It was on March 2, 1836 that Texas had had enough and declared its independence from Mexico.

David Burnet was chosen as provisional President, and Sam Houston was confirmed as commander in chief of all Texan forces.

It was just 16 years earlier, in 1820, that Moses Austin, a citizen from the US, asked for and received permission to settle in the sparsely populated Texas. He was granted land, but soon died. His son, Stephen F. Austin, took over the project from there.

A year later, Mexico got it's independence from Spain. Stephen negotiated with the new Mexican Government to bring in 300 families along the Brazos River. They all had to be Catholic, but Austin mainly brought in Protestants. Should have been a sign that this wasn't going to last.

By 1826, a conflict between real Mexicans and American immigrants let to the Freedonia Rebellion. In 1830 Mexico, tried to stop the influx of Americans from crossing the boarder. In 1834, Santa Anna became the Mexican Dictator and looked to squash the Texas rebels.

And while a Texas delegation was declaring independence in Washington on the Brazos, Santa Anna was laying siege on the Alamo. Remember? On March 6th, 1835 defenders of the Alamo were overrun by Santa Anna's troops. The only survivors were a few civilians of mostly women and children.

Six weeks later, revenge was taken at San Jacinto, and the Republic of Texas was born.

 

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