Tired of their status as Mexican citizens, the American colonists revolted in the fall of 1835, and gained control of Texas in a surprisingly short period of time. Expecting they had months to organize an army, the rebels were stunned when Santa Anna appeared with the Mexican army in front of the Alamo in late February 1836. Image Credit: By Henry Arthur McArdle - http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/mcardle/pa..., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... Cast of Characters: Stephen Austin-founder of the first American colony in Texas Sam Houston-commander of the Texan army, former governor of Tennessee Santa Anna-President of Mexico Jim Bowie-real estate speculator who fled the US to avoid charges of land fraud and commander of the garrison of the Alamo William Travis-lawyer, commander of the garrison of the Alamo Davy Crockett-celebrity and ex-congressman Ben Milam-leading rebel and veteran filibuster, including Dr. James Long's failed 1819 invasion Frank Johnson-land speculator and co-leader of the Matamoros Expedition James Grant-land speculator and co-leader of the Matamoros Expedition Sources: Lone Star Nation: The Epic Story of the Battle for Texas Independence-H.W. Brands Lone Star Rising: The Revolutionary Birth of the Texas Republic-William C. Davis Three Roads to the Alamo: The Lives and Fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie and William Barrett Travis-William C. Davis Duel of Eagles: The Mexican and US Fight for the Alamo-Jeff Long Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers: The Texas Victory that Changed American History-Brian Kilmeade David Crockett: The Lion of the West-Michael Wallis Santa Anna of Mexico-Will FowlerSam Houston-James L. Haley Sam Houston: The Life and Times of the Liberator of Texas-An Authentic American Hero-John Hoyt Williams Mexico, Biography of Power: A History of Modern Mexico, 1810-1996-Enrique Krauze, translated by Hank Heifetz
