The Texas Revolution (1835–36) began when colonists in the Mexican
province of Texas rebelled after President Santa Anna overturned the
Mexican constitution, dismissing state legislatures and militias and
centralizing the government. He stepped down from the presidency to lead
Mexican troops in quashing the revolt. Sam Houston was named commander
of the Texian Army and sent Jim Bowie to destroy the Alamo to keep it
out of Mexican hands. Bowie and William B. Travis chose instead to lead
the Alamo defenders in what became the most famous battle of Texas
history. Three weeks later, the Mexican army executed 400 Texians at the
Goliad massacre, then marched east as terrified civilians fled. The
Texian army moved in the same direction, giving the impression that they
were running away. Under a false sense of complacency, Santa Anna was
asleep and his army was on stand-down on April 21, 1836, when shouts of
"Remember the Alamo!" and "Remember Goliad!" pierced the air as
Texians
overran them, winning the decisive Battle of San Jacinto in 18 minutes
(monument pictured). Santa Anna fled on horseback but was captured the
next day; the Texians traded him for the full retreat of the Mexican
army and the cessation of hostilities. Intermittent conflicts between
the two countries continued until 1844, when Texas was willingly annexed
into the United States, which in turn caused the Mexican–American War.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Revolution>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1644:
Ming general Wu Sangui let the invading Manchus pass through
the Great Wall of China, allowing them to capture Beijing, leading to
the foundation of the Qing dynasty.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Wall_of_China>
1810:
The Primera Junta, the first independent government in
Argentina, was established in an open cabildo in Buenos Aires, marking
the end of the May Revolution.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Revolution>
1878:
Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera H.M.S. Pinafore opened at
the Opera Comique in London.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.M.S._Pinafore>
1979:
Six-year-old Etan Patz disappeared on his way to school in New
York City, and later became the first missing child to have his picture
featured on milk cartons.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Etan_Patz>
2013:
Naxalite insurgents of the Communist Party of India (Maoist)
attacked a convoy of Indian National Congress leaders in the state of
Chhattisgarh, causing at least 27 deaths.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Naxal_attack_in_Darbha_valley>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
masterly inactivity:
(politics) A policy of deliberate inactivity.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/masterly_inactivity>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
I've always believed in numbers. In the equations and logics
that lead to reason. But after a lifetime of such pursuits, I ask, what
truly is logic? Who decides reason? My quest has taken me through the
physical, the metaphysical, the delusional, and back — and I have made
the most important discovery of my career — the most important
discovery of my life: It is only in the mysterious equations of love
that any logic or reasons can be found. as portrayed in
--A Beautiful Mind
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/A_Beautiful_Mind_(film)>