US ResearchConflictsEarly Republic and War of 1812Goliad Massacre (March 1836)
Early Republic and War of 1812

Goliad Massacre (March 1836)

1836
Texas
Era
Early Republic and War of 1812
Year
1836
Location
Texas
Status
Verified engagement
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
surrendered Texian force under Col. Fannin
VS
Victor
Mexico
Forces
Mexican Army under Gen. Urrea
Outcome
failed 1836 Mexican offensive
The Battle

History & Significance

The Goliad Campaign was the failed 1836 Mexican offensive to retake the Texas Gulf Coast during the Texas Revolution. Mexican troops under the command of General José de Urrea ambushed Groups of Texians in the Mexican province of Texas, known as Mexican Texas, in a series of clashes in February and March.

Duration
39 days (February 18, 1836 – March 27, 1836)
Historical context

The early republic period saw the United States move from the weak Articles of Confederation to the federal Constitution ratified in 1788, with the Bill of Rights added in 1791. George Washington served two terms as president (1789–1797), establishing precedents for executive authority, and the federal capital moved permanently to Washington D.C. in 1800. The Louisiana Purchase (1803) doubled the nation's territory for roughly $15 million, opening vast trans-Mississippi lands to American expansion. The War of 1812 against Britain ended inconclusively but produced a surge of American national identity and eliminated most British support for Indigenous resistance east of the Mississippi. The Northwest Indian Wars (1785–1795) and the Creek War (1813–1814) broke Indigenous confederacies that had resisted US expansion. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 temporarily balanced slave and free states as the nation expanded westward, but embedded the contradiction of slavery in every subsequent territorial debate.

Casualties & Losses

425–445 Texian prisoners of war executed; 28 survivors who feigned death and escaped; 20 additional survivors spared through intervention; 75 soldiers of Miller and Nashville Battalion spared

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Goliad Massacre (March 1836) take place?
Goliad Massacre (March 1836) took place in 1836. 39 days (February 18, 1836 – March 27, 1836).
Where was Goliad Massacre (March 1836) fought?
Goliad Massacre (March 1836) was fought in Texas, United States.
What was the outcome of Goliad Massacre (March 1836)?
failed 1836 Mexican offensive
What was the significance of Goliad Massacre (March 1836)?
The Goliad Campaign was the failed 1836 Mexican offensive to retake the Texas Gulf Coast during the Texas Revolution. Mexican troops under the command of General José de Urrea ambushed Groups of Texians in the Mexican province of Texas, known as Mexican Texas, in a series of clashes in February and
Protected heritage nearby

Historic Sites near Goliad Massacre (March 1836)

Goliad State Park Historic District
Modern · 0.4 mi
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All battles in Texas
Source

Content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Wikipedia source.

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