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The Texas Revolution wasn't just a series of fights—it was a rapid transformation from scattered resistance to unified independence in just seven months. You're being tested on how these battles connected: what sparked armed rebellion, how early victories built momentum, why devastating losses at the Alamo and Goliad actually strengthened Texian resolve, and how Sam Houston turned all of that into a decisive victory at San Jacinto. Understanding the sequence and causation matters more than memorizing dates.
These battles demonstrate key concepts you'll see throughout Texas History: colonial resistance to centralized authority, the role of symbolic events in building national identity, and how military strategy shapes political outcomes. Don't just memorize what happened at each battle—know what each one changed and why phrases like "Remember the Alamo!" became powerful enough to fuel an army.
The revolution began not with a grand declaration but with a dispute over a small cannon. These early engagements established that Texians would fight rather than submit to Mexican authority—and that they could win.
Compare: Gonzales vs. Béxar—both were early Texian victories that built confidence, but Gonzales was a quick skirmish while Béxar required sustained military organization. If asked about Texian military development, Béxar shows their growing capability.
The spring of 1836 brought catastrophic defeats that killed hundreds of Texians. Rather than breaking the revolution, these losses created martyrs and rallying cries that transformed scattered resistance into a unified army.
Compare: The Alamo vs. Goliad—both resulted in mass Texian deaths and became rallying cries, but the Alamo defenders died fighting while Goliad prisoners were executed after surrender. FRQs often ask how these events together motivated the Texian army at San Jacinto.
Six weeks after the Alamo fell, Sam Houston turned a retreating army into a fighting force and waited for the right moment to strike. The Battle of San Jacinto demonstrated that strategic patience and surprise could overcome a larger, more experienced enemy.
Compare: San Jacinto vs. earlier battles—while Gonzales and Béxar were won through direct confrontation, San Jacinto succeeded through surprise and timing. Houston's strategy of retreating until conditions favored attack remains controversial but proved decisive.
| Concept | Best Examples |
|---|---|
| First armed resistance | Gonzales ("Come and Take It") |
| Early Texian military success | Gonzales, Siege of Béxar |
| Symbolic martyrdom | Alamo, Goliad |
| Rallying cries | "Remember the Alamo!", "Remember Goliad!" |
| Santa Anna's brutality | Alamo (no prisoners), Goliad (execution of POWs) |
| Decisive victory | San Jacinto |
| Texas independence secured | San Jacinto → Treaties of Velasco |
| Key military leaders | Sam Houston (San Jacinto), James Fannin (Goliad) |
Which two battles created rallying cries that motivated Texian forces at San Jacinto, and what made each event particularly outrageous to Texians?
How did the outcome of the Siege of Béxar directly set up the Battle of the Alamo three months later?
Compare the military significance of Gonzales versus San Jacinto—why is Gonzales remembered as symbolically important while San Jacinto was strategically decisive?
If an FRQ asked you to explain how Texian defeats strengthened the independence movement, which two battles would you use and what specific details would you cite?
What role did Santa Anna's capture play in securing Texas independence, and why did this matter more than simply winning the Battle of San Jacinto?