We began with our normal routine. The boys played, they worked out, we recited the Pledge of Allegiance and we went over the class rules and affirmations.
Then we reviewed our Powerpoint about Davy Crockett, the War of 1812 and the Indian Removal Act (and Corckett's heroic fight against the bill.) We then moved on to Crockett's heroic, last stand at the Alamo.
We explained why Americans had moved to Texas, how the government changed radically when Santa Anna was elected. When the Texans resisted cruel and unjust laws, fighting broke out. 200 Texans were eventually surrounded by thousands of Mexican troops (they may have been outnumbered by 20 to one or more!)
Even so, they refused to surrender. They held the Mexican troops off for 12 days but on the 13th day they were attacked from all directions and eventually every soldier died. Their lives may have been lost but it was not in vain. "Remember the Alamo!" became a battle cry and led Sam Houston's troops to victory at the critical Battle of San Jacinto, after which Texans won their independence from Mexico.
Afterward, we had the boys build a replica of the Alamo with blocks and we tried to show them the ratio of troops for each side with GI Joes. Then we got to destroy our creation, which is often the best part.
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