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[[Image:Mission San Antonio El Alamo.jpg|300px|right|thumb|The Alamo]]

[[Image:Mission San Antonio El Alamo.jpg|300px|right|thumb|The Alamo]]

The '''Alamo''' (Spanish: ''álamo''; refering to the genus ''Populus'', i.e cottonwood or poplar trees) is a former Spanish mission located in downtown [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]], and was an abandoned ruin when it was used as a fortification in 1836 by colonists against the harsh rule of dictator [[Santa Anna|Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna]]; the resulting seige and massacre of the 189 men within led to Santa Anna's defeat at San Jacinto a short time later and the creation of the independent Republic of Texas.

The '''Alamo''' (Spanish: ''álamo''; referring to the genus ''Populus'', i.e cottonwood or poplar trees) is a former Spanish mission located in downtown [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]], and was an abandoned ruin when it was used as a fortification in 1836 by colonists against the harsh rule of dictator [[Santa Anna|Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna]]; the resulting siege and massacre of the 189 men within led to Santa Anna's defeat at San Jacinto a short time later and the creation of the independent Republic of Texas.

==History==

==History==

====American colonists====

====American colonists====

In the early 1820’s Americans began arriving in Tejas – the territory of Mexico north of the Rio Grande river – for the purpose of colonization.  Sparsely-populated and un-productive at the time, the colonists soon turned the territory into Mexico’s most prosperous, with the additional benefit of strengthening Mexico’s claim to the area.  Under the auspices of the constitution of 1824, the Texians (as the colonists called themselves) had the promise of having the territory admitted to Mexico as a state.  Up until 1830 there was mutual respect between the central government and the colonists under Stephen F. Austin, who had made yearly trips to Mexico City as an act of fealty and to update the government on their progress.  The relationship soured somewhat beginning in 1830, when Mexico's president Anastasio Bustamante became increasingly hostile towards the colonists, enacting higher taxes and duties, restricting shipping on the coast, and cancelling land contracts.  In 1832 Butamante was overthrown in a coup led by Santa Anna, and for a short period the colonists enjoyed a respite, which ended when Austin again made a trip to Mexico City and was promply thrown into jail for daring to petition the government to admit Texas as a state under the 1824 constitution; he would remain there for eighteen months, and be released in the summer of 1835.

In the early 1820’s Americans began arriving in Tejas – the territory of Mexico north of the Rio Grande river – for the purpose of colonization.  Sparsely-populated and un-productive at the time, the colonists soon turned the territory into Mexico’s most prosperous, with the additional benefit of strengthening Mexico’s claim to the area.  Under the auspices of the constitution of 1824, the Texians (as the colonists called themselves) had the promise of having the territory admitted to Mexico as a state.  Up until 1830 there was mutual respect between the central government and the colonists under Stephen F. Austin, who had made yearly trips to Mexico City as an act of fealty and to update the government on their progress.  The relationship soured somewhat beginning in 1830, when Mexico's president Anastasio Bustamante became increasingly hostile towards the colonists, enacting higher taxes and duties, restricting shipping on the coast, and cancelling land contracts.  In 1832 Butamante was overthrown in a coup led by Santa Anna, and for a short period the colonists enjoyed a respite, which ended when Austin again made a trip to Mexico City and was promptly thrown into jail for daring to petition the government to admit Texas as a state under the 1824 constitution; he would remain there for eighteen months, and be released in the summer of 1835.

During his absence unrest continued to grow within the Tejas areas settled by the colonists, directed against the increasingly harsh rule of Santa Anna, now recognized as a dictatorship as he consolidated his power following the coup.  Several settlements were occupied by Mexican regulars; the town of Bexar (San Antonio) was taken by General Marín Perfecto de Cós in the fall of 1835; and Lt. Francisco Castaneda with one hundred men was sent to the town of Gonzales to remove a cannon given to the settlers as a protection against Indian attacks.  Not all went as planned: Castenada not only met stiff resistance from the settlers, but had to do so while looking at a white flag with the derisive words "Come and take it" printed on it. [http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/batgon.htm]

During his absence unrest continued to grow within the Tejas areas settled by the colonists, directed against the increasingly harsh rule of Santa Anna, now recognized as a dictatorship as he consolidated his power following the coup.  Several settlements were occupied by Mexican regulars; the town of Bexar (San Antonio) was taken by General Marín Perfecto de Cós in the fall of 1835; and Lt. Francisco Castaneda with one hundred men was sent to the town of Gonzales to remove a cannon given to the settlers as a protection against Indian attacks.  Not all went as planned: Castenada not only met stiff resistance from the settlers, but had to do so while looking at a white flag with the derisive words "Come and take it" printed on it. [http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/batgon.htm]

On February 3, a unit of cavalry arrived in Bexar under orders from Smith and reported to Neill; its commander was Lt. Colonel [[William B. Travis]], who was made second-in-command; he would himself be in command - albeit temporarily - when Neill left on an emergency furlough on February 14.  Despite being sent to Bexar against his wishes, Travis was soon committed to the Alamo, calling it "the key to Texas".  During this time other volunteers trickled in, some from Goliad, others from Gonzales, and one large group from [[Tennessee]] under a one-time United States Congressman and frontiersman who was a legend in his own lifetime, [[Davy Crockett]].  The number of fighting men swelled to 189.

On February 3, a unit of cavalry arrived in Bexar under orders from Smith and reported to Neill; its commander was Lt. Colonel [[William B. Travis]], who was made second-in-command; he would himself be in command - albeit temporarily - when Neill left on an emergency furlough on February 14.  Despite being sent to Bexar against his wishes, Travis was soon committed to the Alamo, calling it "the key to Texas".  During this time other volunteers trickled in, some from Goliad, others from Gonzales, and one large group from [[Tennessee]] under a one-time United States Congressman and frontiersman who was a legend in his own lifetime, [[Davy Crockett]].  The number of fighting men swelled to 189.

====Seige====

====Siege====

[[File:Alamoflag.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Alamo Flag, which flew over the chapel during the 13-day seige.  Based on the colors of Mexico, the number "1824" was a visual reminder to Santa Anna of his own need to respect the conditions of the settlers relative to the Mexican Constitution of 1824.]]

[[File:Alamoflag.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Alamo Flag, which flew over the chapel during the 13-day siege.  Based on the colors of Mexico, the number "1824" was a visual reminder to Santa Anna of his own need to respect the conditions of the settlers relative to the Mexican Constitution of 1824.]]

Santa Anna was not expected to cross the Rio Grande until the middle of March, yet he arrived in the area on February 23 with more than 2,000 men.  A courier was sent to the Alamo to demand the surrender of the garrison; the reply came from a cannon lit by Travis.  Knowing that their only hope at withstanding a seige came from reinforcements, Travis penned a letter: [http://www.lsjunction.com/docs/appeal.htm]

Santa Anna was not expected to cross the Rio Grande until the middle of March, yet he arrived in the area on February 23 with more than 2,000 men.  A courier was sent to the Alamo to demand the surrender of the garrison; the reply came from a cannon lit by Travis.  Knowing that their only hope at withstanding a siege came from reinforcements, Travis penned a letter: [http://www.lsjunction.com/docs/appeal.htm]

:''Commandancy of the Alamo''  

:''Commandancy of the Alamo''