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"To the people of Texas and all Americans in the World: I shall never surrender or retreat... I Am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what it is due to his honor and that of his country-VICTORY OR DEATH. " This was a letter sent by William Barret Travis during the siege of the Alamo on February 24, 1836. It was a cry for help to anybody and everybody willing to listen. It all started in 1830 with Stephen Austin, a leader of American pioneers in the wild, living in Texas, under the rule of the Mexican government, who had solved two major problems that the settlers had with the government. The colonist were now allowed to keep slaves in Texas, even though no other areas under Mexican rule owned slaves, and the second was the government made sure that Texans would be protected by the Mexican government from suits to collect debts that they had contracted in the United States before their immigration to Texas. All over the South were signs on bankrupt homes homes saying "Gone to Texas" were they did not have to pay off their debts.
Austin and his followers were very hot tempered and ready to start up with any government that they disliked. They soon found a chance to stir up trouble under the changeable Mexican rule. Mexican authorities began to worry that too many Americans were coming into their country. About thirty thousand settlers came to Texas in a ten-year span after Austin had established his settlement. The Mexican government under the urging of President Bustamante made harsh laws against arrival of new immigrants into Texas in 1830. Trade was also restricted with America.
All borders were closed to newcomers but the Louisiana border could not be patrolled and settlers continued to arrive in Texas. American settlers were put into jail for the ruckus they caused due to these new laws, among them was Stephen Austin. On July 1833 Austin traveled to Mexico City to plead the cause of the colonists. The colonists wanted to obtain full Mexican statehood and have total control over themselves. Mexican officials would not listen to the Texans. On his way home Austin was arrested for treason on January 3, 1834.
The government had intercepted a letter from Austin that said that if his appeal had failed the Texans should establish themselves as a separate state of Mexico. He was jailed for eighteen months. The Texans protested and soldiers were sent to control the mobs. After the release of Austin on September 1, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna had been elected President of Mexico. In the fall of 1835 Santa Anna had sent more troops, under the leadership of his brother in law General Martin Cos, to Texas in order to enforce the immigration laws. Austin and some soldiers had surrounded settlements in Mexican territory and were considered by the government to be rebels.
Mexico had no choice but to attempt to use military forces. Thirty thousand Texans were willing to fight against a nation of seven million. They did not receive any government aid from the United States but sympathetic Southern states secretly sent troops. The war began with battle of "the Lexington of the Texas revolution" taken place on October 2, 1835.
This little battle consisted of one hundred Mexican troops sent to Gonzales, a town east of San Antonio, to order the settlers to surrender their only cannon. The soldiers said "come and take it" and eventually they killed one Mexican soldier. The war had begun. More and more Texans answered the call to arms such as Ben Milan a soldier of the War of 1812, James Bowie who was know for his knife, Sam Houston and Stalwart Davy Crockett both former soldiers and congressmen. The name that would lead them all William Barrette Travis. October 9, 1835 Ben Milan led an attack at Goliad.
The Mexicans were surprised and surrendered to the pioneers who ended up with numerous weapons and ten thousand dollars. Later that month Austin sent troops under Bowie to San Antonio. While camping they were attacked by Mexican troops. The Texan solders dominated this fight coming out with only one fatality.
They could have gone on to capture San Antonio but Austin said that they needed to reorganize themselves. The siege continued on for an additional six weeks. During this time the Texans gathered outside the city of Bear and fifty seven Texans signed a Declaration of Causes explaining why they were now going to war for their independence. The word came on November 7, 1835: Whereas, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, and other military chieftains, have by force of arms overthrown the federal institutions of Mexico, and dissolved the social compact which existed between Texas and other members of the Mexican confederacy; now the good people of Texas, availing themselves of their natural rights, Solemnly declare: That they have taken up arms in defense of their rights and liberties, which were threatened by the encroachments of military despots, and in defense of the republican principles of the federal constitution of Mexico, 1824. That Texas is no longer morally or civilly bound by the compact of union; yet, stimulated by the generosity and sympathy common to a free people, they offer their support and assistance to such members of the Mexican confederacy as will take up arms against military despotism.
That they hold it to be their right during the disorganization of the federal system, and the reign of despotism to withdraw from the union, and to establish an independent government. Finally after one hundred and fifty soldiers were wounded General Cos and his troops surrendered to the Texans and among the things acquired by the Texans was the Alamo. This building was originally used as a Catholic missionary built by Padre Olivares in 1718. It consisted of a monastery and church that were enclosed by high walls. The original name was San Antonio de Valero. It was later called the Alamo due to the cottonwood trees surrounding the mission.
But this victory was a very costly...
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Research essay sample on Thirty Thousand Santa Anna
