Robinson) both War Party a general
  council w/ 1 rep from each municipality ( mostly
  Peace Party)
• Create a regular army, commanded by Sam Houston,
  but not volunteers
• Appointed Commissioners Stephen F. Austin,
  William Wharton Branch Archer to represent
  Texas in the U.S. (troops, and supplies)

10
The Road to Independence

• The Grass Fight
• November 25, 1835- S.F. Austin left his command
  in San Antonio for the U.S. to ask for aid
• Edward Burleson took over command of the
  volunteers, shortly after.
• Erastus Deaf Smith reported that the Mex.
  Calvary and mule train were headed to San Antonio
  (Texans thought silver train) so they attacked
  only to find grass to feed Coss Calvary horses
• No real activity in Oct Nov so many volunteers
  went home in early Dec. the siege was called
  off

11
The Road to Independence
12
The Road to Independence

• The Assault on San Antonio (Siege at Bexar)
• Burleson was preparing to leave San Antonio when
  he got word that Coss army was weak and could
  not win against attack
• Ben Milam an army were marching towards San
  Antonio and believed it was disastrous not to
  attack Cos Who will go with old Ben Milam into
  San Antonio? w/ 300 volunteers he divided his
  group into 2 columns- Milam led one and Frank W.
  Johnson led the other
• December 5 fighting began and lasted 4 days
• Milam had an advantage b/c Coss army was only
  equipped to fight in open battlefields

13
The Road to Independence

• On the 3rd day Milam was killed and Johnson took
  over full command
• Mexican forces were overpowered and were driven
  to the abandoned mission-ALAMO
• December 9, 1835 Cos asked for surrender terms
  and promised to never fight the colonists again
  and he would support the Mexican Constitution of
  1824-they returned to Mexico
• The Capture of San Antonio was significant b/c
• 400 Texans beat 1000 Mex Soldiers
• Texas army had Goliad and the Alamo
• Texas was clear of Mexican troops so most
  volunteers returned home

14
The Road to Independence
15
The Road to Independence

• Tejanos and African Americans Join the Fight
• Texas army included by Captain Juan N. Seguin
• A free African American,Hendrick Arnold,
• guided Milams column in battle

16
The Road to Independence

• The Provisional Government
• While San Antonio was in battle the provisional
  government carried on duties of the Permanent
  Council, a group formed b4 the Consultation
• Created a post office, made plans for an army and
  navy and appealed to the US for aid
• Governor Henry Smith and the council quarreled
• In December they voted to hold a convention on
  March 1836-Smith vetoed it but the council
  overrode and passed the proposal
• They fought over capturing the town of Matamoros.
  Smith opposed it but the council approved it
  RESULTING in a near breakdown in government-They
  should have been preparing to fight Santa Anna

17
The Road to Independence

• Santa Anna Crosses Into Texas
• In Dec. the Council called for a convention in
  March 1836-Texans hoped that Santa Anna would not
  arrive until after -They were wrong
• Santa Anna crossed the Rio Grande in early Feb.
  and arrived in San Antonio on Feb 23rd
• Texans that remained
  in San Antonio moved
  into the ALAMO

18
The Road to Independence

• The Convention of 1836 Declares Independence
• Delegates(males) began arriving at
  Washington-on-the-Brazos in late Feb
• Poor conditions-poorly constructed cabins, tree
  stumps everywhere, no library, no printing press
  no convention hall
• March 1, 1836-elected Richard Ellis as chairman
  and H.S. Kimble as secretary
• A committee was formed to write a declaration of
  independence from Mexico written by George D.
  Childress

19
The Road to Independence

• Texas D of C was similar to the U.S. D of C
• STATED
• The govt of Santa Anna has violated the
  liberties guaranteed under the Mex. Constitution
  of 1824
• Deprived of Freedom of religion, trial by jury,
  bear arms and right to petition the govt
• No public school system
• Texans protests were met with force
• MARCH 2, 1836-DECLARATION ADOPTED (Texas
  Independence Day)

20
The Road to Independence
21
The Road to Independence

• The Delegates Write a Constitution
• MARCH 16, 1836-completed and ratified
• Included
  3 Branches of Govt
• Executive (chief governing officer, president)
  powers to carry out duties entrusted to him
• Legislative (lawmaking)
• Judicial (courts)
• Bill of Rights-freedoms of speech, press,
  religion, trial by jury and other civil rights
• Slavery legal-free blacks were not allowed to
  live in Texas

22
The Road to Independence
23
The Road to Independence

• Ad Interim Govt Takes Control
• b/c Mex. troops were in TX- no elections
• Sooo, the conventions last act-select officers
  for an ad interim govt
• David G. Burnet -ad interim president
• Sam Houston -commander in chief of the army
  (regulars and volunteers)

24
The Road to Independence

• A Convention Diary
• Colonel William F. Gray -kept diary of the
  convention proceedings
• Please read on pages 217 218 in the textbook

25
The Road to Independence

• Santa Anna Advances
• March 17 convention adjourns
• Alamo fell 2 days before
• Santa Anna was headed to Washington-on-the-Brazos
• The delegates scattered in all directions