Causes of the Texas Revolution


Texas Studies Revolution and Republic of Texas Causes of the Texas Revolution
Students list as a class what they know about the conflict between Texas and Mexico prior to 1836. Then they learn how the steps taken by President Santa Anna contributed to the conflict. Next they examine the significance of the Battle of Gonzales to the Texas Revolution. Finally they analyze the message of the famous flag, “Come and Take It.”

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Overview

In this experience, students list as a class what they know about the conflict between Texas and Mexico prior to 1836. Then they learn how the steps taken by President Santa Anna contributed to the conflict. Next they examine the significance of the Battle of Gonzales to the Texas Revolution. Finally they analyze the message of the famous flag, “Come and Take It.”

If you have access to leveled readers about Santa Anna or the Battle of Gonzales, assign them to the students in parallel to this experience.

Estimated duration: 35-45 minutes

Vocabulary words:

  • centralize
  • judicial
  • tariff
  • hostile
  • militia
  • retrieve

Objectives

  • Identify Santa Anna’s role in the lead up to the Texas Revolution.
  • Explain the significance of the Battle of Gonzales.


Engage


Sometimes our actions have something called unintended consequences, which are unplanned outcomes. When people take action to solve a particular problem, they might create a much worse problem without meaning to. For example, imagine that your parents finally agree that you can get a kitten, but the condition is that it must be declawed so that it does not destroy the furniture. You adopt an abandoned kitten and give it a good home. One day you take the kitten out to play and a big dog starts to chase it. The kitten tries to climb a tree to escape, but without claws it cannot protect itself. The dog bites the kitten and injures its foot. This injury is an unintended consequence of declawing the kitten so that you can give it a good home.

Mexico had opened up Texas to settlers arriving from the United States. This invitation was to have unintended consequences, which would lead to serious conflict between Mexico and Texas. In this lesson, you will learn about this growing tension.

Objectives

  • Identify Santa Anna’s role in the lead up to the Texas Revolution.
  • Explain the significance of the Battle of Gonzales.


Mexican and Texas flags side by side

The Mexican and Texas flags. This Lone Star flag would not become the official Texas flag until the third year of the Republic of Texas.


The last unit, “Age of Empresarios,” ended with the Texas settlers becoming unhappy with the Mexican government.


As a class, summarize what you remember about the conflicts between the Texas settlers and the Mexican government. If someone has already listed what you know, try to think of something else to post.



Use student posts to correct any misconceptions about the events leading up to the Revolution. Key points to review:

  • Anglo settlers in Texas outnumbered Tejanos, and there was a cultural difference.
  • Mexico was anti-slavery and the Texas economy was becoming dependent on slaves.
  • Mexico placed tariffs on basic necessities, which hurt the Texas economy.
  • Mexico passed a law to stop immigration from the United States to Texas.
  • Mexico did not have a Bill of Rights to protect individual rights.
  • Santa Anna arrested Stephen F. Austin.

 


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