Eleanor Finch
The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal moment in the Texas Revolution, which began in October 1835 and saw a string of Texan victories that pushed Mexican federal forces south of the Rio Grande. The Texans were fighting for the Constitution of 1824, which had been repealed in Mexico, and the battle became a symbol of patriotic sacrifice and fierce resistance. The Mexican victory at the Alamo led to a rallying cry of Remember the Alamo! as the Texans sought vengeance for their defeat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | February 23 – March 6, 1836 |
| Location | Alamo Mission, San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas, United States) |
| Belligerents | Texian volunteers; Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna |
| Outcome | Decisive victory for Mexican forces |
| Texian casualties | Most sources state that nearly all of the roughly 200 Texian defenders died, with estimates ranging from 182 to 257 |
| Mexican casualties | Estimates vary significantly, from 600 to 1,600, with hundreds more wounded |
| Significance | Pivotal event and symbol of the Texas Revolution; became a symbol of patriotic sacrifice and fierce resistance for Texans; led to the promulgation of independence and drafting of a constitution |
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What You'll Learn
The Federalist Army of Texan immigrants
In December 1835, the Federalist Army of Texan immigrants, joined by American volunteers and their Tejano allies, captured the town of San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas) from Centralist forces. The Texans occupied the Alamo, a former Spanish religious outpost, and turned it into a makeshift fort. They were led by co-commanders James Bowie and William Travis, who found themselves outnumbered by the Mexican army under General Antonio López de Santa Anna.
Santa Anna was angered by what he perceived as United States interference in Mexican affairs and classified foreign immigrants fighting in Texas as pirates, effectively banning the taking of prisoners of war. On February 23, 1836, he arrived at the Alamo with an advance detachment of around 1,500 to 1,800 men, demanding unconditional surrender. The Texans responded with a cannon shot, and a 13-day siege ensued.
During the siege, the Texans bravely defended the Alamo, repelling two attacks by the Mexican infantry. However, they were ultimately overwhelmed by the superior numbers of the Mexican army. The final assault on March 6, 1836, resulted in a decisive victory for the Mexicans, with nearly all of the roughly 200 Texan defenders perishing, including famous figures such as Davy Crockett.
The Battle of the Alamo became a symbol of patriotic sacrifice and fierce resistance for Texans and Americans alike. It sparked a mass exodus of Texian settlers, known as the "Runaway Scrape." The Texans' determination to fight for their independence ultimately led to the birth of the Republic of Texas, with Santa Anna's capture and an agreement reached with Sam Houston.
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The Mexican federalist Constitution of 1824
The Battle of the Alamo, which took place from February 23 to March 6, 1836, was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. The conflict was a military engagement between Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna and Texan volunteers garrisoned at the Alamo Mission near San Antonio, Texas. The battle ended in a decisive victory for the Mexican forces, with most Texan defenders perishing in the fighting.
The Texans at the Alamo were fighting for the Mexican federalist Constitution of 1824. This constitution was enacted on October 4, 1824, and was the first constitution of Mexico, inaugurating the First Mexican Republic. It was modelled on the Hispanic Constitution of 1812, promulgated during an insurgency led by José María Morelos. The Constitution of 1824 established a system of 'provincial deputations', granting more autonomy to local governments in the colonies while also providing for freedom of speech.
The Constitution of 1824 was significant because it created a federalist system in Mexico, giving more power to the states and local governments. This was in contrast to the centralist system favoured by Santa Anna and other conservative forces, who sought to concentrate power in Mexico City. The conflict between federalists and centralists led to political instability and rebellions, including the Texas Revolution.
The Texas Revolution began in October 1835, with a string of Texan victories that initially drove Mexican federal forces south of the Rio Grande. However, Santa Anna led a Mexican army north to retake Texas, culminating in the Battle of the Alamo. The Texans at the Alamo were defending their right to self-government and autonomy under the Constitution of 1824, which they believed was being threatened by Santa Anna's centralist policies.
The Battle of the Alamo became a symbol of fierce resistance for the people of Texas and a rallying cry during the Mexican-American War. The defeat at the Alamo also prompted a mass exodus of Texian settlers, known as the "Runaway Scrape." Despite setbacks, the Texan forces ultimately prevailed, leading to the formation of the Republic of Texas.
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The Texas Revolution
The revolution began in October 1835 when Texans drove Mexican federal forces south of the Rio Grande. The Texans were fighting to uphold the Constitution of 1824, which had been repealed in Mexico in 1835, leading to a series of constitutional changes that created a unitary Mexican republic. The people of Gonzales refused to return a cannon to the Mexican Army, and on October 2, 1835, the Texans fired a shot, leading to the start of the Texas Revolution.
In December 1835, a Federalist army of Texan (or Texian) immigrants, American volunteers, and their Tejano allies captured the town of San Antonio de Béxar (San Antonio) from a Centralist force during the siege of Béxar. The Texans occupied a former Spanish mission called the Alamo.
On February 11, 1836, Alamo commander Neill left to recruit reinforcements and gather supplies, transferring command to Travis, a regular army officer. Volunteers comprised much of the garrison, and they elected Bowie, a fierce fighter, as their commander.
On February 23, Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna ordered a siege of the Alamo, with an army of over 1,000 soldiers. The Mexican forces set up artillery and bombarded the Alamo, while the Texans shot back with their cannons. Over the next two weeks, the two armies traded gunfire, but there were few casualties.
The final attack on the Alamo came before dawn on March 6, 1836. Mexican troops breached the north wall and flooded into the compound. Bitter fighting ensued, with most of it being hand-to-hand combat. The Texans were overwhelmed by the sheer force of numbers, and nearly all of the defenders, including Travis and Bowie, were killed. Santa Anna ordered the execution of any surviving fighters, while the Texan families sheltered there were spared.
The Battle of the Alamo ended in a decisive victory for the Mexican forces, but it also became a symbol of fierce resistance for the people of Texas. The Texans' rallying cry became "Remember the Alamo!", as they sought to avenge their defeat. The revolution ultimately led to the birth of the Republic of Texas.
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The Alamo's role in the Texas Revolution
The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. It was fought between February 23 and March 6, 1836, and ended in a decisive victory for Mexican forces. The conflict began when Mexican President General Antonio López de Santa Anna marched on San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas) as part of a campaign to retake Texas from Texan rebels. The Texans had occupied a former Spanish religious outpost called the Alamo, which had been converted into a makeshift fort.
Santa Anna arrived at the Alamo with an advance detachment of around 1,500 to 1,800 men, with some estimates putting his force at up to 6,000 strong. The Alamo was defended by around 100 Texians, with approximately 100 reinforcements, led by co-commanders James Bowie and William B. Travis. Despite the odds, when Santa Anna demanded their unconditional surrender, the Texans responded with a cannon shot, and a 13-day siege ensued.
During the siege, Mexican forces bombarded the Alamo from the south and east, while the Texans shot back with their cannons and muskets. The Texans managed to repel two Mexican attacks, but during the third attack on March 6, the Mexican forces scaled the walls and most of the Texian fighters withdrew into the interior buildings. Fierce room-to-room fighting took place, and nearly all of the Texan defenders were killed, including Travis and the famous former Tennessee congressman David "Davy" Crockett.
The fall of the Alamo prompted a mass exodus of Texian settlers, an event called the "Runaway Scrape." However, the Texans ultimately defeated the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, leading to the birth of the Republic of Texas. The Alamo thus became a symbol of fierce resistance for the people of Texas and a rallying cry during the Mexican-American War.
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The outcome of the Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo, which took place from February 23 to March 6, 1836, was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. The battle ended in a decisive victory for Mexican forces, led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna, over the "Texian" volunteers, who were almost annihilated. The Mexican troops reclaimed the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas, USA), which had been occupied by rebel Texas forces.
The battle began when Santa Anna arrived with an advance detachment of around 1,500-1,800 men on February 23 and demanded unconditional surrender. The Texians responded with a cannon shot, and Santa Anna ordered a siege. The Mexican forces set up artillery and bombarded the Alamo, while the Texians shot back with their cannons and rifled muskets. Despite reinforcements, the Texians were greatly outnumbered, and their commanders, William Travis and James Bowie, insisted on remaining in place.
On March 6, the Mexican Army launched a final attack on the Alamo from different directions. The Texians repulsed the first two assaults, but during the third attack, Mexican soldiers scaled the walls and most Texian fighters withdrew into interior buildings. The Mexicans captured the Texan cannon and blew down the doors to the adobe barracks buildings, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the remaining Texian fighters. Nearly all of the roughly 200 Texan defenders died, including famous figures such as Davy Crockett.
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Frequently asked questions
The Texians were fighting for the reinstatement of the Constitution of 1824, which had been repealed and replaced by a new constitution in 1835.
The Battle of the Alamo ended on March 6, 1836, with a decisive victory for Mexican forces. Nearly all of the 200 Texan defenders were killed, including famous figures such as David "Davy" Crockett.
The Battle of the Alamo became a symbol of fierce resistance and patriotic sacrifice for the people of Texas. It also served as a rallying cry during the Texas Revolution and the subsequent Mexican-American War.
The Texas Revolution began in October 1835, with Texan victories driving Mexican federal forces south of the Rio Grande. In February 1836, Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna ordered a siege of the Alamo, a former Spanish mission occupied by Texan rebels. The battle lasted for 13 days before culminating in a final assault by Mexican forces.
