In the 1820s and ‘30s, many Americans moved to Texas from the southern United States. The territory officially belonged to Mexico, but the land was open to settlers. The settlers had governed themselves for about 15 years when the Mexican government realized that Americans outnumbered Mexicans in Texas! The Mexican government became worried that the U.S. would take Texas. Mexico decided to push the settlers back to the United States. The settlers refused to leave.

Mexican General Santa Anna marched into Texas with many troops. He crossed the Rio Grande and approached San Antonio. Here, the Texans were awaiting attack. The Texans used the Alamo as a fort. Originally it was a mission, used for religious reasons. The man in command of the Texans was William Barret Travis. He sent appeal after appeal to the U.S. government for back up. No one answered.

The Texans knew that they were outnumbered 10 to 1. Still, they decided to defend themselves to the death. From February 23, 1836 to Sunday March 6, 1836, the settlers waited. On March 6, Santa Anna stormed the walls of the Alamo. The Texans fought until death, even after hours of arm-to-arm combat.

Remember the Alamo! – Revenge

On April 12, 1836, a new Texan army under Sam Houston fought and defeated Santa Anna. These men were fighting for the rights of themselves and their families to live in Texas. They were also fighting for revenge. When Sam Houston led his men into battle, he rallied his men by shouting, “Remember the Alamo!”

When Houston won, Texas became the Lone Star Republic. Did you know that Texas was the only U. S. state to be its own country? In 1845 Texas asked to be a part of the United States. The Republic was annexed by the U.S. government and became the Lone Star State.