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The Alamo

The Alamo. Analysis of Two Armies The Commanders Why the Alamo? The Siege of the Alamo. The Mexican Army. The infantry is made up of mostly conscripts. Conscripts are people forced to become soldiers Most powerful army in North America at the time. Santa Anna is seeking revenge.

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The Alamo

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  1. The Alamo Analysis of Two Armies The Commanders Why the Alamo? The Siege of the Alamo

  2. The Mexican Army • The infantry is made up of mostly conscripts. Conscripts are people forced to become soldiers • Most powerful army in North America at the time. • Santa Anna is seeking revenge.

  3. The Texian Army • Mostly made up of volunteers fighting for liberty • Texians are not disciplined and many of them are recent arrivals to Texas • Many of them are expert marksmen and use what were called Kentucky long rifles. • Many of them are slave owners

  4. Santa Anna • Commander of Mexican army who has spent most of his life in the military • Believed in keeping power by being brutal, i.e Zacatecas • He wants to end the Texas revolt because he believes that his personal honor has been violated

  5. William B.Travis • Commander of regular army at the Alamo, while James Bowie commands Texas volunteers • He is ambitious. He came to Texas to start over and believes this is his chance to leave his mark on history. • Mistakenly believes that he can hold off army because of walls and cannons.

  6. Santa Anna’s Advance • The Mexican army will march several hundred miles and endure a Texas norther • Comanche’s will kill Mexican soldiers who fall behind on march • Many of the conscripts do not have proper shoes or clothing.

  7. Mexican reasoning: Santa Anna needs a victory to help his image in Mexico. He believes he needs to defend his reputation. It is located on a main road, The Old San Antonio Road in central Texas making it an important route for the Mexican army and their supplies. San Antonio is largest city in Texas. Texians reasoning: Alamo sits on an important road Travis and Bowie felt that they could hold the Alamo and felt safe there. It was the most fortified position in Texas. Alamo could slow down the Mexican army and provide a barrier between the towns north of San Antonio and the Mexican Army. Why the Alamo?

  8. The Siege of the Alamo • The siege begins on February 26, 1836 • Texans are outnumbered 9 to 1. Mexican forces number about 1,800 while the Texians have less than 200. • It is fortified with cannons taken during the Battle of San Antonio • Texans believe that reinforcements will come and are overly confident about their ability to beat the Mexican soldiers.

  9. The Siege of the Alamo • When Santa Anna arrives on February 23, 1836, he raises a blood-red flag signaling no surrender. • Cannons bombard the Alamo constantly • The Mexican band plays “El Deguello” or “Slit Throat”. • Did Travis draw a line in the sand?

  10. Mexican Artillery pound the Alamo walls daily.

  11. The Battle of the Alamo: Phase One • The assault begins on March 6, around 5:00 • Mexican infantry attacks the Alamo from three sides • Brave Mexican infantry advance under cannon fire which bunches them towards the North Wall

  12. The Battle of the Alamo: Phase Two • Mexican infantry breaches North wall • 80 Texans make an attempt to escape by running out of Alamo • The Mexican cavalry will catch them and kill all the escaping Texans

  13. The North Wall is breached!

  14. The Battle of the Alamo: Phase Three • Mexican infantry inside the Alamo turn cannons on the buildings • Crockett and several make last ditch effort at mission but are captured • The fighting is vicious hand to hand combat

  15. The Aftermath • All Alamo defenders are killed but family members are spared • Did Davy Crockett survive the battle and surrender before being executed? • The Alamo will give the Texian army determination to fight to beat Mexico

  16. The Mexican dead number about 600 and are given a Christian burial. • The Texians are all killed (189) and their bodies are burned. • Susanna Dickinson, who was the wife of the artillery commander Almeron Dickinson, is told by Santa Anna to deliver a message to Sam Houston-- “No Mercy!”

  17. Gregorio Esparza • San Antonio resident who fought at the Battle of San Antonio, 1835 • Led a cannon crew at the Alamo, 1836 and was killed • Brothers requested permission to bury their brother and provide a Christian burial

  18. So what does this all mean? • Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of the Mexican and Texian armies? • Compare and contrast Santa Anna and William B. Travis as leaders. • Why did the Texians feel the need to stay and fight at the Alamo? • Pretend that you are an eyewitness to the siege of the Alamo. Write a report about the battle to inform the people of Texas as to what you have seen.

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