Back to the video list: North American History
Texas was a part of Mexico until the Texan War of Independence of 1835/1836. After the war Texas was for nearly a decade an independent republic before she became a state of the United States of America.
Video
Overview
- Date: 02 Oct 1835 – 21 Apr 1836
- Location: Texas, North America
- Start: Battle of Gonzales
- End: Battle of San Jacinto
Parties & Persons Involved
- Texas
- Stephen F. Austin (1793 – 1836)
- Sam Houston (1793 – 1863)
- Mexico
- Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (1794 – 1876)
Background
- Mexico gains her independence from Spain in 1821 & develops into a decentralised confederation
- Strong militias are established in the Mexican states, esp. because of the constant threat of Indian attacks
- Mass immigration of Americans into Texas
- Texans 1834: >30,000
- Mexicans 1834: 7,800
- Texans seek self-determination within the Mexican confederation
- Santa Anna becomes Mexican president / dictator in 1833 & transforms Mexico into a centralised state with restrictive (economic) laws
- Santa Anna plans to disarm the militias
History
Early Texan Victories
- Sep 1835: 100 dragoons from San Antonio are ordered to secure a Texan cannon
- 02 Oct 1835: Texans defeat the dragoons in the Battle of Gonzales
- Oct – Nov 1835: The Texans win several smaller battles: Goliad, Lipantitlan, Concepcion & Grass Fight
- 12 Oct – 11 Dec 1835: During the Texan siege & capture of Bexar shortcomings of the Texan army of volunteers become apparent
- Nov 1835: Texas forms a government & a regular army under the command of Sam Houston
Santa Annas‘ Offensive
- Dec 1835 – Feb 1836: Santa Anna moves a Mexican army to Texas
- 23 Feb – 06 Mar 1836: During the Battle of The Alamo all of the Texan defenders (approx. 250) die & approx. 600 Mexicans die or are wounded
- Mar 1836: Successful Goliad Campaign of the Mexicans
- 27 Mar 1836: Santa Anna orders the Goliad Massacre (342 Texan prisoners of war are murdered)
Runaway Scrape & Texas Victory
- Mar – Apr 1836: Texan army retreats towards the U.S. border (Runaway Scrape)
- Santa Anna pursues the Texans with parts of his army
- 21 Apr 1836: Decisive victory of the Texans in the Battle of San Jacinto, which also leads to the capture of Santa Anna
- 14 May 1836: Santa Anna recognises the Texan independence in the Treaties of Velasco
- Mexico does not recognise the Treaties of Velasco
Consequences & Impact
- Texan independence (not recognised by Mexico)
- Hostilities between Mexico & Texas last until the 1840ies
- The conflict with Mexico is finally resolved in the Mexican-American War (1846 – 1848)
- Precondition for Texas joining the Union & the Mexican-American War