The Alamo

The Alamo

The Alamo, one of America's most famous landmarks, was actually a mission to convert foreigners into Christians. The Spaniards built it and called it "San Antonio de Valero." It was constructed in the northeast part of Mexico called Texas. The mission began to be called the "Alamo mission" because in Spanish, Alamo means "popular."

After about seventy-five years, the mission was abandoned and parts of it crumbled into ruins. In 1821 Mexico won its freedom from Spain and they were now able to vote for leaders as the Americans could. Also, in 1821 an American lawyer named Stephen Austin moved to Texas. Mr. Austin believed that if enough farmers settled the land it could become very prosperous. The settlers agreed to be good citizens and good farmers. They also agreed to build towns and schools and make Texas a safe place to live.

The Mexican government liked the idea of the Americans taming the wild, barren land. After all, no one else wanted to even try. In 1824 Mexico adopted a constitution much like the American constitution. This Mexican constitution promised that when Texas got to the point that when there were enough people living there, it would be a separate state with its own capital and government.

Later politicians and military leaders began fighting over who should run the government, and the constitution was soon ignored. Leaders, one after the other, came into power. The amount of Americans living in Mexico was rapidly multiplying. Mexico began to worry, especially when America offered to buy Texas from them. The Mexican government passed a law forbidding any more Americans to live in Mexico.

Shortly afterwards an extremely powerful military leader named Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna...

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...id. Santa Anna was brought to Sam Houston, as he lay propped up against a tree because his foot had been shot. Houston could have shot Santa Anna, but he was too nice. Santa Anna was forced to sign a treaty stating that Texas was a free state. He also had to remove all his troops from Texas.

The Texans won Texas as their own state and elected Sam Houston President of the Republic of Texas. The constitution of 1824 was restored. Texas remained an independent country until 1845 when they voted to join the United States. The Texans and other Americans will always remember the long fight of the Alamo. The troops obeyed Sam Houston. They will always remember the Alamo.

The Story of the Alamo

By Norman Richards

Children's Press, Chicago

The Alamo

Leonard Everett Fisher

Leonard Everett Fisher, 1987

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