Manifest Destiny
3. Bowie Knife
- Texas remained under Spain after 1819 Adams-Onis Treaty
- largest American town was Nacogdoches 1811 west of the Sabine
- Stephen Austin colony granted by Federalist Mexico 1824 if became Mexican citizen and Catholic; "Old 300" first families
- 25 other colonies & 20,000 Americans by 1830; only 4000 in Austin's
- cotton, slavery, no taxes, no religion, no citizenship
- Jim Bowie created his 1-lb. 12-inch knife in 1830
- Austin opposed Edwards Colony and "Fredonia" of 1828; Sterling Robertson colony and Ben Milam on the Brazos
- Centralist Party revoked all grants 1830; President Andrew Jackson continued to allow emigration and trade although violated neutrality, sent Sam Houston for Indian treaty but stayed in Texas
- first bloodshed at Velasco 6/26/1832; rise of Santa Anna 1833
- San Felipe convention 4/1/1833 - Houston helped write constitution but urged negotiation with Mexico rather than war for independence
- battle at Gonzales 10/2/1835 - Texas Revolution began but divided
- San Felipe 2nd convention 11/3/35 - war party vs Houston and moderates; Anson Jones: "There appeared to me a plenty of recklessness and selfishness but litle dignity or patriotism. I was introduced to Bowie - he was dead drunk; to Houston - his appearance was anything but decent and respectable, and very much like that of a broken-down sot and debauchee."
- San Antonio 12/10/1835 after siege by Austin, assault by Milam
- Texas dec. of independence 3/2/1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos
- Alamo fell 3/6/1836 after 10-day siege by 6000 under Santa Anna, most of 183 defenders killed in last 90 minutes, but Davy Crockett and 5 others captured and executed according to Jose de la Pena
- Battle of San Jacinto 4/21/1836 - Texans defeated 1250 Mexicans, killing 600 including the bayoneting of prisoners and wounded; treaty forced Santa Anna to accept Rio Grande boundary
- Houston sought annexation, peace with Indians, anti-land speculation of Anthony Butler, former ambassador to Mexico
- no annexation to US; Whigs and John Quincy Adams feared southern conspiracy; would upset 13-13 balance in Senate
- Lone Star Republic 1836-1844
- Alexander Somerville led Laredo and Mier expeditions 1842 into Mexico to seize land, create a southern empire
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