What was the battle of the ALMO about?

Question

Why were they Fighting in the ALAMO,,,,what was the whole battle about and for?

Answer 1

The Alamo was a Spanish church where a famous battle for the independence of Texas from Mexico was fought.

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Alamo
"The Battle of the Alamo was a 19th-century battle between the Republic of Mexico and the rebel Texian forces, including both Anglos (ethnic Europeans) and Tejanos (ethnic Mexicans in Texas), during the Texian's fight for independence — the Texas Revolution. It took place at the Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas (then known as "San Antonio de Béxar") in February and March 1836. The 13-day siege started Tuesday, February 23, and ended on Sunday, March 6, with the capture of the mission and the death of nearly all the Texian and Tejano defenders, except for a few slaves, women and children. Despite the win, the 13-day holdout stalled the Mexican Army's progress and allowed Sam Houston to gather troops and supplies for his later success at the Battle of San Jacinto. The Texian revolutionaries went on to win the war."

The Mexican Army under Santa Anna was huge and the defenders of the old church turned fort were out numbered by something in the range of 10 to 1. It was a huge battle and the fact that so few defenders could hold off such a huge army really got Santa Anna (the dictator of Mexico) angry; angry enough to make a huge mistake. In the following battle against Sam Houston at San Jacinto Santa Anna split his army into 3 units so when Sam Houston fought him, he only fought 1/3 of the entire army which made victory easier.

The Church, the Alamo was started by the Spanish in their attempt to convert the native population, mostly Native Americans. It was never finished so it had no roof, in fact one wall wasn’t even finished and it had to be a hasty wall of stone erected a few days before the battle. A lot of American Heroes including Davy Crocket died there, but they were all volunteers and given a chance to escape they refused and stayed to fight. One man, a former slave, was ordered to leave the fort and find General Sam Houston to inform him of the battle and that the defenders expected to lose.

The fort still exists today in the town of San Antonio and is a memorialized as a shrine to Texas Independence. Texas was the only state in the union that became its own country first, before joining the US.

Answer 2

In 1821 Mexico allowed immigration of foreigners into Texas, which belonged to Mexico at the time. Fifteen years later, the "Texicans" (those foreigners) outnumbered the Mexicans and they demanded independence from Mexico. The Mexicans sent a large force of troops into Texas, under the command of General Santa Ana. The Texicans gathered at the Mission of San Antonio De Padua (also known as the Alamo) in the city of San Antonio, Texas. The Texican were under the command of a Colonel Travis. He sent a messenger out to alert Sam Houston and the other Texican forces some distance away that the battle was about to be joined. The remaining force of 179 took on that large Mexican troop contingent and the Texicans lost the battle and their lives. But, in later battles the Texicans prevailed and the Republic of Texas was born.

Answer 3

The battle was about Mexico trying to quel the rebellious tax evading succesionists that became the Republic of Texas. (Mexico was treating the anglos in The Tejano region very unfairly)

Santa Ana was vicious in his attacks and the Texans were severely outgunned and outnumbered and were slaughtered. Later at San Jacinto near Houston the Texas fighteing forces outmanuvered Santa Anna's troops resulting in a humiliating defeat for Mexico and Texas' independence.
Google "Republic of Texas" for complete historical context.

Answer 4

Genral Santa Anna, was sent North from Mexico City, with about 6,000 soldiers to drive out the Texicans who would not swear loyality to Mexico, and turn the lands north of the Rio Grande river back over to the Mexican goverment, as Mexican territory. Texicans where from the Us as well as Mexico, they where looking to settle and be part of Mexico, but the bulling of the Mixican goverment, and the control and over taxastion of ranches on the prosperous land owners of now southern texas, where not about to be told how to ru there businesses or who to be loyal to. Texicans wanted independece to form there won Rebublic, many came from the US who joined the local Militias. the Battle of the Alamo, was a lost cuase fro mthe beginning, it was know they could not win, sam Houston, was trying to hammer out wh owould run the new rebublic with others on the Brazos river area, and only a few small companies of a few hundred men where each at The Alamo, a former delapitated Catholic MIssion Church, and at Goliad, a smaller, similar structure. Goliad surrendered, and all where executed. that is why the Alamo defenders would not surrender, they knoew the Mexicans would not treat them as prisoners, but as revolutionaries, and kill them all. after 13 days of constant attacks, the 186 mix bag of defenders of the Alamo, where over ran by the Mexican army. the few suvivors where cut up with swords accoring to a Mexican Captains diary of the battle, one was Davy Crockett, legendary frontiers man and former congressman, who came to buy and try his luch in texas, wiyth many others. the Delay at san Antonio (whaere the Alamo still is), bought sam HOuston and his growing army, much needed time, and eventually, caought santa Anna and his Army, divided, and with there proverbial pants down, in les sthan 20 minutes, hi army lay in ruins, and on a dead run in caotic retreat. snata Anna was later captured, disguised as a common soldier. He live many years afterwards, and even toured the US as a lecturer before his death at an old age. the defenders of the Alamo are to many, the epitomy of the word defiance, they knew there was no way of winning, or getting out of there, but they like the 300 spartans, who share a similar legend status, died fighting for what they believed in against overwelming odds.,

Answer 5

If my American History is correct, the Texans were fighting Mexico for independence.

Answer 6

illegal immigration....reversed