Goliad Massacre

United States history [1836]

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July 21, 2026

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The Goliad Massacre was a pivotal event during the Texas Revolution in 1836. After surrendering to Mexican forces under General José Urrea, Colonel James Fannin and approximately 400 of his men were executed on March 27, 1836. This event, despite being less famous than the Battle of the Alamo, significantly influenced public opinion in the United States, fueling anti-Mexican sentiment and contributing to a war frenzy. The massacre occurred at Presidio La Bahía, near the historic city of Goliad, Texas. The execution of Fannin's troops, ordered by Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna, became a rallying cry for Texan independence, alongside the cry of "Remember the Alamo!".12

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Texas Revolution
Santa Anna responds: the Alamo and the Goliad Massacre
Determined to punish the rebellious Texans, whom he viewed as pirates who deserved to be executed, Santa Anna mounted a campaign to demonstrate his power by exacting the same kind of retribution upon them that he had visited upon Zacatecas. In command of…
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Determined to punish the rebellious Texans, whom he viewed as pirates who deserved to be executed, Santa Anna mounted a campaign to demonstrate his power by exacting the same kind of retribution upon them that he had visited upon Zacatecas. In command of…
Read More

Goliad
…troops at Goliad—known as the Goliad Massacre—crystallized public opinion in the United States and contributed to a war frenzy against Mexico. A monument marks the burial site outside the walls of the well-preserved presidio, the officers quarters of which now serve as a museum. The nearby Mission Espíritu Santo has…
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…troops at Goliad—known as the Goliad Massacre—crystallized public opinion in the United States and contributed to a war frenzy against Mexico. A monument marks the burial site outside the walls of the well-preserved presidio, the officers quarters of which now serve as a museum. The nearby Mission Espíritu Santo has…
Read More