Article
Texas A&M University

Sons of De Witt Colony Texas: Nueva Espana Nuevas Philipinas Provincia De Tejas

For Students 9th - 10th
Read some first-person excerpts taken from Texas letters accounting events from the Mexican War for Independence from Spain.
Activity
Lone Star Junction

Lone Star Junction: Notable Texans Before 1900

For Students 9th - 10th
Lone Star Junction identifies an extensive list of high-profile Texans prior to 1900. A chart informs readers what general role in Texas history each person was involved in from Texas Revolution, Indian Wars, Civil War, and the...
Article
A&E Television

History.com: This Day in History:edwards Declares/texas Republic of Fredonia

For Students 9th - 10th
In an act that foreshadowed the American rebellions to come, read this short account of how Benjamin Edwards rode into Mexican-controlled Nacogdoches, Texas, and proclaimed himself the ruler of the Republic of Fredonia.
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Texas Navy: War With Mexico

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about Santa Anna's retaliation after the siege of Bexar, and the battles on sea and on land that followed. This site's strength is its collection of primary texts from this period in Texas' history: "Broadside calling for all men to...
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: Texas Breaks Away Texas and Mexico

For Students 9th - 10th
After being taken over by Mexico in 1821, Texas became very attractive to people wanting to settle. New policies, however, upset the Texans, which lead to rebellions and the Texas Revolution of 1836. Read about it all, and check out...
Unit Plan
Texas Public Broadcasting

Texas Pbs: Texas Our Texas: Revolution and Republic 1836 1845

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about the once independent sovereign country called the Republic of Texas in North America that existed from March 2, 1836, to February 19, 1846.
Article
Texas State Historical Association

Texas State Historical Association: Jose Manuel Rafael Simeon De Mier Y Teran

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about General Teran, a Mexican general who fought for Mexican independence in the Mexican and Texan revolutions.
Website
San Jacinto Museum of History

San Jacinto Museum: Revolution: Weapons

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the San Jacinto Museum has pictures and some descriptions of weapons used by both the Mexicans and Americans in the Texas Revolution. Click on the blue words to take you to additional information.
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Texas Navy: Texas Privateers

For Students 9th - 10th
Following the "seizure of the Mexican cannon at Gonzales," the Texas Revolution began. What did Texas do to ensure that the coast would be safe during the war? Read about the Texas Privateers and their part in the Texas Revolution.
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Texas Navy: The Yucatan Alliance

For Students 9th - 10th
Read details about the Texas negotiations and alliance with the Yucatan rebels, who were also fighting the Mexican government. Includes a collection of primary texts: "Commodore Moore reports on the Yucatan cruise, December 1841,"...
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Texas Navy: Back to Yucatan

For Students 9th - 10th
A peace agreement between the Mexican government and the Yucatan rebels was bad news for the Texas navy. How did Commodore Moore react? Read this article to find out, and check out useful primary texts: "Midshipman Alfred Walke describes...
Handout
Lone Star Junction

Lone Star Junction: Lorenzo De Zavala (1789 1836)

For Students 4th - 8th
A short biography of Lorenzo de Zavala that outlines his many accomplishments in Mexican politics, and later in Texas.
Website
A&E Television

History.com: First Shots of Texas Revolution Fired in Battle of Gonzales

For Students 6th - 8th
A brief description of the Battle of Gonzales on October 2, 1835 when the Mexicans attempted to take a cannon and were rebuffed, precipitating the start of the Texas Revolution.
Handout
TexasHistory.com

Texas history.com: Presidio La Bahia

For Students 9th - 10th
Presidio La Bahia is a restored Spanish fort in Goliad, Texas, and an important site in the Texas Revolution. This is where a mass execution took place in 1836 under the command of the Mexican General Jose Urrea.
Lesson Plan
Texas State Historical Association

Texas State Historical Association: Mexican Texas to Independence [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
An activity guide where young scholars refer to the Texas Almanac, which is free to download, for information needed to complete assigned tasks. In this activity, students examine the history of Texas from 1821-1833, the lead-up to the...
Primary
Other

Texas State Historical Association: The Law of April 6, 1830 [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A reprinting of The Law of April 6, 1830 which was to counter concerns that Mexican Texas, part of the border state of Coahuila y Texas, was in danger of being annexed by the United States.
Article
Texas State Historical Association

Texas State Historical Association: The Law of April 6, 1830

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this short overview of The Law of April 6, 1830 which was to counter concerns that Mexican Texas, part of the border state of Coahuila y Texas, was in danger of being annexed by the United States.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Lone Star Republic

For Students 5th - 8th
Why did Mexico encourage settlement of Americans in Texas? Why did the Americans chafe under Mexican rule? Find out how this led to the Texas Revolution and the declaration of Texas as an independent country.
Primary
Other

Texas Bob: The Fall of the Alamo

For Students 9th - 10th
These reprinted letters show actual correspondence and tell the story of the fall of the Alamo in early nineteenth century Texas.
Handout
Other

Austin Community College District: Convention, Washington on Brazos

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed description of the Convention of 1836, a meeting of elected delegates in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas shortly after the Texas Revolution began.
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: The Expansion of the United States, 1846 48

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This online lesson plan shows students through primary sources how the borders of the U.S. changed in just a few years. They are asked to analyze maps and use map skills. All maps and worksheets are included as well as additional resources.
Handout
PBS

Pbs: Who Made America?: Innovators: Samuel Colt

For Students 9th - 10th
One-page profile of influential innovator, Samuel Colt, whose vision and ideas created the revolving pistol that was later used in the Mexican American War and the Texas Revolution.
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: The Growth of the United States, 1776 1867

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the United States showing the growth of the nation from 1776-1867. The map is color-coded to show the thirteen original states, the territory acquired by conquest during the revolution and the Treaty of 1783, the Louisiana...
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Territorial Development of the United States, 1783 1867

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the United States showing the growth of the nation from 1783-1867. The map is color-coded to show the thirteen original states, the territory acquired by conquest during the revolution and the Treaty of 1783, the Louisiana...