Today is when things really got moving in the ongoing fight between Mexico and the mostly Anglo settlers.
The mutual relationship deteriorated enough to have the occupants issue an official document about why they were making their own nation. It wasn’t built to last since both sides were using each to achieve different, cynical goals.
Mexico couldn’t develop the Texas region very much since it had only gained its independence from Spain in the last generation. Besides, the country was under the control of General Santa Anna and he wasn’t exactly a forward-thinking ruler in the mythical vein as James Madison. The indigenous inhabitants (aka American Indians) also proved formidable so enter the Anglos, primarily setters from the United States. The Mexican government figured they could use the Anglos to kill off the Comanche, Caddo, etc. without risking their army and probably move back in later to control the place more easily. Settlers came in from other American States looking for cheap property, nation-building, the expansion of slavery, adventure and whatever. I’m confident many didn’t plan on being part of Mexico forever due to their WASP superiority complexes.
Things came to a head today with the declaration. Hey, if it worked in 1776 against the UK, why not again 60 years later? Hollywood agrees with this strategy due to all the remakes in production.
It’s odd they don’t mention their beef over Mexico’s slavery ban but as I’ve been reading James Loewen’s collection of Confederate writings, rants and rationalizations, the word “property” was usually the preferred term the South employed. One funny point was brought to my attention by a friend though.
In the 11th paragraph, the authors list this specific complaint:
“It [meaning Mexico] has failed to establish any public system of education, although possessed of almost boundless resources, (the public domain,) and although it is an axiom in political science, that unless a people are educated and enlightened, it is idel to expect the continuance of civil liberty, or the capacity for self government.”
Rather interesting that the current Texas governor (practically a dictator as per the same yardstick the GOP applies to FDR) is in the process of slashing public education. It wouldn’t be the first time the well-coifed Aggie got a failing grade in History.