Name ____________________________
Witherspoon
Texas History
1
Video Viewing Guide Review, The Alamo
This viewing guide is set up to help you review for the chapter 11
test. Each section of questions is divided subtitles. Some of the
subtitles appear in the movie, some are guidelines to help you follow the
questions as they appear in the film. These questions are designed to
help you think deeper, evaluate historical information, and access the
prior knowledge you have gained as we continue to explore the Texas
Revolution.
THE BEGINNING:
The beginning of the film takes you to the Alamo after the battle
has occurred.
1.
What was the Alamo originally established as?
2.
Why was the Alamo considered a crossroads for siege?
3.
What do the marks on the rocks represent?
ONE YEAR EARLIER:
Takes you to a scene with people entering into a building. They are
attending a play; a man stands outside mumbling.
4.
The man is mumbling, “640 of your choosing”. To what do you
think he is referring?
Name ____________________________
Witherspoon
Texas History
SAN FELIPE:
This is the town of San Felipe and there are men attending a
meeting. This is after the Battle of San Antonio.
5.
What is the name of this meeting?
6.
About what are the men at this meeting arguing?
7.
What is Travis signing in the office with his wife?
8.
Where will his son, Charlie, stay while he is away?
HOUSTON AND BOWIE ON THE PORCH:
Houston and Bowie are seated on an outside porch at night
discussing what Texas should do next.
9.
What does Houston mean by, “Texas is being wasted on the
Texians”?
10. What does Houston want from Bowie?
TRAVIS SAYS GOOD BYE TO HIS SON:
Travis is saying goodbye to his young son, Charlie, leaving him
with a family to care for him.
11. Travis says to his son, “One crowded hour of glorious life is worth
more than an age without a name.” What do you think this
statement means?
2
Name ____________________________
Witherspoon
Texas History
3
SAN ANTONIO:
Bowie passes through the town of San Antonio with his men.
12. Why does the town of San Antonio look worn down and damaged?
THE ALAMO:
Travis is marching into the Alamo with his men on horseback.
13. How did the Alamo get its name?
14. Did we think that Santa Anna would march all through winter, some
300 miles from Mexico back to Texas?
15. Travis confronts Bowie over his plan to do what?
16. What is Travis asking for in the letter he wrote while under siege at
the Alamo?
17. What does Santa Annas red flag raised at the Alamo mean?
18. Why is Bowie ill?
19. What is the name of the song Santa Anna had played every
morning at the Alamo?
Name ____________________________
Witherspoon
Texas History
BRAZOS RIVER AREA:
A meeting is being held amongst the Texans around the Brazos
river area where a letter is received from William B Travis.
20. What is the name of the meeting being held at the cabin on the
Brazos River?
21. What is Houstons response to Travis letter?
GONZALES, TX:
Sam Houston has now left Washington-on-the-Brazos and is
waiting in Gonzales with about 124 men.
22. Sam Houston again receives word that Travis needs men to come
to the Alamo. Why does he still refuse to send help?
BACK TO THE ALAMO:
We return to the battle of the Alamo
23. Travis gives a speech to the people defending the Alamo. What
does Texas mean to Travis?
24. Why do you think Crocket plays his fiddle back tin response to
Santa Anna?
4
Name ____________________________
Witherspoon
Texas History
5
SANTA ANNA HOLDS A MEETING:
Santa Anna holds a meeting with his generals and they analyze the
battle.
25. How does Santa Anna view his own soldiers?
26. How does Santa Anna view the Alamo defenders?
27. When do Santa Annas forces finally attack the Alamo?
(Clue remember question # 3)
EVACUATION to FINAL BATTLE:
Sam Houston has ordered an evacuation of many of the southern
Texas settlements. Sam Houston is criticized for running away
from the enemy.
28. What is the name of this evacuation called?
29. Why does Houston choose to evacuate or “run” from Santa Anna
and his army?
30. What does Juan Seguin order his men to do so as not to be
mistaken for Mexican soldiers during the final battle?
31. At what time of day do is the attack planned for the final battle?
32. How long did the battle take?
33. The day after the battle, Santa Anna was captured. What was
Name ____________________________
Witherspoon
Texas History
he wearing?
34. Sam Houston tells his men, “You will settle for blood, I want
Texas.” What does he mean by this statement?
35. What documents does Santa Anna sign?
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