Texas is celebrating 182 years of independence from Mexico Friday.
Dr. Stephen Hardin, an historian at McMurray University, says the Texas Revolution was years in the making, prompted by what's known as the Law of April 6, 1830 to stop migration from the United States.
“This was an attempt, not necessarily to kick out the people that were there, but to curb this unrestricted and illegal immigration, and that's when the real problems began,” he says.
“When he heard about this law, Stephen F. Austin chuckled and said, 'Well you might as well try to dam the Mississippi with a dab of straw.'”
What followed was the "Come and Take It" Battle of Gonzalez, fall of the Alamo and Goliad.
The loss of the Alamo served as a battle cry for the Texians who finally defeated the Mexican Army at San Jacinto and captured President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, securing Texas' independence from Mexico.
“You've got 300 Spartans at Thermopylae. You've got Custer's last stand. And of course you've got the Alamo,” says Hardin. “We here in Texas have this belief the men at the Alamo fought to the last man.”
“No other state has an Alamo. No other state was an independent nation for 10 years and Texans can and do take pride in that.”
Events celebrating the Republic of Texas are planned this weekend all across the state -- including a two-day living history celebration at the Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site.