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. Following the execution of the garrisons of the Alamo and Goliad, the revolution faced defeat until Sam Houston won a surprise victory at San Jacinto. 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 Jose de Urrea-brigadier-general in the Mexican Army Vicente Filisola-general, second-in-command of Santa Anna's army James Fannin-colonel, Texan Regular Army and commander of the garrison at Goliad Andrew Jackson-President of the United States from 1829 to 1837 John Quincy Adams-Member of the House of Representatives from 1831 to 1848, former President (1825-1829), son of President John Adams 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 WallisSanta Anna of Mexico-Will Fowler Sam 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
