The Texas Revolution

Superior Essays
The Texas Revolution seems like an almost forgotten conflict in the United States. Although it may not be very relevant today, it played a crucial part in the history of the United States. Without the Texas Revolution, America would be a very different place today. Texas was essential to helping the United States become the superpower it is today, and if Texas were to not be recognized as a state, the United States would have been at a disadvantage. There were many driving factors as to why Teas wanted to be independent, and many reasons why Mexico wanted to control the land. With tensions rising between both countries for decades, a conflict was inevitable. The Texas Revolution and colonization of Texas is important to the United States due …show more content…
Mexico and the United States each had their eye on Texas, and was waiting on the right time to strike. Texas was rich in resources such as lead, and one man named Moses Austin took full advantage of this opportunity. Moses Austin was originally from Connecticut, but moved wherever he could make money. Moses left for Texas, to start a lead mining business, which eventually made him a fortune. Moses settled in what is now Austin, and led his life as a successful businessman. On his deathbed, Moses asked his son Stephen to colonize Texas, and make it a part of the United States. Stephen fulfilled his dad's wish, and in 1825, he brought in over three hundred families from the United States to join him. Because of his early efforts, he is became known as the “Father of Texas”. Stephen’s influence is still present today, with the modern capital of Texas, Austin, being named after him. Stephen is the largest reason as to why Texas was able to become such an important colony. Although Austin may have been the most prominent settler in Texas, many others that came to Texas did not reach such fame. Settlers were not only attracted by the wealth, but by the idea of Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was a belief held by Christian Americans that moving west and settling the new land was part of their destiny, and was inevitable. Texas was full of people following this attitude, Thus leading to the …show more content…
The main document behind this occupation was created by Mexican President Anastasio Bustamante. Bustamente created the laws of April 6, 1830. These laws ended immigration to Texas from American settlers, and increased taxes for settlers already residing there. Bustamente also marched troops into Texas, and imposed martial law. After the Mexican military stormed into Texas, a skirmish occurred at the city of Gonzales. This battle occurred on October 2, 1835, and was the first real example of fighting to take place between Mexico and the Texas militia. Both sides suffered minimal casualties, but this battle was the catalyst for the most famous battle, the Alamo. The battle of the Alamo occurred between February 23rd, 1836 and March 6, 1836. The Alamo was fought between 1,500 Mexican soldiers, and roughly 300 Texas militiamen. One significant figure in this battle was William Barrett Travis. Travis was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Texas Army, and was very willing to fight for the cause. He vowed never to surrender and was quoted in a letter saying he would “Die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country” Mexico suffered between 400-600 casualties, and the Texas Militia suffered around 200 casualties. The factor which made the conflict so relevant was the eventual outcome. Texas eventually surrendered to Mexico, and Mexico saw the battle as a victory. However, The

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Palo Duro Canyon Essay

    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages

    It was 1874 and the principle members on the two sides had a most intriguing foundation and even an all the more fascinating and astounding future. This intriguing story told beneath. Texas development implied the infringement upon Comancheria, the place known for the Comanche Indian. Comanche struck white pioneers in current day Texas, and backpedaled to the Spanish time, the Mexican period, the Republic of Texas time and continued for about 10 years after the Civil War.…

    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    He first ordered artillery to bombard the compound. During the early hours of march 6th, 1836, about 2000 Mexican troops supported by cavalry started the final assault. As troops were accumulating against the walls of the Alamo, Texians began shooting over the walls. During this phase of the assault commander William Travis was killed in cross fire while attempting to prevent Mexican troops from climbing the…

    • 1580 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Document A Back in 1835 when Texas was still a part of Mexico anglo texans were mad because of the restrictions put on them by the mexican government. Sam Houston wanted the town of Bexar (San Antonio)demolished for good. Sam Houston's…

    • 243 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right What America Can Learn from the Strange Genius of Texas, by Erica Grieder, breaks Texas down into its basic components in order to explain to non-Texans what Texas really is. Grieder’s book begins with an explanation of the Texas Miracle, which was a series of “happy coincidences” that brought Texas many jobs and boosted its economy. After that, Grieder describes the Texas Model, which is how we run our state. As Governor Rick Perry put it, the Texas Model is a four-part “recipe,” low taxes, low regulation, tort reform, and “don’t spend all the money.” The next topics she discusses are the Texas revolution and Texas annexation.…

    • 996 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Document B, it shows how the Americans to move to unclaimed lands in west in the mid-1800s. In order to accomplish Manifest Destiny, the United Stated had to go to war with Mexico. A Spanish government in 1820 given Moses Austin a land grant for Texas. After Moses Austin died,…

    • 815 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Later on new president James Polk came and started war with Mexico to get Texas. In document (4) the Massachusetts legislature opposed the annexation of Texas, because the war was being fought to extend…

    • 1681 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Meanwhile, he sent letters home hoping to appease those Texans who favored absolute separation from Mexico. Some of Austin’s letters home, included some that were telling Texans to go ahead and begin to declare statehood before the approval of the federal government, made their way to officials in Mexico City. While returning to Texas, Austin was arrested, brought back to Mexico City and thrown into a jail. (Minster, Christopher. " Biography of Stephen F. Austin."…

    • 1659 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Texas was originally part of Mexico until after the Texas Revolution. Soon after Texas won its independence, it joined the United States. This annexation split the United States down the middle because Texas supported slavery. That is not the only strike Texas has against it however. Dallas, Texas was the location of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, and Texas is home to weak gun control, and supporters of the death penalty.…

    • 1075 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    In 1829, Vicente Guerrero abolished slavery in Mexico. This scared Texans because they wanted to keep their slaves, which helped them with their agricultural needs. When the Mexican government started giving out stricter regulations on slavery, Texans ignored them and persisted on keeping slaves. Thus resulting in the Battle of the Alamo, Texas wanting to protect their slaves, while Mexico wanting to keep their lands free from slavery. The people protecting the Alamo were slave owners and pro-slavery men, while men fighting for Mexico were Black Mexican soldiers.…

    • 168 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Texas State Pride Essay

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Texas was still considered to be in revolt after losing the war in 1865. However, in 1869 Texas ratified the 14th and 15th amendments allowing president Grant to grant Texas statehood (History.com). Most Texans are overflowing with state pride and to most it is generally seen as the perfect place to live. When talking to a Texan it is hard not to notice their famous accent. But it may be even harder to notice how much they love…

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    As a distinct nation, Texas believed to have held a different scope of sovereignty. According to “The Declaration of Causes”, Texas stated that they interpreted their annexation into the United States as one free, sovereign, and independent nation joining a union with other co-equal states. Texas thought of themselves as a central authority with more sovereignty over their nation than the Federal Union. Texas, therefore, regarded themselves as nation that formed a continental partnership among other nations that were free and sovereign within their respected borders. Each state was essentially separate and equal and had no control of the other.…

    • 1074 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In 1829, American settlers began to reside in Mexico’s territories in the southwest, disregarding their customs and laws. American colonists in Texas protested Mexican rule, sparking the Texas Revolution in 1835. Soon after, Mexican dictator Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna attacked Alamo and won, but the Treaty of Velasco gave Texas independence and created the border between Texas and Mexico (Berkin 314). Unfortunately, Mexicans wanted renegotiation of the treaty, threatening war. On April 22, 1846, Mexico announced that its territory had been invaded and declared war.…

    • 837 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    After all it was their “destiny.” The price for the sale of land also encouraged many Americans to migrate to Texas. The United States government offered land at the price of $1.25 an acre as long as it was paid at the time of purchase. With the news of Mexico 's giveaway of large tracts of land to settlers for next to nothing, as long as they are willing to assimilate, Americans believe that offer was too good to refuse. With this many settlers jumped ship and set out to Texas.…

    • 930 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mexico originally permitted a few hundred Americans to move into its territories of which settled in some areas of Texas and New Mexico. It was the Austin Family who originally asked Mexico for permission to create…

    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The first Mexican land inhabited by Americans was known as Texas. Stephan Austin acquired this land legally under the condition that he bring 300 Roman Catholic families, ban slavery in the territory, and make everyone a Mexican citizen. In this territory, however, there were 30,000 people, only a few Roman Catholic families, and a couple of slaves. Tension between new Texans and Mexicans continued to grow, and the tension erupted into war. Texans fought in many battles only to lose, but at San Jacinto, Sam Huston defeated Santa Anna’s Mexican army.…

    • 1298 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays