The complexity of Sam Houston as a man perhaps exemplifies the difficulties in arguing whether the revolution was justified. Houston has become associated with the racism of the Texan's cause, because of his effective defeat of Mexico. But Houston himself lived amongst the Cherokees early in his life and married a Cherokee woman. When he fought for Andrew Jackson as a populist, he warred against the Creeks Indians, although he eventually resigned amongst accusations for being too sympathetic to Native Americans. Finally, Texas, the state he is most associated with, ceded from the Union, but Houston resigned as governor rather than lead a Confederate state. To the death, he was a die-hard Unionist in one of the nation's most independent of states (Campbell, 1993).
Campbell argues that Houston's life embodies the contradictions of the righteousness of the Texan cause. According to Campbell, however, Houston's support of Texan independence was not because Houston believed the revolution was moral or ideologically justified but rather his actions were always calculated. "Houston never lost sight of practical realities...The personal key to Houston's greatest achievements lay in his good sense. What an irony for a man whose life was so filled with romantic adventure" (Campbell 1993, p.160).
The Texans agreed to become Mexicans, live by Mexican law, and to adopt Mexico's national religion and language, and, when this policy was not initially enforced, they abdicated this responsibility. When Mexico forced compliance, they reacted with outrage, especially when deprived of the rights to hold other people in bondage. While Houston's tactical and military prowess may have enabled his numerically smaller army to win Texan independence, the Texan's moral and legal reasons for beginning and justifying their revolution seem suspect, to put it mildly, at best.
Works Cited
Campbell, Randolph. Sam Houston and the American Southwest. New York:
HarperCollins College Publishers, 1993
Causes of the Texas Revolution." History. University of Austin. 13 Feb 2008. http://www2.austin.cc.tx.us/lpatrick/his1693/causes.html
Nostro, Rita. "Sam Houston." Hyper History. 12 Feb 2008. http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b4houstonsam.htm
Sample Source(s) Used
Works Cited
Campbell, Randolph. Sam Houston and the American Southwest. New York:
HarperCollins College Publishers, 1993
Causes of the Texas Revolution." History. University of Austin. 13 Feb 2008. http://www2.austin.cc.tx.us/lpatrick/his1693/causes.html
Nostro, Rita. "Sam Houston." Hyper History. 12 Feb 2008. http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b4houstonsam.htm
Related Documents
Study Document
Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution -- Battles Battle of Gonzales While the battle at the Alamo is by far the most famous battle in the Texas Revolution, there were other, less-well-known battles that also deserve attention. As to the beginning of the Revolution, the first shots were fired in that revolution on October 2, 1835, in the small community of Gonzales, Texas, according to History.com. Those shots were fired as Mexican soldiers were attempting to
Study Document
Texas History
German Influences on Texas Culture If one has lived in Texas for any length of time, they will realize immediately that the Texas culture is influenced by German culture in a number of ways. Modern day Texas culture would not exist as it does today if it were not for German influence. Today Texas culture can be described as a blending of German and Texas traditions. Though German culture is not
Study Document
Texas History
Alamo is a major symbol of Texas history and one of the cultural heritage sites of the nation. It is also the subject of numerous books about its history, many seeking to restate the facts in order to overcome the influence of distorted media presentations of the story or of the many myths that have developed around the story of what occurred in that place. The Alamo by John
Study Document
Alamo and Texas History the
Alamo was a heroic struggle against impossible odds and it was a place where men had made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and hence Alamo still remains a hallowed place and shrine of Texas liberty. This battle provided a sense of honor to the Texas revolution. With the chain of events in 1836, its importance was that it delayed Santa Anna's army in san Antonio, it enabled Sam Houston to
Study Document
History-u.S. Before 1865 the Diplomacy
Pletcher puts forth the point that many wished to overtake Texas, for example, from Mexican control because of a certain level of hatred on the part of Americans for their neighbors south of the border. Perhaps, as well, there was a certain level of jealousy on the part of Americans for the extensive culture, lifestyle and tradition of the Mexican people, something which was not existent in any major
Study Document
History of Texas Questions, 2-3 Sentences Each
History of Texas questions, (2-3 sentences each question), one page. Explain the Empresario system. What is it? And what is the purpose of it? After the successful Mexican War of Independence liberated Mexico from Spanish rule in 1821, the 1824 Constitution of Mexico joined Texas with the state of Coahuila to form the new state of Tejas y Coahuila. In order to increase the population within this unsettled frontier, and protect it