Happy Independence Day

[Strike For The South]

On March 2 1836 The Texas DOI was signed. This was a landmark day in history because it paved the way for the American SW and played a role in manifest destiny

[PanzerJaeger]

Happy Independence Day!

Texas represents the best of America these days. Good thing that whole independence thing didn't work out. :D

[The Wizard]

Also real significant in the events leading up to the Civil War, in being the opening salvo in the conflict over what the American West would become: free or slave? Texas's answer was obvious (the latter).

[al Roumi]

Also real significant in the events leading up to the Civil War, in being the opening salvo in the conflict over what the American West would become: free or slave? Texas's answer was obvious (the latter).

I'm reading Simon Schama's book "the American Future" in which (as a historian) he inevitably talks exclusively about its past, just finished a section on Texas, it's independance and annexation by the US.

To add to Wizard's point, the independance of Texas from Mexico also marks the beginning of one of the (regretably recurrent) hideous passages in US history of ethnic violence and, ultimately, ethnic cleansing as the immigrant population of Anglo whites asserted itself over the Mexican Tejanos and ultimately booted them out.

[drone]

To add to Wizard's point, the independance of Texas from Mexico also marks the beginning of one of the (regretably recurrent) hideous passages in US history of ethnic violence and, ultimately, ethnic cleansing as the immigrant population of Anglo whites asserted itself over the Mexican Tejanos and ultimately booted them out.

[Strike For The South]

To add to Wizard's point, the independance of Texas from Mexico also marks the beginning of one of the (regretably recurrent) hideous passages in US history of ethnic violence and, ultimately, ethnic cleansing as the immigrant population of Anglo whites asserted itself over the Mexican Tejanos and ultimately booted them out.

um....

[al Roumi]

um....

I guess that's not what is celebrated?

Or do you just think I am barmy/talking ?

I certainly don't mean to be all Krook about this but as I mentioned above, it's in Simon Schama's book. He's well respected in the UK...

I also don't seem to be able to find any quick sources online to corrobrate (or contradict) me. If it comes to it, i will type up the section or scan the pages this evening/tomorrow as I don't have the book with me.



Edit:

This is the book in question.

Note this customer review comment on amazon:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

"This book is for those of you who like history as a sweep of events and with interlocking sections that you have to piece together to get your overall picture. Although this makes reference to the current election I think its only because I think the author sees the two candidates as potentially the Hamilton and Jefferson characters of this age - one quite happy to use American military strength and the other very sey against it. And its this split in the US approach that the four sections of the book address. The four sections cover war, religion , what is an american, and the belief you can have it all if you just try hard enough and while I don;t think you get a full final view I think the observation at the end that the role of government is about making people happy and not to destroy life is hard to argue with.

Apart from the violence of the Civil War which had some horrific parts what these sections bring to vivid life in the internal violence in US history , the programs against the Cherokee, the violence and hatred against the black population as they battled for civil rights, the mis tratment of Chinese and Mexicans and they were killed with impunity and with legal sanction makes for some grim reading. The section on religion makes it very clear why religion plays such a big part in US politics and you can see why as it was and till is a vital way to express a sense of community. The best part for me was the section on multiculturalism where its clear that you can retain a sense of your roots in the US AND still be an American with a fierce committment to the country

It was with a sense of diappointment that I finished this book simply bacause I had not had enough of the American story which is spite of the things done still seems essentially optimistic - and so if Obama wants to use the phase 'Yes we can' then this book will help explain why his audience responds to it."

...from which i have lifted this text:

"Apart from the violence of the Civil War which had some horrific parts what these sections bring to vivid life in the internal violence in US history , the programs against the Cherokee, the violence and hatred against the black population as they battled for civil rights, the mis tratment of Chinese and Mexicans and they were killed with impunity and with legal sanction makes for some grim reading. "