CHAPTER 13 • SECTION 2
Juan Seguín (wahn seh•GEEN) led a band of 25
Tejanos in support of revolt. Also among the Texas
volunteers were free African Americans, but the
Texas army hardly existed. There were two small
forces ready to stand up to Santa Anna’s army. One
was a company of 420 men, led by James Fannin,
stationed at Goliad, a fort in southeast Texas. The
second was a company of about 180 volunteers at
the Alamo. Headed by James Bowie and William
Travis, this small force also included such famous
frontiersmen as Davy Crockett.
On February 23, 1836, Santa Anna’s troops
surrounded San Antonio. The next day, Mexicans
began their siege of the Alamo. Two nights later,
Travis scrawled a message to the world: “The enemy
has demanded surrender. . . . I have answered . . .
with a cannon shot. . . . I shall never surrender or
retreat.” Juan Seguín, a Tejano, spoke Spanish, so
he was chosen to carry the declaration through
enemy lines. Seguín got the message through to
other Texas defenders. But when he returned, he
saw the Alamo in flames.
The Alamo’s defenders held off the Mexican
attack for 12 violent days. On the 13th day, Santa
Anna ordered over 1,800 men to storm the fortress. The Texans met the attackers with a hailstorm
of cannon and gun fire until the Texans ran out of
ammunition. At day’s end, all but seven Texans
were dead and more than 1,000 Mexicans had
fallen. The Battle of the Alamo was over.
The survivors were executed. A total of 183
Alamo defenders died. Only a few women and
children were spared. Hundreds of Mexicans also
perished. The slaughter shocked Texans—and
showed them how hard they would have to fight
for their freedom from Mexico.
RESEARCH &
Go online to explore
WRITING
CENTER
more of the heated
debate at
ClassZone.com
History Makers
Juan Seguín
Find links to biographies of Juan Seguín
at the Research and Writing Center @
ClassZone.com. An active military leader
for Texas during the Revolution, Seguín
led the only Tejano unit at the Battle of
San Jacinto and commanded the army that
accepted Mexico’s surrender at San Antonio.
He was elected to the Texas Senate, where
he fought to have the laws of the new
Republic of Texas written in Spanish. Seguín
was elected mayor of San Antonio, but was
driven from the city in 1842, fled to Mexico,
and was forced to serve in the Mexican
military.
Years after his death, Seguín’s remains were
returned to Texas, and on July 4, 1976, he
received a ceremonial burial in Seguin, the
town named in his honor.
CRITICAL THINKING ANSWER
Compare Many Americans in Texas
wanted to break away from Mexico and
join the United States. Seguín wanted
Texas to remain an independent nation.
Unit 5 Resource Book
• America’s History Makers, pp. 95–96
CONNECT
to the Essential Question
History Makers
Juan Seguín
1806–1890
Juan Seguín was a Tejano who wanted Texas to
remain independent and not become part of the
United States. He was a hero of the Battle of the
Alamo. Seguín was elected to the Texas Senate
in 1838 and was mayor of San Antonio twice.
However, Seguín was often betrayed and harassed
by American newcomers who mistrusted Tejanos.
Finally he was forced to move to Mexico in 1842. In
1846–1848, Seguín fought against Americans in the
War with Mexico.
ways did the goals of Seguín and the Americans in
Texas differ?
ONLINE
BIOGRAPHY
For more on Juan Seguín, go to the
Research & Writing Center
@ ClassZone.com
How did westward expansion
transform the nation?
Ask students what they have learned in
this section that can help them answer this
question. Students might mention:
• American colonists in Texas were
unwilling to adapt to Mexican laws
and customs.
• Texans felt justified in revolting
against Mexico and seeking to join
the United States.
430 • Chapter 13
Victory at San Jacinto With Santa Anna on the
CRITICAL THINKING Compare In what
attack, Texans—both soldiers and settlers—fled
eastward. Houston sent a message to the troops
at Goliad, ordering them to retreat. They were
captured by Mexican forces, who executed more
than 300. But even in retreat and defeat, Houston’s
army doubled. Now it was a fighting force of 800
angry men. It included Tejanos, American settlers,
and many free and enslaved African Americans.
430 Chapter 13
DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION: TIERED ACTIVITIES
OBJECTIVE Prepare a news report on the Battle of the Alamo.
Basic
On Level
Challenge
Have students work in pairs
or small groups to create a
fact sheet about the Alamo.
The fact sheet should include
information on the Alamo
itself, such as the date it was
built and its dimensions,
as well as important facts
about the battle. Students
should then present their
fact sheets to the class.
Have students work in pairs
or small groups to write a
script for an interview with
one or more “eyewitnesses”
at the Battle of the Alamo.
Have students choose roles
(interviewer or eyewitness),
practice their scripts, and
present their interviews to
the class.
Have students work in pairs
or small groups to present an
in-depth “TV” news report
on the Battle of the Alamo.
Before presenting, students
should determine roles, write
and practice their scripts,
and create any necessary
props.
Texas Revolution 1836
zo
s
R.
ne R
he
.
Texas Revolution 1836
R.
s
REPUBLIC
OF TEXAS
CHAPTER 13 • SECTION 2
R.
o R.
Connect Geography
nt
Sa
75
d
nde
claime
0
75
Urrea
R
u nd r a
Bo io G
0
ANSWERS
150 miles
Mexican victory
150 kilometers
Connect Geography
USING YOUR READING NOTES
2. Sequence Complete the diagram you started
at the beginning of this section. Then expand the
diagram for each of the other important events in
this section.
Event 2
Texan
Independence
History
MAKE INFERENCES Ask students how
the location of battles might have affected
the outcome of the war. (The Texans likely
had an advantage because they were
familiar with the terrain.)
1. Place The Rio Grande marked the
southern border, the Nueces River part of
the northern border.
History
1. Place What geographic features marked the
boundaries of the disputed territory?
2. Clarify Texas and Mexico’s boundaries
were still under dispute.
2. Clarify What does the map show as a major
disagreement left unresolved by the war?
4
ONLINE QUIZ
Assess & Reteach
Assess Have students complete the Section
Assessment.
For test practice, go to
Interactive Review @ ClassZone.com
TERMS & NAMES
1. Explain the importance of
• Stephen F. Austin
• Juan Seguín
• Tejanos
• Battle of the Alamo
• Sam Houston
• Lone Star Republic
• Antonio López de Santa Anna
Event 3
Sabi
ad
W
Section Assessment
Americans
begin to settle
in Texas
a
Red
Alamo,
Austin
San Jacinto,
Feb. 23-Mar. 6, 1836
to n Apr. 21, 1836
H o us
Siege of Bexar,
Dec. 5-8, 1835
Galveston
N
Anna
na
Santa
An
Brazoria
E
a
Goliad,
Urrea Matagorda
Mar. 27, 1836
S
Refugio,
Nu
.
Mar. 12-15, 1836 Gulf of
a ry e c e s R
Mexico
Corpus
Christi
Texan forces
MEXICO
by
Mexican forces
Tex
as
Texan victory
SEQUENCE EVENTS Describe the events that led
to Texas’s independence from Mexico.
Answer: Santa Anna jailed Austin; Mexicans storm the Alamo;
Americans win at San Jacinto; Texans declare Republic of Texas.
2
Col or
Land disputed
by Texas
and Mexico
Republic of Texas In December 1836, Texans
raised the official flag of the independent nation
Republic Sam
of Texas, nicknamed the Lone Star Republic.
Houston was elected president.
Many Texans wanted to be part of the United
States. In 1836 the Texas government asked
annex, or join, Texas to the Union.
Congress to annex
Some Northerners objected. Some feared that
Texas would allow slavery and upset the balance
between free and slave states. Some opposed any
expansion of slavery. Others feared that annexing
Texas would lead to war with Mexico. In response
Congress voted against annexation.
Br
Boundary
claimed
by Mexico
Nec
In late April 1836, Houston and Seguín surprised
Santa Anna near the San Jacinto (san juh•SIN•toh)
River. The Texans advanced screaming “Remember
the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!”
In just 18 minutes, the Texans killed more than
half of the Mexican army. Santa Anna had to sign
a treaty giving Texas its freedom. With the Battle of
San Jacinto, Texas was an independent nation.
KEY IDEAS
3. How and why did Texas attract American settlers?
4. How did the Mexican government respond to the
Texas rebellion?
Unit 5 Resource Book
• Section Quiz, p. 110
Interactive Review
@ ClassZone.com
CRITICAL THINKING
5. Analyze Motives Why do you think Stephen F.
Austin thought it necessary to demand proof of
settlers’ high morals for his colony?
6. Recognize Effects How did losing the Battle
of the Alamo serve as a turning point for Texas
independence?
7. Connect Economics & History Why was Texas a
magnet for land speculators and investors?
Power Presentations
Test Generator
Reteach Have students write a paragraph,
explaining one event from the section and giving
its date. Then have students stand in a line and
arrange themselves in chronological order of
their events. Next, have each student read his or
her paragraph aloud, in order.
8. Writing Speech Write a one-page persuasive
speech from Stephen F. Austin to the Mexican
government asking for permission to form a colony
in Texas.
Unit 5 Resource Book
• Reteaching Activity, p. 114
Manifest Destiny 431
SECTION 2 ASSESSMENT ANSWERS
Terms & Names
1. Stephen F. Austin, p. 427; Tejanos, p. 427;
Sam Houston, p. 429; Antonio López de Santa
Anna, p. 429; Juan Seguín, p. 430; Battle of
the Alamo, p. 430; Lone Star Republic, p. 431
Using Your Reading Notes
2. Events—Texans revolt against Mexico; Texans
defeated at the Alamo; Texans win at San
Jacinto; Santa Anna signs peace treaty.
Key Ideas
3. Stephen Austin was given land to offer to them;
settlers wanted land for farming or ranching.
4. They sent troops to Texas, battled the Texans,
then signed a treaty giving Texas independence.
Critical Thinking
5. Possible Answer: Austin hoped people of
high morals would have fewer conflicts with
each other in the new colony and be more
productive in helping it to prosper.
6. Texans realized how hard they would have to
fight to defeat a powerful Mexican army.
7. There was plenty of land; settlers did not
recognize Native American rights to the region;
Mexico encouraged settlement.
8. Speeches should include examples of Austin’s
goals for the colony, the type of people he
hoped to attract, and the contribution the
settlers would make to Mexico’s Texas colony.
Use the rubric to assess students’ speeches.
Speech-Writing Rubric
Organization
Content/
Accuracy
4
well thought out, logical
organization
excellent;
no errors
3
well organized, with some
exceptions
good; few/
minor errors
2
somewhat organized
fair; several
errors
1
poorly organized or lacking
organization
poor; many
errors
Teacher’s Edition • 431