By 1830, more than 20,000 Americans were living and growing cotton in Texas on land that belonged to Mexico. These Americans had about 2,000 slaves to work the cotton, even though Mexico outlawed slavery. When the Texans’ request to separate from Mexico was denied, they decided to secede.
In response, Mexico marched 6,000 soldiers to San Antonio in early 1836. An army of 187 Texans, led by Colonel William B. Travis, defended themselves from a Franciscan mission called the Alamo.
During 10 days of fighting, the Texans held off the Mexican assault. But finally, the Mexicans clambered over the Alamo’s walls, killing all but three people: a woman, her baby, and a slave. Among the dead were frontiersmen Davy Crockett and the Bowie brothers.
At the battle of San Jacinto, later in 1836, the Texans — now led by Sam Houston — used “Remember the Alamo!” as their battle cry. This time the Texans won. They quickly ratified a Texas constitution and made Houston president of their new republic.
Texas asked to be made part of the United States, but President Andrew Jackson — and then President Martin Van Buren — hesitated, since Texas would be a slave state and this would upset the balance of states achieved by the Missouri Compromise. Also, making Texas a state could provoke war with Mexico.