Texas Independence Day 2010

Happy Texas Independence Day 2010! Today, Texans celebrate the 174th anniversary of Texas’ Independence from Mexico. On March 2, 1836, the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed.

Like the United States Declaration of Independence, the Texans’ declaration contains a statement on the nature of government, a list of grievances, and a final declaration of independence, according to the Handbook of Texas Online. The welfare of the state of Coahuila had taken precedent over that of Texas, they argued. Also listed among their grievances was that the Mexican government had failed to provide a system of public education, trial by jury and freedom of religion. The declaration even charged that the Mexican government had incited native populations — the Comanche and other tribes — to massacre the settlers from the United States.

Houston convinced the signers that the declaration would give them some basis of legality and would help draw more help from the United States

Today, also happens to be the birthday of Sam Houston. He was born on March 2, 1793 in Virginia. He is the only person in U.S. history to be governor of two states, Tennessee and Texas, a U.S. Senator and the president of a foreign nation — the Republic of Texas.