13 Day Siege “The Alamo”. History Research Paper

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The 13 Day Siege of the Alamo
Introduction
The Texas war against the foreign rule and invasion of the Mexicans in the year 1836 accounts for one of the most recognized struggles for independence in the United States history. The struggle for independence for the United States of America is without a doubt a historic event held closely by its people that documents heroic acts of valor by various individuals and communities across the nation. However, history and to a large extent the inhabitants of the state of Texas single out the 13-day siege of the of the Alamo by the Mexicans in what remains to be one of the key platforms upon which the state’s and the nation’s spirit of patriotism portrays itself. As the renowned title suggests, it took the Mexican forces 13 days to overcome the Texan defense of the fort at the Alamo in the face of a resilient force of the American soldiers and civilian volunteers. A comprehensive understanding of the 13-day siege of the Alamo raises some questions regarding the reasons leading to the gruesome battle, accounts of its occurrence, and its consequences or impacts on both the state of Texas and the nation. In essence, what were the factors leading to the Mexican claim over the Texan territory? What makes the military action of the battle so significant in the American history? Last but not least, what was the significance of the siege to the future of Texas and the United States as a whole? The defeat of the American rebellion at Alamo, however, cannot outweigh the significance of its impact in shaping both the state and the nation’s stance against oppression on a patriotic front.
The 13-day Siege of the Alamo
In addressing the first of the outlined questions, it is important to understand the historical background of events leading to the Mexican invasion forcing the Texan rebellion at the Alamo. Texas was the inheritance of Mexico gained after its independence from Spain and thus considered under the jurisdiction of the Central American state (Hansen, pg. 5). The region’s scattered population received little attention from the central government of Mexico as it was left under the control of the peasants who would later form colonies for the American settlers (Hansen, pg. 27). The rapid rise in population of the American settlers and their disregard for the Mexican legislation against various matters such as slavery attracted the attention of the Mexican government, which sought to stamp its authority over the region. The Mexicans attempt to impose immigration laws against the American settlers into Texas further fuelled animosity between the two parties (Hardin, pg. 73). The election of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna as the Mexican President also played an integral role as his dictatorial endeavors led to the military action between the colonists and the Mexicans (Hansen, pg. 8). The ensuing and escalating differences between the United States colonists in Texas and the Mexican government culminated in the former’s rebellion against the foreign rulers towards the end of 1835 during which the latter was driven off the region of San Antonio including Bexar and Alamo. The dictator, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, rai...