Sam Houston was a famous Texas hero born in 1793 in Virginia. He lived with the Cherokee Indians for three years and later fought in the War of 1812. In 1836, Houston led Texas forces to victory over Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto, securing Texas' independence. He later served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas. Houston played a pivotal role in the history of Texas and its independence from Mexico.
2. Childhood
I was born on March 2, 1793 in Virginia.
My dad, Major Samuel Houston, died in 1807.
Shortly after, my mom moves everybody to
Maryville, Tennessee.
When I was 16 I moved to live with the
Cherokee Indians. I lived with them three
years.
3. My Young Adult Years
I became a teacher after living with the
Cherokee Indians, and I wore colorful Indian
clothes to teach.
In 1812 I joined the army. During the Battle of
Horseshoe Bend, I was shot in the leg with an
arrow. After a fellow soldier pulled it out, I kept
on fighting.
In 1818 I began studying law, and I became a
lawyer in Tennessee.
In 1827, at age 34, I became the Governor of
Tennessee.
4. My Accomplishments
On March 1,1836 I went to the Texas
Constitutional Convention. Mexico owned
Texas during this time, and many Texians
hoped that Texas could be an Independent
country. I worked with other leaders to write
the Constitution for Texas.
Picture retrieved from www.pbs.org.
5. My Accomplishments
While I was writing the Constitution, the
Mexican soldiers attacked the Alamo on March
6, 1836. Unfortunately, all Texians inside the
Alamo were killed.
I led 743 men to Santa Anna’s camp while
asleep to the San Jacinto River on April 21,
1836. As we were attacking the Mexican army
we screamed “Remember the Alamo!” We
injured, captured, or killed 1,500 Mexicans.
Picture retrieved from wildnatureimages.com
6. My Accomplishments
Santa Anna gave Texas to me and the Texians
after the Battle of San Jacinto.
I became the Governor of Texas in December of
1859.
Picture retrieved from www.tsl.texas.gov.
7. Amazing Facts
Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas is
named after me.
The world’s largest statue of a U.S. Hero is made of
me.
Texas Independence day is celebrated on March 2
which is on my birthday.
I died from pneumonia and I’m buried in Huntsville,
Texas.
My Summer home in Chambers County Texas is a
County Historical Marker that people still visit.
Picture retrieved from www.shsu.edu
8. Sources
http://chamberscountyhistory.blogspot.com/2006/08/sam
-houston-and-cedar-point.html
Sam Houston: Hero of Texas by N . Madrid, Weigl
Publishers Inc., New York, NY. Copyright: 2011.
Sam Houston by Jan Gleiter and Kathleen Thompson,
Raintree Publishers Inc., Austin, TX. Copyright: 1988,
1991.
What’s So Great About …? Sam Houston by Susan
Sales Harkins and William H. Harkins, Mitchell Lane
Publishers, Hockessin, Delaware. Copyright: 2007.
