Objectives:
SWBAT:
? List the reasons that Americans settled Texas in writing
? Discuss reasons Texas declared independence in writing
? Explain the significance of the Alamo in writing
? Summarize the annexation of Texas in writing
? Identify: Stephen Austin, Samuel Houston, and General Santa Anna in writing

Materials Needed:
? Map of the United States in the 1830’s
? Westward Expansion Maps
? Colored pencils

Overview:
? 1821 Spanish changed policies & encouraged American settlers in Texas
? Moses Austin and his son, Stephen, were among the 1st to settle
? Mexico won independence from Spain & offered gifts of land to Americans to come into Texas to settle – had liberal laws
? Mexicans wanted to promote friendship & trade with the U.S.
? Late 1820’s, Americans outnumbered Mexicans in Texas 4 to 1 and began calling themselves Texans, not Mexicans
? 1830 – Mexican government passes restrictive laws to gain control – included a law which outlawed slavery – seen as personal threat to Americans in Texas – Texans declared independence in 1835
? March 1936, Mexican General Santa Anna attacked the Alamo missionary with 4,000 men – the 190 at the Alamo held out for 3 days before defeat. Texans also defeated in similar fashion at Goliad
? Samuel Houston led Texans to victory at battle of San Jacinto – the battle cry “Remember the Alamo” was used to motivate his army.
? October 1936 Texas became independent – the Lone Star Republic – Samuel Houston was the 1st president
? Texans wanted to be annexed by the U.S. – thought of themselves as U.S. citizens
? U.S. was split by nationalism and sectionalism on the issue – some felt that the U.S. won the territory fairly and that it was their mission to settle the west and claim it for the U.S., other felt that it belonged to Mexico, and we couldn’t take another’s country’s land for that would cause the U.S. to have enemies
? Sectionalism – would Texas be entered as a free or slave state?
? President Jackson decided against immediate annexation toward the end of his term – the decision was put off for 9 years
? President James Polk was elected and Texas was entered into the Union in less than a year (1945)
? This decision left Polk able to focus on the Oregon Country

Procedure:
? Have students take note throughout lecture
? Have students color and label Texas on their Westward Expansion maps
? Have students hand in their biographies

Evaluation:
? Active note taking
? Attentiveness
? Asking general questions to the class