The Battle of San Jacinto

About

Dr. Andrew Torget shares facts and stories from a seminal event in Texas history - the Battle of San Jacinto.

This 14-minute video lesson, recorded on location at the San Jacinto Battleground, provides an engaging and detailed account of the Battle of San Jacinto, the decisive conflict that ended the Texas Revolution on April 21, 1836.

The video combines on-site narration, dynamic graphical representations of troop movements, historical maps, photographs, and aerial footage of both the battlefield and Monument to bring the story to life for students.

Key Learning Points

• The video outlines the events leading up to the battle, highlighting the strategic decisions made by Sam Houston and the mistakes by Santa Anna that led to the Texans’ victory.
• It explains the significance of the battle, including the capture of Santa Anna and the subsequent retreat of the Mexican army, which ensured Texas independence and set the stage for Texas joining the United States in 1845.
• Students will learn about the broader impact of the battle on North American history, including the eventual expansion of the United States to the Pacific Ocean.
• This video serves as both a visual and narrative resource for understanding a pivotal moment in Texas history, offering insights into military strategy, leadership, and the far-reaching consequences of the Battle of San Jacinto.

Map

The following map will help you get oriented to approximate places related to the battle. You can plot your own position with the crosshair icon (system permissions required, takes several seconds to start).

You can also place custom icons and draw shapes or calculate distances with lines

Additional Media

Letters & Documents in the Portal to Texas History

Historic Photographs

Maps

Artwork