Bas here, I have decided to concede the blog to Mom this week. I know I promised to tell you all about my adventures as Indiana Bas, but I think it would be in my best interest to wait till the next blog. You see it's a bit of a sore subject around this household. Apparently, Mom and Dad didn't like the idea of me going on adventures without them. So in order to let the heat on me cool down a bit I've asked Mom to write this week all about Texas...seems there's an important anniversary happening. Thanks Bas. It is indeed a Texas thing! It is Texas's 175th anniversary this year. On March 2, 1836 Texas declared it's independence from Mexico. Texas did not become part of the United States until 1845. This little fact has always set Texas, and in particular Texans, apart from the rest of the US. Oh, don't get me wrong we are proud Americans, but truthfully we are even prouder Texans. Texans kind of have a different little swagger to their step or maybe a bit of a chip on their shoulder. With the exception of perhaps New Yorkers (from NYC) we are a bit more boastful about our state. You can't drive down a street, go to a sporting event, or do virtually anything without seeing a Texas flag in Texas. I remember watching the World Series and Super Bowl. As the Rangers went through the playoffs and the WS, you could see several Texas flags waving in the stands. Even though no Texas team was in the Super Bowl, it was held in Dallas and once again you saw the flags waving. Not once did I see a New York, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, or California flag in the stands (not including the mandatory one flying over the stadiums), but you did see the Texas state flag in other state's stadiums...they were all over the Rose Bowl in California when TCU had it's game. Our Texas pride is so high that often times you will hear a Texan say, "I'm a Texan first, American second." Yes, I've said it, too. In fact you may have noticed the cover photo for the blog features the Texas flag not the US flag. The big question is why are we so proud of ourselves. The answer really lies in our history and how we've embraced it.
Most of the history we look to falls back to the years of the Texas Revolution between 1835-1836. Texas has flown the flags of France, Spain, Confederacy, Texas, the US, and Mexico all of which have considered Texas part of their land. Mexico, in particular, was a large controlling faction. In 1824, Mexico declared it's independence from Spain and set up different states within it's holdings, one of which was Texas. After it's war with Spain, Mexico was essentially bankrupt and had very little money for military purposes. This caused a problem because with all the new land they aquired they had also aquired a great many indian tribes. Tribes who were quite hostile and known for raiding whether for self preservation or simply personal gain. Without money for the military to help combat these hostile raids, the Mexican government turned to it's own people to forge militias. In order to form militias in the new lands however they needed settlers. Where do you get new settlers, where else the US. To lure these settlers, Mexico promised levies on taxes, land, and new lives. This worked out great as Mexico gained a large contingent of citizens. Until Mexico realized they were being outnumbered. In 1830, Mexico shut off all immigration from the US and also decided to take away all of their promised tax levies and even land. Well, US citizens who had immigrated were quite accustomed to their old freedoms in the US and weren't exactly happy with the new arrangements. Mexico took a further stance and removed many other rights and promises as well. Texans grew increasingly angry. Texans lost their political, judicial, and religious freedoms. They lost their voice in government when in 1833 as Generalisimo Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna took over as president. He abolished state legislatures, militias, and the constitution of 1824 which granted Texans their freedoms. Enraged the Texans began forming and by the time Mexico had switched from federalism to centralism in 1835, the Texans were in full revolt.
On October 2nd, 1835, Santa Anna sent soldiers to try and squash the building rebellion...in particular to retrieve a cannon that had been left to control indians. The Battle of Gonzales began the revolution as Texans raised a flag over the cannon saying "Come and Take It". Texans won their first battle and more combatants began to join the revolution. Armed with this first small victory and with the Mexican army unaware of their numbers and intentions the Texans managed to take a presidio and an old mission....Goliad and the Alamo..with little resistance. By the end of October, however, Santa Anna had decided it was time to take care of this little rebellion and started readying troops and by December he had amassed 6,000 troops. By the end of December they were marching towards Texas, however, due to supply problems and weather they were continually delayed. Eventually they reached Texas and many settlers evacuated as Santa Anna burned homes and land as he marched through. As Santa Anna marched, the Texians (as they were known then) began to establish their own government and by March 2nd, 1836 that government was in place and Texas had declared it's independence.
Santa Anna began to slowly split his forces, sending a small group to Agua Dulce. After a small victory there, that same group marched towards GOLIAD. A Texas army had formed at Goliad led by Colonel James Fannin. Upon getting information that the Mexican Army was on the way Fannin was ordered to retreat. His retreat was delayed, however, and the Mexican Army captured all 340 of his men upon Fannin's surrender. Santa Anna made his first significant military mistake. He ordered the execution of Fannin and his troops ...all were put to death and burned. This obscene act drew the fury of not only Texians, but the world and things would start to take a turn for the worse as Santa Anna himself marched towards San Antonio de Bexar...THE ALAMO.
I'm sure during football season you may have heard me say that there are three things that matter in Texas...God, The Alamo, and football...and you don't mess with any of them. The Alamo will always be close to Texans hearts.
The Alamo was an old, crumbling mission originally made to bring religion to the indians, but it had eventually become something of a fortress. The Texians had originally taken control of the Alamo in December 1835, but now a force of almost 4,000 Mexican troops was heading towards the small group of 130 Texians. Colonels William Barret Travis and Jim Bowie commanded the Alamo. The General of the Texian Army, Sam Houston had ordered Travis and Bowie to burn it down so the Mexicans would not be able to use it. Travis and Bowie, however, had other ideas. As Mexico marched on Bexar, Houston's troops were being recruited and trained much farther away. Travis decided to remain at the Alamo and attempt to delay Santa Anna giving Houston more time. Volunteers began to arrive up-ing the number inside the garrison to roughly 182 (actual number unknown). Among these volunteers was a group from Tennessee led by the legendary frontiersman and congressman, David Crockett. On February 23rd, Santa Anna's army began to arrive, catching the Texians off guard and forcing them to rush supplies and men into the garrison. By that afternoon, 1500 Mexican troops were inside Bexar just outside the Alamo. Santa Anna ordered the blood-red flag signaling "no quarter" . Over the next 13 days the Mexican Army fired cannon after cannon into the Alamo as Alamo defenders won small skirmishes along the outer areas. On March 6th, the Mexican Army went on full siege of the Alamo. Bombarded with cannon fire and Mexican troops climbing over the walls the Texians fell in the early morning hours and all were killed, but took 400-600 Mexicans with them. Santa Anna ordered all the bodies as well as the Alamo to be burned. This became the Siege of the Alamo and the rallying cry for the Texians..."REMEMBER THE ALAMO". After the Alamo, Santa Anna split his army in two to chase after the main Texas Army.
General Houston realizing his army was small and untrained, retreated to the US border forcing Santa Anna to chase him and allowing him more time to train and come up with a plan. After a while though, the Texians tired of running and vowing for revenge of the Alamo and Goliad stopped running and headed for Santa Anna. Santa Anna had divided his army and only left himself 1200 troops. On the morning of April 21, 1836, on the San Jacinto river Houston caught Santa Anna off guard and attacked. With "Remember the Alamo" and "Goliad" firing up the Texians they charged ahead. Santa Anna convinced, by his own ego, that the Texians would not attack had ordered his men to stand down that morning. The Texas Army won the Battle of San Jacinto in 18 minutes. Santa Anna retreated and disguised himself as a corporal. He was caught by the Texians who suddenly realized who they had as Santa Anna's captured troops came to attention. Santa Anna was taken before a wounded Sam Houston and forced to sign a treaty giving Texas it's independence.
From 1836 to 1845, Texas was it's own country and even it's own culture..still is today. When it joined the union in 1845 certain privileges were allotted including the right to have the Texas flag raised at the same level as the US flag...all other states must have their flag slightly lower. Texas stands out a bit beyond cowboys, indians, and oil wells..it has a certain mystic. It has benefitted from the influences of various cultures. Then there's just the size...it takes 11 hours to drive from El Paso to the Panhandle, you can have the sea, lakes, canyons, desert, skyscrapers, and sometimes even snow...all in one place. So now the answer to why Texans sometimes set themselves a bit apart...I guess the meer fact that we were once on our own and what we had to do to get it just makes us puff out our chests a bit more. Or maybe it's just a Texas thing.
