The long, bloody road to Texas independence as a sovereign nation began as a clash of cultures between the rigid strictures of Spanish governmental rule and the spirit of independence which Anglo-American Texans had cherished since 1776.
Mexico’s independence from Spain on September 16, 1820, changed nothing about their underlying political and religious beliefs, and it didn’t alter the way the Americans thought about individual rights.
The Texas Revolution resembled in many ways the revolt of the British colonies against the King and Parliament of England in 1775-1776.
Both Texas and the colonies were remote from central authority, both were allowed to exercise self-government, defend themselves and develop their own social institutions, and both were ignored in the early years by the central government.
Both became very prosperous through the efforts of the citizenry.
In both cases the seeds for insurrection were sewn with the increasing demands for taxation and custom collection by the central government.
Texans’ feelings about liberty and justice are magnified and amplified because our state was born as a nation in the crucible of battle over these principles.
The emotional pride in our nation and the unyielding attitude we have toward our individual rights are concentrated in Texas because our forefathers fought for these same ideals in our own backyard.
We can drive down practically any highway in Texas and see landmarks erected to commemorate one of the battles for our independence.
If your patriotism ever flags, come to Texas – we’ll lend you some of ours.
I know were to come for some history lessons and some extra patroitism!