The fact that such a small number of Texan patriots were able to withstand the onslaught of so many Mexicans seemed like a potent dramatization of a conflict between native vs. white, where whites 'proved' their superiority, and slave vs. free, where whites fighting to defend 'their' territories against a 'dictatorial' power.
Eventually, despite the loss of the Alamo, the Texans prevailed and the Mexican President Santa Anna was taken captive and forced to sign the Treaty of Velasco in 1836, which gave Texas its independence and designated the Rio Grande River as the border between the new Republic of Texas and Mexico. As Santa Anna was a prisoner of the Texans at the time the Mexican Congress refused to ratify the treaty, as Santa Anna had been compelled to sign the treaty illegally, under duress. The Mexican Congress also noted that the traditional Texas boundary had always been further north on parallel with the Nueces River ("Texas Revolution," Global Security, 2008).
France and England hoped that the newly-declared Republic of Texas would remain independent, as a kind of balance of power to the United States in the region, which was then rapidly expanding under the principles of Manifest Destiny. Both countries quickly recognized the new nation. Americans all over the nation also cheered, for a different reason. The spirit of fierce, frontier independence that was embodied by the American Revolution, but had now been quashed in the more civilized east seemed to be revitalized in the West, and the Texas Revolution seemed to parallel America's war for independence of long ago ("Texas Revolution," Global Security, 2008). However, independence only further inflamed tensions within the new republic between the Caucasian, slave, Mexican and native populations, as now both the border of Texas as well as its independence was in doubt. Mexico only recognized the Republic of Texas in 1845, convinced by the British government that it was the only way to forestall Texan incorporation into the United States.
Unsurprisingly, Mexico viewed the annexation of the breakaway state as a threat. As soon as independence was declared,...
The complexity of Sam Houston as a man perhaps exemplifies the difficulties in arguing whether the revolution was justified. Houston has become associated with the racism of the Texan's cause, because of his effective defeat of Mexico. But Houston himself lived amongst the Cherokees early in his life and married a Cherokee woman. When he fought for Andrew Jackson as a populist, he warred against the Creeks Indians, although
German Influences on Texas Culture If one has lived in Texas for any length of time, they will realize immediately that the Texas culture is influenced by German culture in a number of ways. Modern day Texas culture would not exist as it does today if it were not for German influence. Today Texas culture can be described as a blending of German and Texas traditions. Though German culture is not
Regional Characteristics of Texas Among the fifty states which comprise the American Union as it stands today, it is perhaps Texas which has experienced the most tumultuous transition from unsettled frontier to the home of modern metropolises. While most neighboring states cling fiercely to identities forged during the Revolution, or even the Civil War, the state of Texas proudly proclaims its own superiority by flying six flags over its skies; honoring
Quiet Revolution on Real ID details a middle path between the extremes on both sides of the issue. It is informative as well balanced. In the wake of 9/11, we can not afford to sit quietly back and wait for tragedy to happen again. In that tragedy, fake ids allowed a small group of terrorists to perpetrate the largest and most devastating attack on American soil in its history.
Heroes & Anti-Heroes Chester Himes and Americo Paredes tell stories that compel readers to be concerned about structural racism in America. Though the settings are circa 1900s and 1940s, the stranglehold that bigotry has on America -- particularly in the South -- has not been eliminated. Certainly bigotry -- or the overt expression of bigotry -- has abated some, but one wonders if Himes would still conclude that society is characterized
However, over the years, history book publishers have not followed suit and described the soladeras in a positive way. For instance, one of Casaola's most well-known photos is of a harried soldadera in a train station. The photograph's saturated colors make the scene deeply emotional and compelling, with a feeling of urgency and dynamic motion. The spontaneity of the picture and transparency of reality provide an historical accuracy and
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