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====American colonists====

====American colonists====

In the early 1820s 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.

In the early 1820s 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]

==Battle of the Alamo==

==Battle of the Alamo==

====Preparations====

====Preparations====

Colonel James Clinton Neill was placed in command of the Alamo, and he immediately set to improving the defenses; however, both himself and his superior, General [[Sam Houston]], knew that it was only a matter of time before Centralist troops arrived in force.  On January 17, 1836 Houston informed provisional governor Henry Smith that an abandonment of the Alamo was necessary.  "I have ordered the fortifications in the town of Bexar to be demolished," he wrote, "and, if you should think well of it, I will remove all the cannon and other munitions of war to Gonzales and Copano, blow up the Alamo and abandon the place, as it will be impossible to keep up the Station with volunteers, the sooner I can be authorized the better it will be for the country."  Regular soldiers stationed within Bexar were few - about thirty men - and there were a slightly larger number of volunteers.  Smith decided against abandoning the Alamo.

Colonel James Clinton Neill was placed in command of the Alamo, and he immediately set to improving the defenses; however, both himself and his superior, General [[Sam Houston]], knew that it was only a matter of time before Centralist troops arrived in force.  On January 17, 1836, Houston informed provisional governor Henry Smith that an abandonment of the Alamo was necessary.  "I have ordered the fortifications in the town of Bexar to be demolished," he wrote, "and, if you should think well of it, I will remove all the cannon and other munitions of war to Gonzales and Copano, blow up the Alamo and abandon the place, as it will be impossible to keep up the Station with volunteers, the sooner I can be authorized the better it will be for the country."  Regular soldiers stationed within Bexar were few - about thirty men - and there were a slightly larger number of volunteers.  Smith decided against abandoning the Alamo.

On the same day Houston wrote his message another group of volunteers arrived under the command of Colonel [[Jim Bowie | James Bowie]], a proven fighter whose favorite weapon was a massive knife which bears his name.  Neill soon convinced Bowie to stay, convincing him that the Alamo was the only defensive fortification along the camino real between Santa Anna's forces and the Anlgo settlements to the north.  Bowie's letter to Smith describing the nature of the defences and his resolve to never surrender the fort may have played a role in turning down Houston's request; nevertheless the governor managed to send additional troops and provisions.

On the same day Houston wrote his message another group of volunteers arrived under the command of Colonel [[Jim Bowie|James Bowie]], a proven fighter whose favorite weapon was a massive knife which bears his name.  Neill soon convinced Bowie to stay, convincing him that the Alamo was the only defensive fortification along the camino real between Santa Anna's forces and the Anlgo settlements to the north.  Bowie's letter to Smith describing the nature of the defences and his resolve to never surrender the fort may have played a role in turning down Houston's request; nevertheless the governor managed to send additional troops and provisions.

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.