Texas Personalities and the Texas Revolution
Created by Ann Walsh
Bedichek MS
Overview: To help students relate more closely to the events of the Texas Revolution and to see
these events from different points of view, they adopt a personality to use during our unit study.
Periodically, they reflect on events from their particular point of view and write “Quick Writes” in
their interactive notebooks. At the end of the unit, they will summarize the key events of the
Texas Revolution and include reflections from their character’s point of view in a final essay.
Activity 1=
1.
After introducing the purpose of the lesson to the class, distribute a “biography” to each
student. Students pasted these in their interactive notebooks for safe keeping and to
make notes about their character.
1.
Allow students to study their “bios” and become familiar with who they are. The teacher
can circulate around the room and answer questions about the characters and fill in
needed background.
1.
To give practice in public speaking, students are asked to stand at their desks and tell the
class who they are.
1.
Students can also be asked to pose questions to the teacher about information on which
they need further background. These questions can addressed as mini-lessons in future
classes. ( For example: my classes asked me to fill in details about the importance of
cotton, history of revolutionary attempts in Mexico, how the Cherokees came to Texas…)
2.
Activity 2=
1. Posters are placed on the walls about the room stating: a. Support Texas Revolution against
Mexico b. Undecided about Texas Revolution against Mexico c. Against Texas Revolution against
Mexico
2. Students are asked to decide where their character would stand on the issue of the Texas
Revolution and complete a quick write in their notebooks reflecting that point of view .
3. The class is then asked to stand under the poster that represents their opinions. Through a
show of hands, identify where points of view “stood”.
Activity 3=
1. Working in pairs, students will make notes about events of the Texas Revolution in their
interactive notebooks. Periodically, they will write a “Quick Write” about their character’s point of
view. As the class studies events of the revolution, they can be asked to go stand again under the
poster that reflects their opinions and see if there is a change.
Activity 4=
1. Using information collected in their interactive notebooks, students will write a final essay that
summarizes key events of the Texas Revolution and include reflections from the point of view of
their historical character.
Additional Activities:
1. Draw a self-portrait of historical character
2. With another student, write a dialog about the Revolution
Character Sketches: These are based on real people or groups of people. For example, the
sketch of a wealthy African American businessman in San Antonio is based on Hendrick Arnold.
Duplicate entries were made to allow for larger classes. ( An omission is the female point of view
and in the future I will add sketches to allow for that.)
Old Three Hundred You are a member of the Old Three Hundred. You own a small family farm
with a two room dog run style cabin in the Austin Colony. You and your family came to Texas to
escape the economic depression that caused you to lose everything back in the United States.
You hope that your cousins and their families will soon join you here in Texas. When you came
here you agreed to Spain’s requirements for citizenship but have not had time to make an effort
to learn Spanish. Even though you agreed to convert to Catholicism you have not and no one has
tried to force you to do so. You favor peace and want to be left alone to continue building your
farm. (this is a duplicate entry )
Old Three Hundred
You are a member of the Old Three Hundred. You own a small family farm with a two room dog
run style cabin in the Austin Colony. You and your family came to Texas to escape the economic
depression that caused you to lose everything back in the United States. You hope that your
cousins and their families will soon join you here in Texas. When you came here you agreed to
Spain’s requirements for citizenship but have not had time to make an effort to learn Spanish.
Even though you agreed to convert to Catholicism you have not and no one has tried to force you
to do so. You favor peace and want to be left alone to continue building your farm.
Old Three Hundred
You are a member of the Old Three Hundred. You own a plantation in the Austin Colony. You
and your family came to Texas with three slaves to start a cotton plantation in Texas since land
was so much cheaper. Your cotton production has been very good and you plan to buy more
slaves and land once this year’s crop has been sold. You do not want to upset a successful
operation and favor peace. However, recent changes in Mexico are a concern and you wonder
how new laws will effect you.
Old Three Hundred
You came to the Austin Colony as a grist mill operator. Farmers in the colony bring their wheat
and corn to you to be ground into flour and corn meal. In addition, you have made a good profit
selling some of the land that you received as a colonist. You plan to open a wagon freight
business to transport grain to sell in the United States, particularly Louisiana, and return with
merchandise to sell to the Austin colonists. This promises to be a good business with plenty of
profit. Recent laws about customs duties would really limit your profit if not wipe it out completely.
However, war would almost completely shut you down. You favor peace for now and suggest
getting a committee together to talk with the new government in Mexico.
Old Three Hundred
You are a wealthy plantation owner that moved from Mississippi with 80 slaves and 30 wagons of
supplies and personal belongings. Your home is a two story Greek Revival Mansion overlooking
the Brazos River. Cotton has made you wealthier than you could have been in Mississippi and
you are in the process of buying more land and slaves to increase production. You were
concerned about the Mexican Constitution that outlawed slavery and are offended that you and
others like you did not have a say in that law. You wonder what will happen next. You aren’t
afraid of a fight and favor war if necessary to protect your way of life.
Old Three Hundred
You come from the mountains of Tennessee. Your people have always had to fight for what little
they had since before the American Revolution. Your frontier skills have made you independent
and able to defend yourself. You came to Texas for a fresh start on a new frontier but you still are
very loyal to your American roots. You hated having to sign those Spanish papers for citizenship
but did it because you felt you had no other choice. Besides, let’s see someone try to force you
do to any of those things! Now, Mexico has had a revolution of its own, the rules are changing
and it looks like a dictator is gaining power. No American can out up with this! You favor war!
Old Three Hundred You are part of the Old Three Hundred but you remain a proud American.
Sure, Spain welcomed you and gave you a new start but where is Spain now? Are you still
obligated to follow those old promises? Who can believe what is happening in Mexico now. The
new constitution looks good on paper but is it really the law of the land? Your father fought in the
American Revolution to overthrow a monarchy and you witnessed the creation of the American
Constitution. Now there is talk of a dictator in Mexico. It would dishonor your father’s memory if
you did not stand up to any undemocratic form of government. You favor democracy even if it
means war.
Tejano
You are a Tejano living in Nacogdoches. Your family learned first hand what it is like to be shoved
around by the government when Spain order you to leave your home and relocate to San
Antonio. You followed Gil Ybarbo back to East Texas and were willing to defy Spain’s orders and
returned to your old home. Here in Nacogdoches you are so far from the heart of Mexico that it is
hard to get involved in their issues. New laws that are coming from the new Mexican government
will close the border with the United States. This will cut off trade and force your family to spend
more on customs duties to import supplies. Even if you traded only with Mexico, costs will
increase because supplies will have to travel so far. Talk of war does not frighten you.
Tejano
You and your family live in San Antonio. You have heard about all the American colonists that are
coming to Texas and it seems that more come every day. They make promises to become
citizens of their new country but they won’t give up their ways. They never truly accepted Spanish
law and now it seems they are arguing about Mexican law. You never understood why these
Americans always want to get together and argue about politics and vote on everything. They
always seem to want to write these long resolutions. Why can’t they do what they are told and
leave government to the officials. If they pick a fight you want no part of it. You favor peace.
Tejano
You and your family live in San Antonio. You have heard about all the American colonists that are
coming to Texas and it seems that more come every day. They make promises to become
citizens of their new country but they won’t give up their ways. They never truly accepted Spanish
law and now it seems they are arguing about Mexican law. You never understood why these
Americans always want to get together and argue about politics and vote on everything. They
always seem to want to write these long resolutions. Why can’t they do what they are told and
leave government to the officials. If they pick a fight you want no part of it. You favor peace.
Tejano
You are a Tejano rancher in South Texas. Your family came here with Martin de Leon. Here, in
South Texas, Mexico has pretty much left you alone and you don’t need anything from anyone.
You do not like all these foreigners coming into to Texas with all their strange ways. You are loyal
to Mexico and do not support war.
Tejano
Your father was executed and your mother and sisters were tortured because of his participation
in Father Hidalgo’s uprising. You have nothing but hatred for Santa Anna, a dictator, and know
that if he is in power there is no chance for democracy. You tell all who will listen about what kind
of tyrant is waiting for them in Mexico. You have no choice but to stand up against him and
defend you family honor. This means you will fight for independence.
New American Arrivals
You just showed up in Texas on your own about three months ago. You were attracted by the
newspaper articles that talked about all the opportunity here. You left your home in South
Carolina and decided to see for yourself if it was all that they said. Some of those empresarios
like Stephen F. Austin really turn you off. He seems rather wishy-washy to you and is afraid to
stand up to the government. Any South Carolinian like yourself would know how to handle thisfight!!!
New American Arrivals
You are an American that just opened a ferry crossing on the Colorado River. Business promises
to be good what with all the colonists moving through and all the cotton being sent to market.
People have to use your crossing or go 40 miles out of their way to the next one. Now you are
thinking of setting up a trading post, too. But, customs duties would ruin your profits and if you
were forced to import from Mexico you would not make much if any profit. Mexico is 1000 miles
away. Who needs it? We provide our own militias for protection against Indian raids and our
colonial government seems to be able to run things pretty good. You say, “Let's be independent!”
New American Arrivals
You own a small sailing boat that brings supplies from New Orleans to the colonies in Texas.
Lately, Mexican customs officials have really been giving you a hard time. Sometimes they
assess huge customs duties on your cargo and have even arrested your crew. You are and
American and you are not going to stand still for this kind of harassment. You are willing to fight
and know others back in New Orleans who will come here to help out!
African American
You are a 20 year old slave on the Groce Plantation. You had no choice in whether you wanted to
come to Texas or not. You have your days decided for you and most of then are spent alongside
other slaves in the cotton fields making old man Groce rich. He talks fancy about freedom and
rights but only so far as that goes for whites. If it came to war, all you know is that the extra work
would fall to you. Besides, you have heard rumors that the Mexicans have outlawed slavery and
wonder of the truth of that. (this is a duplicate entry)
African American
You are a 20 year old slave on the Groce Plantation. You had no choice in whether you wanted to
come to Texas or not. You have your days decided for you and most of then are spent alongside
other slaves in the cotton fields making old man Groce rich. He talks fancy about freedom and
rights but only so far as that goes for whites. If it came to war, all you know is that the extra work
would fall to you. Besides, you have heard rumors that the Mexicans have outlawed slavery and
wonder of the truth of that.
African American
You are a rich African American businessman who has lived in Nacogdoches since Spanish
times. Tejanos and Texians both respect you and do business with you. Lately, new laws coming
out of Mexico threaten your business and your profit. You support talking to the government
about changing these laws. If it comes to independence, you favor fighting for it.
African American
You are an African American living in San Antonio. You have a freight business that carries
supplies from the United States and Mexico. You also own several farms and ranches around
San Antonio as well as slaves to operate them. Outlawing slavery would certainly effect the
operation of these farms and ranches. Customs duties would cut off your US trade. Spain and
Mexico have always neglected Texas. You favor independence so you can keep on with your
business.
Mexican Revolutionary Your family supported Father Hidalgo and his uprising in 1810 and
escaped to East Texas after he was executed. Here, you were far from the persecution of the
Spanish government. The capital of the province, Saltillo was so far away that no one seemed to
care who you were. There were many others here with pasts that were forgotten as they started
over. Now, things are beginning to become unsettled and the old revolutionary feeling n you are
beginning to stir. You have always favored independence and now that the democracy of Mexico
is slipping into the hands of a dictator, Santa Anna, you feel independence is the only thing that
will guarantee you safety and peace. (this is a duplicate entry)
Mexican Revolutionary
Your family supported Father Hidalgo and his uprising in 1810 and escaped to East Texas after
he was executed. Here, you were far from the persecution of the Spanish government. The
capital of the province, Saltillo was so far away that no one seemed to care who you were. There
were many others here with pasts that were forgotten as they started over. Now, things are
beginning to become unsettled and the old revolutionary feeling n you are beginning to stir. You
have always favored independence and now that the democracy of Mexico is slipping into the
hands of a dictator, Santa Anna, you feel independence is the only thing that will guarantee you
safety and peace.
Cherokee
Your people were brutally forced off your lands in the southeastern United States. Some of your
people are in Indian Territory ( Oklahoma) but you and others are in East Texas. Here, the
Spanish and later, Mexican government have not bothered you and your people are establishing
new homes and new lives. However, more and more Americans have been crossing into Texas.
Many are claiming your lands just as they did in the United States. There is talk of war coming to
Mexican Texas. This is not your fight but it might be a chance to fight back and claim land for
yourself. If you support Mexico, it might secure that land for you. Then again there is the friend of
the Cherokee’s who you have adopted into the tribe, the Raven you call him. He is Sam Houston
to the Texans. He is making promises to protect the Cherokee’s land if they do not support
Mexico. It is hard to know what to do.
Comanche
You are a Comanche warrior. To gain honor in your tribe, you are keen on winning battles and
stealing horses, especially from these settlers invading Indian lands. Now these fools are starting
to fight among themselves. You can spot a weakness and an opportunity when you see one. The
Mexican army and the colonists’militia will be easy targets for you and other warriors like you.
Pirate
You are a pirate! You and others like you have taken advantage of the weakness of the Spanish
and now Mexican government in securing the coast. You happily attack any ship that promises a
cargo worth stealing or is willing to pay you to leave them alone. War only makes it easier fro you
to go about your business because those at war have their attention focused elsewhere. Maybe
one side would like to “hire” some help!
Filibuster
You were a member of James Long’s filibuster group. For the past several years you have been
hanging out on the border in Louisiana looking for another opportunity to go to Texas, claim land
and get rich. If you enter Texas you are sure to get arrested y Mexican authorities because they
will remember you from Spanish days. There are quite a few stories coming from Texas that have
your ears perked up, stories about revolution and independence. You are getting your gear
together and looking for a good horse right now. There is no question where you are planning on
going and what you hope happens when you get there!
American in the United States
You have read stories in the newspaper with interest especially those coming out of Texas. You
never could understand how any American could walk out of the United States into Spanish
territory and leave their American ideals behind, especially the ideal of Manifest Destiny. This is
the chance to further that ideal and you along with other right minded Americans are getting
ready to support Texas in a revolution against Mexico. You are collecting money, supplies and
men and are ready to set out for Texas.
Mexican Commander
You are a Mexican Army Commander stationed in Texas. You often find yourself caught between
the orders of the Mexican government and the Texians in the new colonies. Keeping peace is a
real challenge. You wish the government understood conditions in Texas better but you also wish
these new colonists would understand that this is not the United States. Stephen F. Austin seems
to know this but every day more Americans arrive that do not think like him. You remember the
American filibusters from your early days in the Spanish army and these people remind you of
them. You try to keep a cool head and not cause an incident that will start a war.
Customs Official
You are an English army officer and came to Mexico after the Napoleonic Wars. You have hired
your services out to the Mexican government who in turn has sent you to collect customs duties
in the province of Texas. Here you find yourself trying to enforce Mexican law on the same
rebellious people your country fought ( and lost !) against in the American Revolution and the war
of 1812. Well, they will see who they are up against here in Mexican Texas. You will collect duties
and arrest troublemakers as you see fit. You don’t care how angry that makes these rebellious
Texans.