The Texan War of 1835-1836

In 1836, after a short but violent struggle, conspicuously mismanaged on both sides, Texas wrested its independence from Mexico, which had itself secured its independence from Spain only fifteen years earlier.

The Alamo, as drawn in 1854.The Texans who died to a man at the Alamo during the early hours of March 6th, 1836, have been likened to the Spartans who tried to hold back the Persians at Thermopylae. There are few other similarities, however, between the Persian War of 480-479 BC and the seven months’ struggle that resulted in Texas securing its independence from Mexico; for the latter campaign was waged in a foolhardy manner from start to finish, with first one side and then the other making ludicrous tactical errors.

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