This is an outstanding contribution to what historians refer to as “counterfactual,” that is, “what if?” history. As such it reveals how differently things might have turned out if only….
In so doing it also falsifies the notion that ordinary people have no power compared to the “great impersonal forces” that are often said to control our destiny. Likewise, it demonstrates that humans do have agency in human affairs and that the future is not predestined.
Also, if you liked this, you would enjoy my article (linked from this one) on Cinco de Mayo. Also, "Midway: the Battle that Almost Lost the War" and "The Cautionary Tale of Zheng He". Search on those two and they'll pop right up.
Thanks, I’ll check them out. As a historian, I’ve always liked counterfactuals—although most historians scorn them, because they reveal that history is not just “one damn thing after another,” a mere procession of inevitable events concluding in an inevitable outcome, but an eternal process of contingent circumstances colliding with human action without a predetermined outcome. The future was as unknown to our predecessors as it is to us.
A terrific history article by you, Mr. Martin. I’d never even thought of or considered any of the geopolitical implications you discussed in this article! Indeed the failure of the Texas Revolution would’ve been really bad for the United States leading us either to never have become a great power or to even become recolonized and conquered as China and India were and Mexico was for a time by France. That tyrant Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna might have captured New Orleans thereby cutting off one of America’s most crucial waterways and ports. Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase would’ve been rendered null and void and Mexico would’ve swept over Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas, and who knows what else. Continuing to build his empire he’d of expanded into South and Central America and the Caribbean subjugating his other neighbors. Americans white, black and Native, slave and free, male and female, would now be subjects of Santa Anna’s Mexican Empire and forced to Hispanize and speak Spanish. I thank God for David Crockett, Jim Bowie, William Travis, Don and Juan Seguin, Sam Houston, Jose Antonio Navarro, Stephen F. Austin, and all the brave Anglos, Tejanos and African-Americans who fought and died for Texas’s independence. I love that you made sure that the Tejano contribution to the revolution was including Rod! It was forgotten and marginalized for centuries. It’s a shame after the Revolution, Tejanos would be treated as second class citizens for for two hundreds years before finally gaining equality in the 1960s and that preserving slavery was part of the reason the Revolution was launched. Nonetheless, whatever the flaws of its heroes and the injustice that came after, the multiethnic group of patriots who fought and died in the Texas Revolution saved this country and brought an end to Santa Anna’s tyranny until the next decade. His dream of an Imperial Mexican Empire with him as its Montezuma never came to be. The Texan rebels of all races and creeds made that possible! I also salute the Mexican politicians who stayed true to their Republican principles and opposed Santa Anna’s brutal dictatorship. At the Alamo and Goliad, Santa Anna showed the kind of man he was. His army slaughtered Anglos and Tejanos alike. Including women, children, babies, and old people. Never forget, he terrorized them too! He was a Latin Saddam Hussein.
Another excellent article Rod! Thank you. I had no idea Davy Crockett was at the Alamo. Thank you for this insightful article. 🙏🏼
Thanks!
Excellent! Likewise, Californios overwhelmingly chose the US over Mexico's arbitrary Roman law, and inherent authoritarianism.
Yes indeed. And thanks!
As a native Texan whose family settled in the Gonzalez area, Cuero and Halletsville, in 1832, I thank you for this article.
Glorious!
This is an outstanding contribution to what historians refer to as “counterfactual,” that is, “what if?” history. As such it reveals how differently things might have turned out if only….
In so doing it also falsifies the notion that ordinary people have no power compared to the “great impersonal forces” that are often said to control our destiny. Likewise, it demonstrates that humans do have agency in human affairs and that the future is not predestined.
Amen, and thank you.
Also, if you liked this, you would enjoy my article (linked from this one) on Cinco de Mayo. Also, "Midway: the Battle that Almost Lost the War" and "The Cautionary Tale of Zheng He". Search on those two and they'll pop right up.
Thanks, I’ll check them out. As a historian, I’ve always liked counterfactuals—although most historians scorn them, because they reveal that history is not just “one damn thing after another,” a mere procession of inevitable events concluding in an inevitable outcome, but an eternal process of contingent circumstances colliding with human action without a predetermined outcome. The future was as unknown to our predecessors as it is to us.
Thank you for the refresher on our early history, Davy Crockett and Remember the Alamo!
A terrific history article by you, Mr. Martin. I’d never even thought of or considered any of the geopolitical implications you discussed in this article! Indeed the failure of the Texas Revolution would’ve been really bad for the United States leading us either to never have become a great power or to even become recolonized and conquered as China and India were and Mexico was for a time by France. That tyrant Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna might have captured New Orleans thereby cutting off one of America’s most crucial waterways and ports. Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase would’ve been rendered null and void and Mexico would’ve swept over Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas, and who knows what else. Continuing to build his empire he’d of expanded into South and Central America and the Caribbean subjugating his other neighbors. Americans white, black and Native, slave and free, male and female, would now be subjects of Santa Anna’s Mexican Empire and forced to Hispanize and speak Spanish. I thank God for David Crockett, Jim Bowie, William Travis, Don and Juan Seguin, Sam Houston, Jose Antonio Navarro, Stephen F. Austin, and all the brave Anglos, Tejanos and African-Americans who fought and died for Texas’s independence. I love that you made sure that the Tejano contribution to the revolution was including Rod! It was forgotten and marginalized for centuries. It’s a shame after the Revolution, Tejanos would be treated as second class citizens for for two hundreds years before finally gaining equality in the 1960s and that preserving slavery was part of the reason the Revolution was launched. Nonetheless, whatever the flaws of its heroes and the injustice that came after, the multiethnic group of patriots who fought and died in the Texas Revolution saved this country and brought an end to Santa Anna’s tyranny until the next decade. His dream of an Imperial Mexican Empire with him as its Montezuma never came to be. The Texan rebels of all races and creeds made that possible! I also salute the Mexican politicians who stayed true to their Republican principles and opposed Santa Anna’s brutal dictatorship. At the Alamo and Goliad, Santa Anna showed the kind of man he was. His army slaughtered Anglos and Tejanos alike. Including women, children, babies, and old people. Never forget, he terrorized them too! He was a Latin Saddam Hussein.
Amen. Couldn't agree more.
I love this! Thank you!