News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Schools

February 21, 2013

Bruce’s History Lessons: This week in 1836: Remember the Alamo!

TERRE HAUTE — This week (Feb. 23) in 1836 a seminal event in American history — and lore — occurred when a Mexican army under the command of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna laid siege to the Alamo, a tiny mission in San Antonio, Texas. Losing their lives in defense of this small church were legendary heroes Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, William Travis and about 150 other less known but no less courageous Americans. Some were long-time settlers in Texas, while others (like Crockett, from Tennessee) joined the fight because they believed Texas should be independent from Mexico.  

The siege of the Alamo was the culmination of a chain of events that began in the early 1800s, when Mexico actually welcomed settlers “from the North” into this sparsely populated Mexican territory. Given the vastness of the land, denizens of both countries lived in relative harmony, until about 1830 when a demographic transformation occurred that profoundly affected relations between the two countries. In essence, Americans began to outnumber Mexicans in the Texas territory, which caused the usual seismic shifts in politics, economics and culture that historically result when Americans become a majority.

On the American side — as often happened during this period of our history — this shift infected the settlers with the “Manifest Destiny” bug, causing them to believe that a land with the great potential (and wealth) of Texas would never fulfill that potential as long as she was associated with a backwoods country like Mexico.

Only independence and an alliance (and later statehood) with the young, energetic, industrious America would allow Texas to fully bloom.

For their part, the Mexicans were horrified at the growing autonomy of these American expatriates, most of whom were slave owners in defiance of Mexico’s longstanding ban on slavery. Thus did the Mexican government attempt to assert control over the lives of these settlers, leading inevitably to American defiance and rebellion.

Which brings us back to the Alamo in 1836, where the Crockett/Bowie/Travis-led band of brothers finally realized they had no hope of defeating Santa Anna and his 8,000-man army, but if they could hold out long enough, they could give another Texan — General Sam Houston — time to raise an army large enough to finally defeat the Mexican general. Sure enough, the Alamo defenders held out until March 6 and inflicted some 1,500 casualties on Santa Anna’s army before succumbing to the numerically superior Mexican force. Six weeks later, Houston’s swelling army of Americans got their revenge on Santa Anna, many of them yelling, “Remember the Alamo!” as they soundly defeated his depleted and weary troops at the battle of San Jacinto. With this battle Texas independence was ensured. Statehood was soon to follow.

Bruce G. Kauffmann’s email address is bruce@historylessons.net.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Schools
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse Officials: Truck Hit Bridge Before Collapse Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day' Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys Jersey Shore Open for Business Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death Today in History May 24 Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
NDN Video
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage Trout's cycle a boost for Angels Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery Shakira's Shocking Talent Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill DWTS Crowns a Winner Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News