how long did the battle of the alamo last how long did the battle of the alamo last

In the early morning hours of March 6, the Mexican Army advanced on the Alamo. [105] Few of the Mexican ladders reached the walls. By March 1, the number of Mexican casualties was nine dead and four wounded, while the Texian garrison had lost only one man. [85][Note 12], On March 4, the day after his reinforcements arrived, Santa Anna proposed an assault on the Alamo. and music from the buglers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. bowie knife. The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 - March 6, 1836) was a pivotal e. Tavis kept up a steady stream of defensive fire from inside the walls of the Alamo and was able to successfully block Santa Anna's first two charges at the fort. [100], At 5:30 a.m. troops silently advanced. For the next 10 days, the two armies engaged in several skirmishes with minimal casualties. Just six weeks after the fall of the Alamo, Santa Anna's army was attacked by Houston's men and defeated in 18 minutes at the battle of San Jacinto. That left the Alamo. The Alamo was captured by the Texan rebels in late 1835, and Mexican forces were pushed out of Texas, but in 1836 Santa Anna mobilized another Mexican force and moved his army into Texas with the intention of ending the rebellion. 3. from. The Alamo: Directed by John Lee Hancock. a dozen of them have come to light over the last 50 years, show that between a . The battle during the assault was over in approximately 90 minutes. Although seven defenders are thought to have survived the battle, they were afterwards executed by the Mexican forces, according to the TSHA. Corrections? [116] Many of the remaining occupiers were ensconced in the fortified barracks rooms. The Texian force grew slightly with the arrival of reinforcements led by eventual Alamo co-commanders James Bowie and William B. Travis. Singer-songwriter Phil Collins collected hundreds of items related to the battle, narrated a light and sound show about the Alamo, and has spoken at related events. Send them to us. (Todish, According to Edmondson, Wolf then ran into the room, grabbed his remaining son, and leaped with the child from the cannon ramp at the rear of the church; both were killed by musket shots before hitting the ground. When the cavalry charged, the Texians took cover and began firing from a ditch. [113], The last Texian group to remain in the open were Crockett and his men, defending the low wall in front of the church. Fragments of uniforms were found in the coffin and the Texian soldiers who fought at the Alamo were known not to wear uniforms. Dickinson's crew fired their cannon from the apse into the Mexican soldiers at the door. [124] Even with all of the Texians dead, Mexican soldiers continued to shoot, some killing each other in the confusion. Neill soon persuaded Bowie that the location held strategic importance. Before dawn on March 6, four columns of Mexican infantry attacked from different directions. and. A Mexican force of over several thousand men arrived at the Alamo on February 23 and a 13-day long siege ensued. [112] The Mexican army now controlled all of the outer walls and the interior of the Alamo compound except for the church and rooms along the east and west walls. [25], Mexican soldiers withdrew and regrouped, but their second attack was repulsed. Women . The last group of Mexican soldiers in the regioncommanded by Santa Anna's brother-in-law, General Martn Perfecto de Cossurrendered on December 9 following the siege of Bxar. Hypothermia, dysentery, and Comanche raiding parties took a heavy toll on the Mexican soldiers. Mexican perceptions of the battle often mirrored the prevailing viewpoint. When Texan defenders retreated to the adobe barracks buildings for cover, Mexican gunners rolled up cannon and blew down the heavy doors. The large Mexican force was led by Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna, according to the journal The Southwestern Historical Quarterly (opens in new tab). Although the Rio Grande now marks the border between Texas and Mexico, in this era the, The fiesta was in celebration of the birthday of, Although Santa Anna later reported that Texian cannon fire on February 23 killed two Mexican soldiers and wounded eight others, no other Mexican officer reported fatalities from that day. The Texas Revolution began in October 1835 with a string of Texan victories that drove the Mexican federal forces south of the Rio Grande by December. [Note 18][135] Shortly after the battle, Colonel Jos Juan Sanchez Navarro proposed that a monument should be erected to the fallen Mexican soldiers. The Battle of The Alamo took place in 1836 between February 23 and March 6 in present-day San Antonio, Texas.Part of the Texas Revolution of 1835-36, it takes its name from the Alamo Mission where it was fought. The siege of the Alamo lasted for 13 days, from Feb. 23 to March 6, 1836, when the Mexican army surrounded and attacked the Alamo. [30][Note 4] Bowie was unable to transport the artillery since the Alamo garrison lacked the necessary draft animals. The Mexican army was taken by surprise, and the Battle of San Jacinto was essentially over after 18 minutes. [10] The centralized government ended local federal exemptions to the ban on slavery, which had been negotiated by Stephen Austin and others. After a pre-dawn attack on March 6, 1836, the battle ended. The Mexican army celebrated loudly throughout the afternoon, both in honor of their reinforcements and at the news that troops under General Jos de Urrea had soundly defeated Texian Colonel Frank W. Johnson at the Battle of San Patricio on February 27. Houston knew this army did not stand a chance against the ~5,000-6,000 Mexican soldiers under Santa Anna that just wiped out the Alamo defenders. [25][105] During the third strike, Romero's column, aiming for the east wall, was exposed to cannon fire and shifted to the north, mingling with the second column. Was the author of the account in a position to observe the details recorded? Although the general showed himself, the violence continued and the buglers were finally ordered to sound a retreat. We want men and provisions. [19], When Mexican troops departed San Antonio de Bxar (now San Antonio, Texas, USA) Texian soldiers captured the Mexican garrison at the Alamo Mission, a former Spanish religious outpost which had been converted to a makeshift fort by the recently expelled Mexican Army. [122] Guerrero, who had deserted from the Mexican Army in December 1835, was spared after convincing the soldiers he was a Texian prisoner. VICTORY OR DEATH. [126] Another Texian, Brigido Guerrero, also sought refuge in the sacristy. Heres how it works. Interested in participating in the Publishing Partner Program? . Thus the army fled east along with a majority of Texas' citizens who sought refuge in the United States from the incoming Mexican army. The Texas Revolution began in October 1835 with a string of Texan . Fighting lasted roughly 90 minutes, and by daybreak all the Defenders had perished, including a former congressman from Tennessee, David Crockett. [57][70] Almonte and 800 dragoons were stationed along the road to Goliad. Raymond K. Bluhm Jr. is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and military historian, author, and former professor of American history. The Texian resistance led by William B. Travis put up a brave stand but was . This letter was not widely distributed, and it is unlikely that most of the United States recruits serving in the Texian Army were aware that there would be no prisoners of war. (Edmondson (2000), p. [108] Others climbed through gun ports in the west wall, which had few occupiers. They were intended to centralize and strengthen the national government. To be used as a fort. He also served in the army under future President Andrew Jackson during the Creek Indian War, and tales of his adventures during this time formed the basis of plays and novels. [153] The New York Post editorialized that "had [Santa Anna] treated the vanquished with moderation and generosity, it would have been difficult if not impossible to awaken that general sympathy for the people of Texas which now impels so many adventurous and ardent spirits to throng to the aid of their brethren". For several years, Texans fought the Mexican government for the right to rule itself. [57][61][62] Several Texians ventured out to burn the huts[62] while Texians within the Alamo provided cover fire. 4. Fighting lasted roughly 90 minutes, and by daybreak all the Defenders had perished, including a former congressman from Tennessee, David Crockett. Several months previously, Texians, who were primarily recent immigrants from the US, had killed or driven out all Mexican troops in Mexican Texas. For 15 minutes after that, soldiers continued to fire into dead bodies. During the fighting, many of the Texian soldiers repeatedly cried "Remember the Alamo!" After a volley of fire and a wave of Mexican bayonets, the few remaining Texians in this group fell back towards the church. [16], The Texians systematically defeated the Mexican troops already stationed in Texas. Jason Stanford. Warnell died several months later of wounds incurred either during the final battle or during his escape as a courier. The first consisted of four men who gained the fort one night, and the second was a party of twenty-five." At dawn on March 6, 1836, the 13th day of the siege, the Battle of the Alamo commenced. Bowie died there. I magine if the U.S. were to open interior Alaska for colonization and, for . [83], The arrival of the Mexican reinforcements prompted Travis to send three men, including Davy Crockett, to find Fannin's force, which he still believed to be en route. 1. As Mexican soldiers scaled the walls, most of the Texian fighters withdrew into interior buildings. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Santa Anna's life was spared, and he was forced to order his troops out of Texas, ending Mexican control of the province and bestowing some legitimacy on the new republic. The Texan families sheltered there were spared by the Mexicans, but any surviving fighters were executed. The siege of the Alamo lasted for 13 days, from Feb. 23 to March 6, 1836, when the Mexican army surrounded and attacked the Alamo. Key Players/Participants: Santa Anna (president of Mexico), William Travis, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie Event Date: March 6, 1836 And while the structure had undergone plenty of modifications by the time Texas and Mexico had their squabble, J.C. Edmondson's The Alamo Story describes how it was mostly a marketplace equipped . [2][3][4] This would represent about one quarter of the over 2,000 Mexican soldiers involved in the final assault, which Todish remarks is "a tremendous casualty rate by any standards". [134] Another officer then remarked that "with another such victory as this, we'll go to the devil". The small band of martyrs who dug in against the overwhelming force of the Mexican army at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836including widely hailed folk hero Davy Crockettare credited with galvanizing the Texan revolt and assisting a definitive victory over Mexico one month later, setting the stage for Texan independence and, eventually, entrance into the United States. Great call - no matter how different Dune, Last Night in Soho, and The French Dispatch may be, the crossover of movie lovers wanting to see all three films is substantial and would've assuredly hurt all three film's box office numbers. The Mexican army eventually overwhelmed the defenders and captured the Alamo, but the Texan rebels' stand against the larger force became a symbolic moment and a rallying cry for the revolutionary movement, according to the Texas State Historical Association (opens in new tab) (TSHA). [2], During the siege, newly elected delegates from across Texas met at the Convention of 1836. One interpretation is that Bowie's orders were to destroy only the barricades that the Mexican Army had erected around San Antonio de Bxar, and that he should then wait in the Alamo until Governor Henry Smith decided whether the mission should be demolished and the artillery removed. As the defenders began to realize they were losing the fort, some tried to flee over the east wall but were met by Mexican troops who were stationed to target escapees. That other answer is from Tucker's new book, 'Exodus from the Alamo,' from some Mexicans' point of view, which shortens it to 40 minutes. Among these were Almaron Dickinson, who brought his wife Susanna and their infant daughter Angelina; Bowie, who was accompanied by his deceased wife's cousins, Gertrudis Navarro and Juana Navarro Alsbury, and Alsbury's young son;[48] and Gregorio Esparza, whose family climbed through the window of the Alamo chapel after the Mexican army arrived. [28] Neill requested additional troops and supplies, stressing that the garrison was likely to be unable to withstand a siege lasting longer than four days. [147], Within hours of Houston's arrival on March 11, Andres Barcenas and Anselmo Bergaras arrived with news that the Alamo had fallen and all Texians were slain. He supposedly drew a line in the ground and asked those willing to die for the Texian cause to cross and stand alongside him; only one man (Moses Rose) was said to have declined. Theodore Gentilz's 1844 painting, "The Fall of the Alamo". [88] According to many historians, this visit probably increased Santa Anna's impatience; as historian Timothy Todish noted, "there would have been little glory in a bloodless victory". 372. response of Jos Bartres to Texian requests for an honorable surrender, as quoted in the journal of Juan Almonte[51], By late afternoon Bxar was occupied by about 1,500 Mexican soldiers. To mitigate the resulting ill feelings, Bowie agreed to share command with Travis. His brother Francisco, an officer in Santa Anna's army, received permission to give Gregorio a proper burial. After four failed attacks, some of the Mexican troops climbed over the north wall and opened a door for the rest of the soldiers. Short Description: The Alamo was the site of a battle that took place during Texas's bid for independence from Mexico: All defenders were killed, but within six weeks the opposition leader, Santa Anna, was captured. There are many people who were at the Alamo prior to that day who are not part of the Defenders list, including couriers sent out during the siege to inform the rest of Texas and the world of what was happening at the Alamo. [109], As previously planned, most of the Texians fell back to the barracks and the chapel. Susannah Dickinson recalled Travis announcing that any men who wished to escape should let it be known and step out of ranks. [6] Formalized under President Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna on 15 December 1835, they were enacted in 1836. Although these articles may currently differ in style from others on the site, they allow us to provide wider coverage of topics sought by our readers, through a diverse range of trusted voices. James was born in Logan County, Kentucky, on April 10, 1796, to Rezin Bowie, Sr., and Elve Catesby Jones Bowie. Unable to reload, they used their rifles as clubs and fought with knives. [95] Clouds concealed the moon and thus the movements of the soldiers. [60] Late that afternoon, two Mexican scouts became the first fatalities of the siege. If they spare you, save my child, Last words of Texian defender Almaron Dickinson to his wife Susanna as he prepared to defend the chapel. [58][59] On February 26 Travis ordered the artillery to conserve powder and shot. [57][64] Six Mexican soldiers were killed and four others were wounded. In all, the three-part assault on the fort took five hours, but the deadly action within the walls is said to have been crammed into thirty minutes. He showed some decent consistency in the second half of 2022, finishing 11th or better in nine of the last 10 races. [122] Had he succeeded, the blast would have destroyed the church and killed the women and children hiding in the sacristy. Another notable figure to fight and die at the Alamo was David Crockett, a famous American frontiersman and politician. When the Texans refused to surrender to the thousands besieging them, the attackers raised a red flag, meaning "no quarter," according to Smithsonian Magazine (opens in new tab). [54][Note 9], The first night of the siege was relatively quiet. [148] Hoping to halt a panic, Houston arrested the men as enemy spies. [144] Segun later claimed that he had placed the coffin in front of the altar at the San Fernando Cathedral. During the Battle of the Alamo, thousands of Mexican soldiers besieged a small force of around 180 Texan rebels, who held out in the fort for two weeks. [123], As soldiers approached the sacristy, one of the young sons of occupier Anthony Wolf stood to pull a blanket over his shoulders. Defenders of the Alamo are defined as those who fought and died during the final battle on March 6, 1836. [109][111][113] As the Mexican cavalry advanced on the group, Almaron Dickinson and his artillery crew turned a cannon around and fired into the cavalry, probably inflicting casualties. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Updates? In 1836, a small band of soldiers sacrifice their lives in hopeless combat against a massive army in order to prevent a tyrant from smashing the new Republic of Texas. Cold winter weather made life difficult for both sides. Santa Anna posted one company east of the Alamo, on the road to Gonzales. According to historian Mary Deborah Petite, the letter is "considered by many as one of the masterpieces of American patriotism. Summit at Salado Creek is located just 14 miles from the city center near Silver Horn Golf Club, 5 miles from San Antonio International Airport, and 10 miles from . The new policies, the bans of slavery[7] and immigration chief among them, and the increased enforcement of laws and import tariffs, incited many immigrants to revolt. "Remember the Alamo" redirects here. At dawn on March 6, 1836, the 13th day of the siege, the Battle of the Alamo commenced. How long did the Battle of the Alamo last? [58] On the evening of February 26 Colonel Juan Bringas engaged several Texians who were burning more huts. [2] Most eyewitnesses counted between 182 and 257 Texians killed. Battle of the Alamo Facts and Timeline for kids. Houston replied, "You should have remembered that at the Alamo". Impatient with the delay, on February 27 Travis ordered Samuel G. Bastian to go to Gonzales "to hurry up reinforcements". C. 13. What was the original purpose of the Alamo? How many days did the Battle at the Alamo last? [101], The three Texian sentinels stationed outside the walls were killed in their sleep,[102][103] allowing Mexican soldiers to approach undetected within musket range of the walls. . The following year, Santa Anna made his way to Goliad. https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-the-Alamo-San-Antonio-Texas-United-States-1836, Texas State Historical Association - Battle of the Alamo. At dawn on March 6, 1836, the 13th day of the siege, the Battle of the Alamo commenced. as they slaughtered fleeing Mexican troops. One of the historical battles was fought on March 6, 1836, at the Alamo, a crumbling fort defended by 154 men. "[33] Bowie also wrote to the provisional government, asking for "men, money, rifles, and cannon powder". [58] Neither army was prepared for the cold temperatures. Find your new one, two, or three-bedroom apartment home in North Central San Antonio. There were no survivors. open. [25] Cos' column, under fire from Texians on the west wall, also veered north. Deconstruct the myth shrouding the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution. [117], Too sick to participate in the battle, Bowie likely died in bed. On March 3 the last element of Santa Annas army arrived, and he prepared his attack. The fort was retaken by Mexican soldiers and virtually all of . Some witnesses maintained that they saw several Mexican soldiers enter Bowie's room, bayonet him, and carry him alive from the room. 3. Four Mexicans were killed before the flag of Mexico was raised in that location. 4 in 1955. Articles such as this one were acquired and published with the primary aim of expanding the information on Britannica.com with greater speed and efficiency than has traditionally been possible. This battle gained fame because of arguments over the reasons for Custer to get . Several hours later, Texian scouts reported seeing Mexican troops 1.5 miles (2.4km) outside the town. [56] A third battery was positioned southeast of the fort. They were released hours later when Susannah Dickinson and Joe reached Gonzales and confirmed the report. [5] Within several years, John Wayne directed and starred in one of the best-known, but questionably accurate, film versions, 1960's The Alamo. [100] By this time Romero's men had taken the east wall of the compound and were pouring in through the cattle pen. At first, the Texians matched Mexican artillery fire, often reusing the Mexican cannonballs. B. Chapter 2 / Lesson 6. As a result, the battle which took place here was aptly named "The Battle of the Alamo." The Battle of Alamo site is now the number one tourist site in Texas. Painful 'cross-shaped incision' in medieval woman's skull didn't kill her, but second surgery did, Human brain looks years 'older' after just one night without sleep, small study shows. This event is so significant in my mind that I always try to devote a column that honors the heroism of these men on or around the anniversary of the occasion. [44][45] Unaware of the Mexican Army's proximity, the majority of the Alamo garrison joined Bxar residents at a fiesta. Already suspicious after previous United States attempts to purchase Mexican Texas,[11] Mexican authorities blamed much of the Texian unrest on United States immigrants, most of whom had entered illegally and made little effort to adapt to the Mexican culture and who continued to hold people in slavery when slavery had been abolished in Mexico. The Alamo became a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and is The Texas Legislature purchased the land and buildings in the early part of the 20th century and designated the Alamo chapel as an official Texas State Shrine. Bowie celebrated by getting very intoxicated and creating havoc in Bxar. [6] This famous quote conveys the notion that none survived the Battle of the Alamo. 13 days. Cos and his men approached the northwest corner of the Alamo,[98] while Duque led his men from the northwest towards a repaired breach in the Alamo's north wall. The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 - March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event and military engagement in the Texas Revolution. CNN described it as possibly "the most character-driven of all the movies made on the subject". How long did the Alamo fight last? On the thirteenth day of the siege, Santa Anna's artillery bombards the Alamo, and the entire Mexican army sweeps forward, attacking on all sides. [150] This sparked a mass exodus, known as the Runaway Scrape, and most Texians, including members of the new government, fled east. Battle of the Alamo, battle during the Texas Revolution that occurred from February 23 to March 6, 1836, in San Antonio, Texas. As of 2023, the Alamo Trust (which operates the site) seeks to expand the property to build an Alamo museum. For 175 years, the Battle of the Alamo has been one of America's most cherished historical events. In 19th-century Texas, the Alamo complex gradually became known as a battle site rather than a former mission. The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event and military engagement in the Texas Revolution. Eyewitnesses to the battle gave conflicting accounts of his death. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, [9] These people were accustomed to a federalist government which made special exemptions from Mexican law just for them, and to extensive individual rights including the right to own slaves, and they were quite vocal in their displeasure at Mexico's law enforcement and shift towards centralism. C. To be used for a hospital . It was fought between Mexican and Texan forces at a fort called the Alamo in San Antonio. He only worked at the School Book Depository for 2 weeks before he supposedly killed Kennedy? 1.9K. [85] Lindley's research indicates that up to 50 of these men had come from Goliad after Fannin's aborted rescue mission. Sam Houston's army defeated Santa Anna's forces guaranteeing the victory for Texas independence. Texas A&M is trying to get back to bowl eligibility after a disastrous season last fall under Jimbo Fisher. [Note 16][133], Santa Anna reportedly told Captain Fernando Urizza that the battle "was but a small affair". The soldiers were soon reduced to partial rations. Many years later, the Texas government restored the Alamo. E. 7. Congressman David Crockett of Tennessee. For the Alamo's defenders, the only two options were victory or death. Why did Oswald go to Russia and live there for a year and then move to Mexico just before he came to Dallas. I reply to you, according to the order of His Excellency, that the Mexican army cannot come to terms under any conditions with rebellious foreigners to whom there is no recourse left, if they wish to save their lives, than to place themselves immediately at the disposal of the Supreme Government from whom alone they may expect clemency after some considerations. According to the San Jacinto Museum of History, in 1835 Cos agreed to retire to the interior of the Mexican republic under parole of honor, and never again to invade Texas with arms. Despite this, he joined Santa Annas army and led soldiers during the battle in 1836. [119] According to historian Wallace Chariton, the "most popular, and probably the most accurate"[120] version is that Bowie died on his cot, "back braced against the wall, and using his pistols and his famous knife. On March 6, Santa Anna ordered an advance on the Alamo; all but a few of the occupants were killed. [13] By this point, the Texian Army was dominated by very recent arrivals to the region, primarily illegal immigrants from the United States. Volunteers in the Texian Army asserted the right to choose their own leaders, and most of them were unwilling to serve under officers of the regular army. The Texas forces had a small number of . Wounded, he crawled towards the powder magazine but was killed by a musket ball with his torch only inches from the powder. This Monday, March 6, marks the anniversary of the fall of the Alamo outside of San Antonio, Texas, back in 1836. [164][165] The first full-length, non-fiction book covering the battle, John Myers Myers' The Alamo, was published in 1948. Smith has a couple of Truck seasons behind him, with five wins to show for it . [93], At 10 p.m. on March 5, the Mexican artillery ceased their bombardment. Then he set an example by slaughtering all 342 of them on March 27, 1836. The news sparked both a strong rush to join the Texian army and a panic, known as "The Runaway Scrape", in which the Texian army, most settlers, and the government of the new, self-proclaimed but officially unrecognized Republic of Texas fled eastward toward the U.S. ahead of the advancing Mexican Army. "[102] and, as he passed a group of Tejanos, "No rendirse, muchachos!" Potter based his work on interviews with many of the Mexican survivors of the battle. -Through a blending of text, 3D visualization, and . [23] A wooden palisade stretched between these two buildings. the largest cannon at the alamo holds cannonballs weighing. [22] An interior plaza was bordered on the east by the chapel and to the south by a one-story building known as the Low Barracks. Of the official list of 189 Texan defenders, all were killed. [55] Over the next few days, Mexican soldiers established artillery batteries, initially about 1,000 feet (300m) from the south and east walls of the Alamo. At dawn on March 6, 1836, the 13th day of the siege, the Battle of the Alamo commenced. [107] Duque fell from his horse after sustaining a wound in his thigh and was almost trampled by his own men. Small garrisons were left at several towns, including San Antonio de Bxar (San Antonio), where the Texans occupied a former Spanish mission called the Alamo. How long did Battle of Alamo last? They hoped to rendezvous with Colonel James Fannin, who was expected to arrive from Goliad with his garrison. For 13 days, 189 brave and determined . [180] To do so, it would have to utilize eminent domain to seize a property containing an Alamo-themed bar called Moses Rose's Hideout (named after an Alamo deserter) that has operated for 12 years (circ. There were not enough mules to transport all of the supplies, and many of the teamsters, all civilians, quit when their pay was delayed. For the song, see, "Alamo" and "The Alamo" redirect here. Santa Anna's cruelty during the Battle of the Alamo inspired many to join the Texas Army. As news of the siege spread throughout Texas, potential reinforcements gathered in Gonzales. [40], Progress was slow. Others were ordered to retreat to the fort's church for a last stand, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Many points of this story hold true. And yet it still surprises me that slavery went unexamined for so long." In their new book, Forget the Alamo, . Textbooks of the time also neglected to mention that many Alamo heroes, foremost among them Travis and Bowie, had been slaveholders, even slave traders, or that one account of the 12-day Alamo . Las Siete Leyes (Spanish:[las sjete lees]), or Seven Laws, were a series of constitutional changes that fundamentally altered the organizational structure of Mexico, ending the first federal period and creating a unitary republic, officially the Mexican Republic (Spanish: Repblica Mexicana).