Teacher's Guide for Compquest: The Alamo

THE VIEW FROM THE CROW'S NEST (page 4)

1. What was the original name of the Alamo? When and where was it built? Why did the Spanish want to start a mission in this area?
2. What promise did Mexico make to Stephen Austin's father? Based on this promise, what did Austin do in 1821? How many families were involved?
3. What pledge did the new settlers make to the Mexican government? Do you think it was realistic for the Mexican government to believe they would actually do this?
4. Give three reasons settlers were willing to leave the United States and move to Texas. How many people do historians estimate moved to the area in the ten years following Austin's first colony?
5. What caused Mexico's growing concern?
6. What did Austin ask the Mexican government in 1834? How did many Texas settlers react to Mexico's actions?
7. Who was Antonio L""-pez de Santa Anna, and what was his response to the increased immigration and unrest?
8. How did the Texians respond? What battle later became known as the "Lexington of the Texas Revolution"?
9. Why wouldn't the United States send any official aid?
10. What decisive victory did the Texians win in December 1835?
11. How many forces were on each side at the Battle of the Alamo? Name three famous Americans who lost their lives in this battle.
12. Why do you think Enrique Esparza and his mother might have felt that they were not true Texians?
13. List the reasons the Battle of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution were fought.

1. What resources and opportunities did Spanish holdings in the New World offer Spain?
2. What problems did Spain face in trying to hold on to its territories known as New Spain? Why did its empire start to crumble?
3. When did Mexico declare its independence? What did it encourage Americans to do?
4. What caused the growing differences between Mexicans and Americans?
5. When did Texas declare its independence from Mexico?
6. What was General Antonio L""-pez de Santa Anna's response? How did Santa Anna's victory at the Alamo and his treatment of the Texians who surrendered at Goliad work against him?
7. What Texas general defeated Santa Anna? When and where did it happen, and what treaty was signed as a result?
8. Why didn't Mexico consider this treaty valid?
9. Why was President Martin Van Buren against Texas joining the Union?
10. When did Texas finally join the United States, and under what presidential administration did it happen?
11. What was the disputed area of land that led to war between the United States and Mexico? When did the war start, and how long did it last?

Either draw or describe each flag of Texas. Note the time period it covered and the period of Texas history it represents. See if you can find the colors of each flag in an encyclopedia or another reference book.

1. What was the response to Colonel William Barrett Travis's request for reinforcements?
2. What was the composition of the group that defended the Alamo?
3. Who did Travis hope would come to reinforce his troops?
4. What choice was he forced to offer his men? Who was the first to cross the line?
5. How were the accounts of this legend made known?

1. How long had Colonel William Travis and his men been defending the Alamo? When did the final Battle of the Alamo begin?
2. How many waves of attacks were they able to turn back? What turned the tide against the Texians?
3. What was Davy Crockett and his Tennessee boys' contribution to the battle?
4. How were Colonel Travis and Jim Bowie killed?
5. How long did the entire battle take?
6. What are the estimates of Mexican losses?
7. What famous battle was fought on April 21, 1836, and why is it so important in Texas history?
8. Make a copy of the drawing on pages18'�19. Draw in troop formations and places of defense during the various stages of the battle.

1. Why was the arrival of Santa Anna's army a surprise to the defenders of the Alamo?
2. What was Enrique Esparza's first response to the Mexican army? Do you think this was unusual for a boy his age? Would you have reacted differently?
3. Why didn't Esparza's father go with his brother to join Santa Anna?
4. Why did the men in the fort refuse to surrender to Santa Anna? What was their response?
5. How many troops did Esparza say Santa Anna had? Does this differ from other estimates you have read in this issue?
6. Why were the Mexican soldiers angry and frustrated?
7. Describe Esparza's observation of the final battle that took Jim Bowie's life.
8. What was done with the bodies of the Texians, and why was Esparza's father the only one given a Christian burial?
9. Why do you think his mother told him that no one in the battle had anything to gain?

1. How old was Crockett when he took his first job with Mr. Siler? In what grade would you be (or have been) at that age? Would you be (or have been) ready to take on that much responsibility?
2. Why did he believe he had to run away from Mr. Siler?
3. What was the motto that would guide him for the rest of his life?
4. How did he work his way back home?
5. How did Crockett become such a famous man? What political office did he hold?
6. How did he become involved at the Alamo?

1. When and where was Antonio L""-pez de Santa Anna born? Who ruled Mexico at this time?
2. Describe his military career.
3. Based on his limited experience with Americans, what was his opinion of their ability to stand up to his army?
4. By 1830, how many American settlers were in Texas? Why did this trouble the Mexican government?
5. What action did Santa Anna take in 1834 that enraged Texians?
6. What command did he give his brother-in-law, General Mart""'n Perfecto de Cos? How did General Cos fail him?
7. What errors did he make in preparation for battle?
8. Why did he lie when he stated that six hundred Texians had been killed at the Alamo?
9. Describe how Santa Anna was captured. What was his country's response to his defeat?
10. How did he again become dictator of Mexico? What finally happened to him?

1. Why was Jim Allen chosen to be the courier for Colonel Travis? What message did Travis want him to deliver?
2. Why did Santa Anna have a special hatred for Travis, Davy Crockett, and Jim Bowie?
3. How was Allen received by Colonel Fannin? Do you believe Fannin was wrong in not sending help? Would it have made a difference at this time?
4. Why did Santa Anna send Susanna Dickinson to Sam Houston? What was her report?

1. What was the condition of the Alamo when Driscoll sent her letter in 1901?
2. What was she able to convince the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to do?
3. What were some of the fundraising efforts, and how successful were they?
4. What did Driscoll finally do to secure the land the Alamo was standing on?
5. What were some of her other philanthropic efforts?

Our Own Spanish Conquest, 1528 - 1605 (March 1981),
The Story of America's Buffalo (August 1981),
California: A State History (May 1982),
Folklore: Stories and More (July 1983),
Mexico and the United States (March 1986),
Hispanic Americans (April 1989),
Dine: The People of the Navajo Nation (July 1989),
The Santa Fe Trail (May 1990),
Sam Houston (September 1994).

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Updated: 11/20/09 06:31 pm
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