7 things you should know about
Texas Independence Day

Any Texan here who studied Texas history to confirm this? All I know was that Dear Mum, born and raised in Dallas by her Aunt’s Dear black ‘Mammy,’ after both her parents died, loved her so very much... and she KNEW it! Which gave her the courage to study diligently, and became an educated working lady for a publishing company in Chicago, where she met my Dad. As a resident of Maryland as a kid, one of the original 13 Colonies, I was blessed to be taught the actual history of our Colony and Republic... in 8th grace Civics in Public School, no less! KAG

More than 60 years ago when I was in the 7th grade in Texas, Texas history was a required course. It had been that way for a long time, I have no idea how long. I believe that is still the case today. Yes, I agree that all those points are true.

One point to note is that the last significant group of reinforcements to reach the Alamo were Hispanic Texans, there to fight Santa Anna and his Tyranny. Also, Sam Houston wanted to hang Santa Anna for War Crimes when he was captured at San Jacinto. But, he showed mercy after Santa Anna gave him the distress signal of a 33rd Degree Mason. In the end, sparing Santa Anna was probably a good thing because it allowed Texas to take over most of the Southwest by treaty. Finally, late in life after he gave up politics, Sana Anna made a substantial amount of money exporting tree gum to the United States to the Wrigley company.

#2 I have children in the Texas public schools and it’s a required class still. My 7th grader is currently taking Texas history.

The Last thing to NOTE is that TEXAS ended their Mask Mandate on TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY!

I grew up in Florida and we were taught our state’s history in elementary school. But that was way back in the 50’s and I imagine that it was the practice in every state at the time.

From the description of Texas A&M Press, "The New Texas History Movies", "Many will remember Texas History Movies, a cartoon booklet that was distributed to Texas history students from the 1920s through the 1960s by Mobil Oil with its familiar Flying Red Horse logo. For decades Texas History Movies taught thousands of school children the varied history of Texas, from Columbus to the discovery of oil. Though the original version is now considered racist, it was for many students their first and only taste of Texas history." This new version has been "totally revised" and the Amazon version, which has the appearance of the original, has been seriously edited. My father was a long time employee of Mobil, starting as a surveyor on a seismic crew. A pristine copy of the original, with many very PC cartoon frames, sits in my safe deposit box.

Texas is a special place...I visited regularly before this china virus stopped my freedom to travel....texans love their state and country... it's refreshing to walk among them and feel their pride...visit their special sites and drawl their "y'all"..my black friends in Texas never laughed at my northern accent... nor excluded me from lunch at a special black restaurant... the food was yummy...so to all twisted libby sisters who try and judge my life...and tell me what to think and say...don't be messing with my Texas heart and my Texas friends...

#1 - 1. Yes, Texas Independence Day is also Sam Houston’s Birthday. Our very own George Washington. Those gathered at Washington on the Brazos were eager to join Travis et al in San Antonio late February/March 1st but Sam Houston refused to agree to anything unless they officially made him general and they ratified an official statement of why they were doing what they were doing and most importantly establish an official government. It was good that he did because anything less would have played into Santa Ana’s claim that they were just a bunch of ragtag upstarts fomenting insurrection. ( Sound familiar?) I believe George Washington would have been proud. 2. There was a lot of arguing as to what to do but I’m glad Travis held his own because to cede San Antonio de Bear to Santa Ana would have allowed him to establish quite a nice little base from which he could sweep out the rest of the Anglos and Tejanos from Tejas y Coahuila. As it turned out, one Mexican general remarked that if Santa had any more “victories” like the Alamo they’d be wiped out before they reached the intended goal of the Sabine River (the border established by the Adams Oniz Treaty...and believe me Santa Ana would not have stopped there and the United States knew it) 3. Santa Ana effectively cut off San Antonio once he arrived with his troops. So no, they didn’t know much at all. The rest of the list is true.

Sorry for the second post but auto correct presumed to know better than me and changed B e x a r into “bear”...which I guess I shouldn’t complain because it’s how we natives say the Spanish name anyway.

Sorry sorry sorry for the third post but Texas history is my passion and I have a hard time shutting up about it. #3 points out very good facts about the Tejanos that also signed the DOInand were just as disenfranchised by Santa Ana’s despotism. Look up Juan Seguin and Antonio Navarro for starters. #3 - Santa Ana was exiled TWICE and his favorite thing to do was go to NEW YORK to solicit support from the elites there. Some things never change, eh? The New York ladies loved him...

Not a Texan but a New York Yankee and my work friends (one from Houston) and I for years celebrated April 21st (San Jacinto Victory Day) as we refused to celebrate Cinco de Mayo day. Don't mess with Texas!

#2, you can't even graduate from a Texas college at the undergraduate level, unless you take Texas history.

A strange piece of trivia is that Sam Houston was 6th Governor of Tennessee AND 7th Governor of Texas. He was a member of Congress from Tenneesee's 7th District, and the 1st US Senator from the State of Texas upon annexation to the Union In addition, he was the 1st and 3rd President of the Republic of Texas. He is one of the "Profiles of Courage" for resisting those who wanted Texas to join the Confederacy. He was quite a story all by himself.

Yep I know its the fourth time - cant help myself. Here is Travis' letter, March 3, 1836 to answer the question about whether or not they know anything: March 3, 1836: Travis, not knowing that Independence has been declared, writes to the Convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos: COMMANDANCY OF THE ALAMO, BEJAR: In the present confusion of the political authorities of the country, and in the absence of the commander-in-chief, I beg leave to communicate to you the situation of this garrison. You have doubtless already seen my official report of the action of the 25th ult. made on that day to General Sam Houston, together with the various communications heretofore sent by express. I shall, therefore, confine myself to what has transpired since that date. From the 25th to the present date, the enemy have kept up a bombardment from two howitzers (one a five and a half inch, and the other an eight inch) and a heavy cannonade from two long nine-pounders, mounted on a battery on the opposite side of the river, at a distance of four hundred yards from our walls. During this period the enemy has been busily employed in encircling us with entrenchments on all sides, at the following distance, to wit -- in Bexar, four hundred yards west; in Lavilleta, three hundred yards south; at the powder-house, one thousand yards east by south; on the ditch, eight hundred yards north. Notwithstanding all this, a company of thirty-two men from Gonzales, made their way into us on the morning of the 1st inst, at three o'clock, and Col. J.B. Bonham (a courier from Gonzales) got in this morning at eleven o'clock without molestation. I have so fortified this place, that the walls are generally proof against cannon-balls; and I shall continue to entrench on the inside, and strengthen the walls by throwing up dirt. At least two hundred shells have fallen inside our works without having injured a single man; indeed, we have been so fortunate as not to lose a man from any cause, and we have killed many of the enemy. The spirits of my men are still high, although they have had much to depress them. We have contended for ten days against an enemy whose numbers are variously estimated at from fifteen hundred to six thousand, with Gen. Ramirez Sesma and Col. Bartres, the aid-de-camp of Santa Anna, at their head. A report was circulated that Santa Anna himself was with the enemy, but I think it was false. A reinforcement of one thousand men is now entering Bexar from the west, and I think it more than probable that Santa Anna is now in town, from the rejoicing we hear. Col. Fannin is said to be on the march to this place with reinforcements; but I fear it is not true, as I have repeatedly sent to him for aid without receiving any. Col. Bonham, my special messenger, arrived at Labahia fourteen days ago, with a request for aid; and on the arrival of the enemy in Bexar ten days ago, I sent an express to Col. F. which arrived at Goliad on the next day, urging him to send us reinforcements -- none have arrived. I look to the colonies alone for aid; unless it arrives soon, I shall have to fight the enemy on his own terms. I will, however, do the best I can under the circumstances, and I feel confident that the determined valour and desperate courage, heretofore evinced by my men, will not fail them in the last struggle, and although they may be sacrifieced to the vengeance of a Gothic enemy, the victory will cost the enemy so dear, that it will be worse for him than a defeat. I hope your honorable body will hasten on reinforcements, ammunition, and provisions to our aid, as soon as possible. We have provisions for twenty days for the men we have; our supply of ammunition is limited. At least five hundred pounds of cannon powder, and two hundred rounds of six, nine, twelve, and eighteen pound balls -- ten kegs of rifle powder, and a supply of lead, should be sent to this place without delay, under a sufficient guard. If these things are promptly sent, and large reinforcements are hastened to this frontier, this neighborhood will be the great and decisive battle ground. The power of Santa Anna is to be met here or in the colonies; we had better meet them here, than to suffer a war of desolation to rage our settlements. A blood-red banner waves from the church of Bexar, and in the camp above us, in token that the war is one of vengeance against rebels; they have declared us as such, and demanded that we should surrender at discretion or this garrison should be put to the sword. Their threats have had no influence on me or my men, but to make all fight with desperation, and that high-souled courage which characterizes the patriot, who is willing to die in defense of his country's liberty and his own honour. The citizens of this municipality are all our enemies except those who have joined us heretofore; we have but three Mexicans now in the fort; those who have not joined us in this extremity, should be declared public enemies, and their property should aid in paying the expenses of the war. The bearer of this will give you your honorable body, a statement more in detail, should he escape through the enemy's lines. God and Texas! -- Victory or Death!! P.S. The enemy's troops are still arriving, and the reinforcements will probably amount to two or three thousand.