Remember the Alamo

Few words resonate so strongly in American history textbooks the way "Remember the Alamo!" does.  Even international visitors largely unfamiliar with United States history have a vague idea about the events and choose to visit this small mission in San Antonio, Texas, to get a glimpse of the fabric that has made Texas -- and in large part, the United States -- so great.  But what exactly are we supposed to be remembering about the Alamo?  What happened there, and what events led up to this defeat which has been transformed into a rallying point?

The story of the Texas Revolution and subsequent annexation into the United States encompasses over ten years, but can be condensed into a few key events leading up to and after the Battle of the Alamo:

• In October 1835, the colonists of Texas, which at that time was Mexico's northernmost province, rebelled against the increasingly centralist Mexican government.  At this juncture, the ultimate goal was unclear as popular sentiment was divided between seeking independence or reinstating the Mexican Constitution of 1824.  However, within two months, all Mexican troops were withdrawn from or driven out of Texas, and it seemed clear that Texas would declare its independence. 
• In February 1836, Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna marched into Texas and caught Texans unprepared.  In March, Texas declared itself independent, but the newly-formed army under Sam Houston was pushed back towards the border with Louisiana in the face of Santa Anna's army.  It is during this time that the Battle of the Alamo occurred.
• In just twenty minutes and at the cost of only 9 Texan casualties, Sam Houston routed Santa Anna in a surprise attack on the Mexican army's vanguard at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836.  Santa Anna himself was captured, and his ransom included a promise to lobby for Texas' independence in the Mexican government.  It was at this battle that the cries of "Remember the Alamo!" and "Remember Goliad!" became a rallying point of Texan history.
• Despite Santa Anna's ransom agreement, Mexico refused to recognize Texan sovereignty, and when Texas agreed to be annexed into the United States in 1845, the Mexican-American war erupted, lasting until 1848.

The events of the Battle of the Alamo itself can be characterized into two parts: the siege and minor skirmishes for the first 12 days, and the full-blown assault and capture of the Alamo on the 13th day.  Although romanticized in films such as Disney's Davy Crockett or John Wayne's The Alamo, the hand-to-hand assault and combat of March 6, 1836, was far from romantic.  Many of the Texans were killed by bayonet wounds, which is neither a swift nor preferable way to die.  One Texan was bayoneted in front of the women and children survivors hiding in the sacristy of the complex.

Although the Battle of the Alamo was just a small occurrence in the overall strategy of the conflicts, it is arguably the most memorable.  There is the tragic romance of a few hundred Texans staving off over 1,500 Mexican soldiers for 13 days.  Then there is the celebrity appeal of such well-known names as Davy Crockett, James Bowie, and William Travis, all dying at the Alamo.  And then there is the historic appeal -- it became a rallying point for the Texas revolution and ultimately has become representative of the insatiable thirst for personal liberties and independence which has resulted in this country we live in.  And this is what we should recall when we remember the Alamo.

Have you visited the Alamo?

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Linking up with Bonnie Rose, Amanda, Caity, Marcella, and Michelle for #TravelTuesday!