fbpx

KidsKonnect

Texas Revolution Facts & Worksheets

Texas Revolution was a military conflict between the Mexican government and Texas colonists which broke out on October 2, 1835.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Social Studies /Famous Wars /Texas Revolution Facts & Worksheets

Premium
Texas Revolution Worksheets
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

The Texas Revolution, also known as the War of Texas Independence, occurred between October 2, 1835 and April 21, 1836. It was caused by political and cultural differences between the Mexican government and the growing number of American settlers in Texas. The most well-known battle of the conflict was the Battle of the Alamo, in which many renowned historical figures died, including David Bowie, William Travis, and Davy Crockett. The war ended with Texas’s victory, which granted the state independence from Mexico and gave birth to the Republic of Texas.

See the fact file below for more information about Texas Revolution, or download the comprehensive worksheet pack, which contains over 11 worksheets and can be used in the classroom or homeschooling environment.

Key Facts & Information

Background

  • In 1819, the United States purchased Florida from Spain to gain control of the border between the Spanish and American lines.
  • The Spanish government shifted its focus to developing Texas, which is just across the border. It provided land to anyone who moved there with their families, and many Americans took advantage of it.
  • Moses Austin was one of the first Missourians to settle in the area, leading a colony of families.
  • Mexico is defined as a federal republic in the 1824 constitution, and the provinces of Texas and Coahuila were combined to form the state Coahuila y Tejas.
  • Because Mexican-born Texans were upset about their loss of political autonomy, state officials agreed to make Texas a department of the new state.
  • Texas was sparsely populated, making it highly vulnerable to attacks by native tribes and American filibusters.
  • The Mexican government liberalized immigration policies for the region to control Indian raids caused by the anticipated influx of settlers.
  • After being legally allowed to settle in Texas, Anglos from the United States, the majority of whom were from the southern United States, quickly outnumbered the Tejanos.
  • Mexico abolished slavery in 1829, causing the colonies to reconsider their rebellion.
  • President Anastasio Bustamante enacted the Laws of April 6, 1830, which prohibited additional immigration to Texas, raised taxes, and officially abolished slavery.
  • Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna led a revolt against Bustamante in 1832, which the Texians used as an excuse to carry arms. This resulted in the expulsion of all Mexican troops from east Texas.
  • Following the Texans’ success, Bustamante was replaced by Valentin Gomez Farias, a liberal federalist seeking a compromise with the Texans.
  • By the end of 1835, 5,000 enslaved Africans and African Americans made up 13% of the immigrant population.
  • After deposing Gomez Farias, Santa Anna established the Centralist Republic of Mexico in April 1834.
  • Santa Anna led his troops in subduing the Zacatecas rebellion in May, giving them two days to pillage the city.
  • Agustin Viesca, governor of Coahuila y Tejas, refused to dissolve the legislature.
  • Texas military commanders began to call for reinforcements as early as April 1835 in preparation for a possible citizen revolt.

Texian Offensive

  • Many settlers believed that the Mexican authorities were fabricating an excuse to attack the town to eliminate the militia.
  • Lieutenant Francisco de Castaeda requested a meeting with Texas leader John Henry Moore, revealing his federalist sympathies.
  • Castaeda returned his troops to Bexar after realizing they were outnumbered and outgunned.
  • Despite having no official military experience, the troops unanimously elected Austin as the leader of the Army of the People on October 11. He first directed his men to obey their superior officers strictly.
  • The Texans began preparing to march to Bexar to drive out the Mexican army.
  • Austin led his men to Bexar to confront Cos and his troops, who were joined by Consultation delegates.
  • Austin dispatched a messenger to Cos requesting that Texans lay down their arms.
  • Mexican troops quickly constructed barricades throughout town.
  • The Texian army began a siege of Bexar, gradually moving their camp closer to the city. However, as the weather became colder and rations became scarce, groups of Texans began to leave their base without permission.
  • Because Austin resigned as a commissioner to the United States, Edward Burleson was appointed as their new commander.
  • Burleson dispatched cavalry and infantry under Bowie and William H. Jack to intercept the supplies, forcing the Mexican forces to retreat to Bexar.
  • Burleson proposed lifting the siege and retreating to Goliad until spring.

Texas Convention

  • In 1836, a Convention attracted 45 delegates who represented 21 municipalities.
  • George C. Childress proposed the Texas Declaration of Independence, which was passed.
  • Delegate Robert Potter adjourned the convention after the Alamo had fallen and requested all delegates to join the army.
  • Houston convinced the delegates to remain and left to be the commander-in-chief of the troops in Texas.
  • The delegates prepared a constitution for the Republic of Texas where some parts were copied from the US Constitution while other articles were paraphrased.
  • The government of the new nation became structured similarly to the US government, including the bicameral, legislature, a chief executive, and a supreme court.

Aftermath

  • The news of Santa Anna’s defeat reached the Mexican authorities, and flags across the country were lowered.
  • The authorities refused to recognize the Republic of Texas as well as the agreements signed by Santa Anna.
  • On June 1, 1836, Santa Anna returned to Mexico, but he was apprehended and placed under military arrest on June 4.
  • During the revolution, the Mexican press began to criticize him for his cruelty.
  • Santa Anna was disgraced until he became a hero of the Pastry War.
  • The Republic of Texas’ policies changed the status of many of its inhabitants, while its constitution prohibited Blacks from living in Texas.

Legacy

  • Even though no new fighting techniques were adopted during the Texas Revolution, casualty figures were unusually high for the time. In most 19th-century battles, the number of wounded outnumbered the number of fatalities by a factor of two or three.
  • From October 1835 to April 1836, roughly 1,000 Mexican and 700 Texian soldiers were killed, while 500 Mexican and 100 Texian soldiers were injured.
  • The departure was caused by Santa Anna’s decision to identify Texian rebels as traitors and the Texian desire for vengeance.
  • The Texas Legislature purchased the San Jacinto battleground in the late nineteenth century, which currently houses the San Jacinto Memorial, the world’s highest stone column monument.
  • The Texas Legislature purchased the Alamo Mission in the early twentieth century, and is now an official state shrine.
  • A cenotaph sculpted by Pompeo Coppini stands in front of the church in the middle of Alamo Plaza, commemorating the defenders who died during the conflict. Every year, around 2.5 million people visit the Alamo.
  • The Texas Revolution has inspired poetry as well as several books, plays, and films.
  • From the first novel describing events of the revolution, 1838’s Mexico versus Texas, to the mid-20th century, most works incorporated themes of anticlericalism and racism, depicting the struggle as a fight for independence between good (Anglo-Texian) and evil (Mexican).
  • The Alamo is frequently likened to the battle of Thermopylae in both English and Spanish literature.
  • The 1950s Disney miniseries Davy Crockett, which was mainly based on fiction, sparked a worldwide interest in all things Alamo.

Texas Revolution Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Texas Revolution across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Texas Revolution worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Texas Revolution, which was a military conflict between the Mexican government and Texas colonists which broke out on October 2, 1835. The Battle of the Alamo and Goliad Massacre were among its famous events.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

  • Texas Revolution Facts
  • Texas War of Independence
  • Mapping Battles
  • Famous Texans
  • Infamous Santa Anna
  • Texans v. Mexicans
  • The Lone Star State
  • The Alamo
  • Tex-Mex
  • The Aftermath
  • 3Ps of Texas Revolution

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Texas Revolution?

The Texas Revolution, also known as the War of Texas Independence, occurred between October 2, 1835 and April 21, 1836.

What was the main cause of the Texas Revolution?

It was caused by political and cultural differences between the Mexican government and the growing number of American settlers in Texas.

Who won the Texas Revolution?

The war ended with Texas’s victory, which granted the state independence from Mexico and gave birth to the Republic of Texas.

What was the most important event in the Texas Revolution?

The most well-known battle of the conflict was the Battle of the Alamo, in which many renowned historical figures died, including David Bowie, William Travis, and Davy Crockett.

What ended the Texas Revolution?

The war ended with Texas’s victory, which granted the state independence from Mexico and gave birth to the Republic of Texas.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Texas Revolution Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 6, 2018

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources