Many famous paintings depict the surrender of Santa Anna. Students will compare the version of the painting in their textbooks to the one found on the TIDES site and discuss possible reasons for the differences, including political and artistic. By examining these works of art, students will gain a greater understanding of Santa Anna’s role in history and the various lenses through which history may be viewed.
Created by Rhonda Williams, 2004
The student will apply absolute and relative chronology through the sequencing of significant individuals, events, and time periods related to the relationship between Santa Anna and Texas, including the relevance of the years 1836 and 1845. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(1)(B,C)
The student will explain the roles played by significant individuals during the Texas Revolution, including Sam Houston and Antonio López de Santa Anna, as well as the issues surrounding the Battle of San Jacinto and the surrender of Santa Anna. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(3)(A,B)
The student will examine the role played by Santa Anna in the Mexican War. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(4)(A)
The student will differentiate between, locate, and use primary and secondary sources such as biographies from the Handbook of Texas, the textbook, and artifacts to acquire information about the Santa Anna and his role in Texas History. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(21)(A)
The student will analyze information from these sources by sequencing, identifying cause-and-effect relationships, comparing, contrasting, finding the main idea, making generalizations, and drawing inferences and conclusions. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(21)(B)
The student will identify points of view from the historical context surrounding the surrender of Santa Anna at the battle of San Jacinto, as well as in the Mexican War, and the frame of reference that influenced the participants using biographies, textbook information, and artifacts. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(21)(D)
The student will search for bias in visual material and examine the validity of the source based on language, corroboration with other sources, and information about the authors and subjects. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(21)(F,G)
The student will create a chart which compares the similarities and differences between different paintings on the topic of the surrender of Santa Anna, as well as written sources on this topic, based on research and experiences incorporating main and supporting ideas, using social studies terminology correctly, and using standard grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation. TEKS §113.23. Social Studies, Grade 7. (b)(21)(C) & (22)(A,D)
This lesson is to be used after the main units on the Texas Revolution, the Republic, and annexation have been completed.
Ask students to identify Santa Anna and write a 1-paragraph description of Santa Anna's role in Texas History in their journal.
Students will need a timeline that shows the major events of Santa Anna's life. If they have not already developed one, create one as a classroom discussion activity and have students record it in their journals.
Pull up the painting of The Surrender of Santa Anna on the computer projector or transparency overhead projector.
Pass out the Painting Analysis Sheet. Ask students to complete the questions. Check and discuss answers.
Many paintings have been done of the incident shown in this painting, and all present the material in a slightly different way. In fact, most textbooks contain at least one version. Ask students to open their textbook to its version, and then create a chart which shows similarities and differences between the two paintings. Discuss with students the possible reasons for the differences, including politics or artistic decision. If another version is not available, ask students to compare the details of the incident as described in the textbook with the painting, using the same chart.
Ask students: If Sam Houston and the other Texans at the Battle of San Jacinto could have seen ahead to the Mexican War and the role that would be played by Santa Anna, do you think that they would have allowed him his freedom?
