el to the capital and ask Santa Anna if Texas would be allowed to become a separate state in Mexico. Santa Anna refused to allow that, even after being reminded of the fact that Santa Anna and his leaders promised to let the people of Texas set up their own government. That made Stephen Austin enraged. At once he wrote a letter asking the people of Texas to help him set up their own government. When Santa Anna found out about this, he put Austin in jail. Austin stayed in jail for nearly two years before he was allowed to return to his home in Texas. Austin no longer supported the Mexican government because Santa Anna would not allow the Texans to have a democratic government. Austin said to Santa Anna, "Our only choice is war." " The Texans still believe in being part of a democratic Mexico, but they did not want to live under Santa Anna's rule. If he sent any more soldiers to make them obey him, they would fight them." Austin had three powerful men to help the Texans: Sam Houston, Jim Bowie and William Travis. All three were very strong and well educated men. Travis and Austin drove the Mexicans out of many towns and captured several forts. They announced that they would fight until Santa Anna would restore the constitution of 1824 and make Mexico a democracy again. Santa Anna commanded an army himself. Santa Anna was positive that he and his army could kill all the Texans or make them surrender. While Santa Anna's troops were marching towards Texas, a band of 300 volunteers attacked the Mexican soldiers who were using the abandoned Alamo mission as a fort. The Mexicans felt very secure in the mission because bullets could not penetrate through the immensely thick walls. The Texan volunteers fought so hard that they forced the Mexicans to retreat and surrender. The Mexicans left the Alamo and the whole town of San Antonio to the Texans.Davy Crockett joined the group of volunteers. Now there were almost two hundred me...
