Texas

Explain Texas independence, the Alamo, and that slavery was part of the conflict with Mexico.

Warm-up, learn, try it together, practice, then a quick check. About 15 minutes.

What children learn in Level 47

In the 1820s, Texas belonged to newly independent Mexico. Mexico invited American settlers, and Stephen Austin brought many families. Tejanos, Texans of Mexican heritage, already lived there.
Soon there were more Americans than Tejanos. Mexico banned slavery, yet many of these settlers enslaved people. Mexico also tightened its rules, and its leader, Santa Anna, took more power.
In 1836, Texans, including Tejanos like Juan Seguín, fought for independence. About 200 defenders held an old mission called the Alamo, in San Antonio, for 13 days. Santa Anna's army took it, and nearly all the defenders died.
Weeks later, Sam Houston's army surprised Santa Anna at San Jacinto, shouting “Remember the Alamo!” Texas became its own country.
In 1845, Texas joined the United States as a state that allowed slavery. A war with Mexico followed, and by 1848 Mexico had lost the Southwest and California. Tejanos and Mexican families there often lost their land.

Georgia Standards of Excellence in Social Studies:

SS4H3.c — Describe territorial expansion with emphasis on the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the acquisitions of Texas (the Alamo and independence), Oregon (Oregon Trail), and California (Gold Rush and the development of mining towns).