 |
|
|
|
The Alamo Messenger
| |
|
Greetings and welcome to the January 2016 edition of The Alamo Messenger. Last month we looked the beginnings of the Mexican republic and the Constitution of 1824 . This month we explore the continuing problems between Mexico and Spain, border disputes within the Texas colonies and the role of the Masons in Mexican government.
|
|
Feature Article: Mexico's Spanish Problem
| |
|
The cry raised by Father Hidalgo in 1810 against the gachupines, or European-born Spaniards, still echoed loudly after Mexico declared its independence in 1821. The new nation faced many problems, the most pressing of which were an empty treasury and an infrastructure wrecked by a decade of war. Moreover, the Spanish Cortes' rejection of the Treaty of Cordova on February 22, 1822, meant that Mexicans still faced the likely return of Spanish forces bent on reclaiming the former colony. In this uncertain political climate, all things Spanish were not to be trusted. Keep Reading
|
|
|
This ceremonial sword was presented to Santa Anna for defeating the Spanish at the Battle of Tampico in 1829. Santa Anna was able to stop Spain from invading Mexico and was known as the Victor of Tampico. The sword is part of the Alamo Collection.
Photo and text by Ernesto Rodriguez, III, Alamo Associate Curator.
|
|
Freemasonry in the Early Mexican Republic
| |
|
The dawn of the nineteenth century found Mexico entering a period of turmoil. The abdication of King Ferdinand VII in 1808 led to the people of Mexico to seek independence, a struggle that ended in 1821. The Treaty of Cordoba, which ended the war, did not bring about peace, instead the new nation endured years of political struggle in search of identity. This struggle for identity was fueled in part by a popular fraternal order known as the Masons. When considering that Masons were at the forefront of promoting the liberal ideals of the eighteenth century European Enlightenment, it is logical that its members were connected to Mexico's endeavor to throw off the yoke of monarchy. Keep Reading
|
|
|
The opening of Texas to foreign immigrants in 1825 resulted in a wave of American, European and native Mexican settlers to the area. These settlers were primarily brought by the empresarios who had been granted contracts to bring families into Texas. Certain provisions of the 1824 Federal Colonization Law and the 1825 State Colonization Law resulted in conflict amongst the empresarios. Specifically, the laws gave preference to native Mexican settlers and empresarios over foreign ones. The borders between colonies were also sometimes ill-defined. Both of these conditions lead to trouble in the colonies, nowhere more so than in the colonies established by Green DeWitt and Mart�n De Le�n. Keep Reading
|
|
|
In Their Own Words:
| |
|
Joel Roberts Poinsett was a United States diplomat who served as the first United States minister to Mexico, a position he held from 1825 - 1829. In 1822, Poinsett traveled to Mexico for the first time. Upon his return to the United States he published a book on his impressions of the country, its government and financial situation. This selection of Poinsett's writings, from November of 1822, depict Poinsett's first interaction with then emperor, Agustin Iturbide I. Keep Reading
|
|
|
The Alamo's Education Department is an important resource for educators. We offer printed materials, digital resources, workshops, research assistance and artifact trunks for the classroom. Keep Reading
|
|
|
|
|
