By: Siddarth Kunisetty (Manifest Destiny: Project 6)
The Revolution
Texas was a Spanish territory for decades, but in 1821, when Napoleon took control of Spain, Mexico revolted and gained independence, which meant that Mexican Texas also became independent. However, Texans were dissatisfied with Mexican rule, as the ruler of Mexico, Santa Anna proclaimed himself a dictator. They wanted independence from Mexico as well.
The Battle of the Alamo
The Alamo was a fort near present-day San Antonio and was occupied by Spanish forces in the beginning, then by Mexicans, and during the Texas Revolution, the Texans. However, on February 23rd, 1836, General Santa Anna of the Mexican side began a siege on the fort. While outnumbered by the Mexicans, the residents of the Alamo refused to surrender or run away and defended it for 13 days before the fort was breached. While it was a huge loss for the Texans, it remained to motivate them. According to Lieutenant Colonel William Travis, "I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans, under Santa Ana. I have sustained a continual bombardment and cannonade, for twenty-four hours, and have not lost one man. The enemy have demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison is to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender nor retreat: then I call on you, in the name of liberty, of patriotism, and of every thing dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all possible despatch." The nationalism expressed by these soldiers motivated many in future battles, making sure they never gave up.
The Battle of San Jacinto
This was the last battle of the Texas Revolution, as the Texans finally captured Santa Anna. On April 21st, 1836, the Texans surprise attacked the Mexican forces at San Jacinto and took Santa Anna as a prisoner. Santa Anna, for his own freedom, signed a treaty that acknowledged Texan independence. While the Texans already signed their Declaration of Independence on March 2nd, their official independence came on April 21st, after the Battle of San Jacinto.
Stephen Austin
Stephen Austin was a lawyer in Texas and helped many settlers get their land claims acknowledged by the Mexican government. In 1833, when Austin went to the Mexican government asking for Texas to be a separate state, he was put in jail for one year. After this, he became the commander and leader of the Texas Revolution. During the Convention of 1835, Austin became an envoy to the United States, while Sam Houston became commander of the Texan Army. Austin was one of the most influential figures of the Texan revolution.
Sam Houston
Sam Houston was also very important throughout the Texas Revolution. He served during the American War of 1812 and was considered President Andrew Jackson's protege. In 1832, Houston went to Texas and quickly became involved in the protests of Mexican rule. In 1835, he replaced Stephen Austin as commander of the Texas army. He was the one to finally capture Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, and achieved independence
