On March 1, 1836, delegates from the Mexican municipalities of Coahuila-Texas gathered at Washington-on-the-Brazos to take decisive action amidst the turmoil of the Texas Revolution. While the Alamo endured its seventh day under siege, these leaders convened to declare independence from Mexico, establish an interim government, and draft a new constitution for the Republic of Texas . They formed a committee led by George C. Childress, who prepared the Texas Declaration of Independence, a document pivotal to defining the Texan fight for sovereignty.
This new convention marked a crucial turning point. As tensions escalated throughout 1835, culminating in the Battle of Gonzales and Santa Anna’s declaration of Texas as a rebel territory, unity among Texan settlers became paramount. The first steps toward this solidarity materialized with the signing of the Declaration on March 2, 1836, by fifty-nine delegates, including only three Hispanic signatories—highlighting the diverse contributions to Texas independence . These efforts were not without challenges, as the provisional government earlier faced internal conflicts showing the complex political landscape of the revolution.
Today, the events at Washington-on-the-Brazos remain a defining legacy of Texas history. The sacrifices and resolutions of March 1, 1836, set the stage for independence and the eventual establishment of the Republic of Texas. #TexasIndependence #March1836 #TexasHistory #LoneStarLegacy #WashingtonOnTheBrazos
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