Texas. Mexico. When Spanish withdrawn from the land that Hernan Cortes conquested so easily in the early XV Century, the new nation was named Mexico. From Yucatan to the close limits of Luisiana, those lands where Mexican territories. But the recently liberated colons of the 13 colonies needed more lands to settle their families. Far away from the limes of the United States of America. On the other side of the border. And that’s the way where many Americans went to the West and South to have a new life with their relatives.
Just after the tortuous “incorporation” of the land of Luisiana in the early XIX Century to the United States through President Jefferson, this country had a border with Mexico. But it was not enough to the new nation. So many colons went to a western position. Into the state of Texas, in Mexico.
The “new citizens” of Texas had a different ideas about the land from the local (and not much important in number) population. Their view was in the line of the Washington DC politics and not about the Mexico DF ones. So its logic and realistic than in the third decade of XIX Century those members of the Texan community upraised and founded the Republic of Texas. In a time when in Mexico ruled a General called Santa Ana with an “oppressive” regime, much more undemocratic than the United States one.
Volunteers came from all the states of the Union. Forming a non regular armies and militias to defend the sovereignty of the new Republic. And those efforts concentrated and unified in the Alamo mission, in the actual city of San Antonio. Texas needed to separate from Mexico before entering the United States, because if it were directly made there would be a big conflagration between United States and the overvalorated Army of Mexico. A thing that Washington leaders were resume to avoid.
Davy Croquet and its militias settled in the Alamo to defend Texas and its independence, waiting the troops leaded personally by General Santa Ana. That Army took the straight way from the Mexican capital to defeat the conquerors and restore the sovereignty. It took place a few weeks to reach the Alamo. When Santa Ana and the whole Army reached, there was a peaceful trial (offer) to the now sieged Americans Freikorps. It was refused. So the fight started.
13 days those militias supported and resisted the attack of the Santa Ana Forces. But finally all the defenders were killed or captured. The ones who were captured, like Davy Croquet were assassinated by Santa Ana in a summaries and direct “trials”. The victory, apparently, was with Santa Ana. But as a few years later with the “Indian questions”, after the Little Big Horn General Custer defeat, here a strong bad powerful news sent to the East coast of the United States touched the heart and the soul of every American, so the sovereign of Texas should be restored.
There was a vote in the United States Senate to agree or disagree the solicitation of Texas Republic to become a new state. But President Van Buren (Dutch descendant) applied its right of veto. And it remained unsolved a decade. Because there were strong pressions to make it real: the new state. And many others against arguing that it would be a unanimous step to the southern neighbor: Mexico. And almost none of them wanted (in public) an open war.
As we know the State of Texas became a state. War became real and in 1848 the United States Was certain. Motive of war? The border of Texas and Mexico. United States claimed “Rio Grande“. Actual border. But the United states got new lands. Because of the weakness of the Mexican Army. Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada were a few new lands that were “casually” conquested by the United States. Mexico was completely defeated when in 1849 it was discovered gold in California…
Alamo is today a touristic place. Very popular. Its an icon of the power of the United States. Its energy and determination. But also about the no respect of their authorities to local populations and its right to Self determination to choose their own way of life. Alamo consecrates to the ancient called “Conquest Right”. Alamo shows us the way how US (and similar nations in actual days) makes itself more powerful. Let’s learn from past to affront a better future. Man will be no longer the only animal that clashes twice on the same rock.
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