The Battle of The Alamo: a View into The Beginning and End of The War

The Texas Revolution and the Alamo are the some of the biggest points in Texas history. The Texas Revolution was a war between the American colonists and the Mexican Army during 1835-1836. It was a battle over the Americans freedom from the Mexican state or government. One of the many battles during this war was, the battle of the Alamo. This one battle was a large point in the war and what happened during the war. The battle of the Alamo is portrayed in the movie “The Alamo”. The Movie brings together the battle and what happened before and after. It gives us an understanding of what happened in general during the battle, the outcome and the end of the war, yet many of the details were of from what really happened historically.

The War was the Texans lead by Same Houston fighting against the Mexican government and their leader Santa Anna. The war started soon after Santa Anna was made ruler of Mexico the year before. It began in Gonzales October 1835, and the first battle started when the Texans started a siege at Bexar. This was an important spot to take due to the military garrison, crossroads and it was a center of commerce. The Texans won this battle against the small garrison stationed there. Once they won this battle they gained control of San Antonio, The Alamo and the surrounding area by the general in charge. Soon after this in 1836, Santa Anna began his winter march to San Antonio to end the revolution at the front of it.

After the Siege of Bexar, the Texan fighters retreated to the nearby mission known as the Alamo. The Mexican army arrived at San Antonio February 23, 1836 and soon surrounded the Alamo. Once He had control of the city he raise the red flag, signaling to the Texan fighters that “no quarter would be given to the traitors inside the mission” (http://www.thealamo.org/history/chronology/texas-revolution.html). The next day Travis sends out his famed letters, asking for aid from the newly found Texan government. The most famed latter out of them was known as the“Victory or Death” letter. Soon the siege of the Alamo began.

Back at the newly found Texan government organized in Washington-on-the-Brazos. On March 2, the government and other congressmen there, declared them as independent and the Republic of Texas was formed. The Alamo showed its support of this by sending their own congressmen. The 200 Texans defended the Alamo waiting for their reinforcement from the Republic. Almost none of these freedom fighters were fighters at all, many were simple workers and never done anything like this before. There was also women and children in the company one of these being 16 mouth old Angelina Dickinson. Also among the defender was the famed Frontiersmen Davy Crockett. The ages of the men differed from 16-56, yet they stood to defend. They were led by Jim Bowie and William B. Travis, but Travis was put to bed due to his illness, and Travis was put fully in command.

Soon in early dawn on March 6, 1836 the final battle of the Alamo begun. All of the defender we killed, Travis was shot in the head at the beginning of the battle, Bowie was killed in bed. Davy Crockett’s death is unknown to us, but many believed that he survived the battle and was executed soon after. The battle in all last around 90 mins once the Mexicans breached the north wall. The only survivors of the Alamo were the women and children. After the battle Santa Anna recalled it as a “Small Affair” and continued his march toward Sam Houston and his army. Soon Sam Houston came across Santa Anna Army and in a surprise attack that last 18 mins, the Texan army won taking many prisoners. One of the Prisoner was none other than Santa Anna himself. Soon the Treaty of Velasco was signed May 14, 1836. The war was over and Texas was independent republic.

The 2004 Movie “The Alamo”, follows closely to the event that really happened at the Alamo and thing afterwards. Even though the general events of the Movie and actual events of the Alamo follow closely, there are still details that are off from what really happened. One of these details was a report over the first battle at the Alamo that “13 were killed” (The Alamo). Instead no Texan defender was killed until the final battle of the Alamo on March 6.

Another detail that was wrong in the Movie was actually during the beginning, in the opening scene. It gives many small false details setting the stage of the battle. One of these details was the fact that Travis was promoted by Sam Houston, but in fact it was Governor Henry Smith. Other of these facts were dealing with the characters and their life before and during the battle.

The movie itself brings a message ofindependence and what we should fight for. To fight for what we believe in and never to stand down no matter the odds or situation. The message speaks to the youth and young adults watching it. Showing them what people did in the past for their freedom and their beliefs. Showing them unity and loyalty in the strongest form. The movie give us a clear understanding of what the Defenders of the Alamo were trying to do there.

The movie held true to the actual events of the Alamo, but the film writers and directors put in some creative imagination, giving us a greater feel of the characters and who they were. They built the characters so that we, the audience, would become attached to them and have a greater feel for them and what they stood for as people. The Audience begins to feel and understand who these people were in real life. They begin to admire who they were and what they did. They gain a greater love of the people of the Alamo.

The movie was a great representation of what the battle of the Alamo was. It held true to the events in it and even if there were same details that were wrong, the general theme held true. The movie was an all-around decant movie, showing us what happened at The Battle of the Alamo. Showing us the sides of the people who fought and died there. Giving us a greater understanding of The Alamo