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Napoleon takes Louisiana back.
In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte forced Spain to cede Louisiana as part of his plan to resurrect a French empire in North America (Crossroads 101-102). This was important because this event was simply the domino that started the series of events that would leave the Spanish Empire in ruins and Texas part of an independent Mexico (Crossroads 103). https://images.jifo.co/45290795_1569262755633.png -
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The Coming of Mexican Independence
These events are what led to Mexico becoming independent of Spain. -
Louisiana Purchase.
When Napoleon's plan to resurrect a French empire in North America failed, he sold the territory to the United States in 1803(Crossroads 102). This is important because Spain and the United States almost went to blows when US claimed everything to the east of the Rio Grande as part of this deal with France. https://cdn.britannica.com/92/2192-050-2BE7B37C/Louisiana-Purchase.jpg -
Neutral Ground Agreement between Herrera and Wilkinson
In 1806, Wilkinson arrived unopposed and sent a message that the Americans were willing to keep to themselves as long as the Spanish did not recross the the Sabine. Herrera seized the opportunity and accepted Wilkinson's terms (Crossroads 108). The reason why this was so important is because this event laid the groundwork for the Neutral Ground to become part of the Louisiana Purchase. https://www.tshaonline.org/images/handbook/entries/NN/neutral-ground.jpg -
Beginning of Mexican Revolution under Father Hidalgo
Father Hidalgo was a parish priest of the small town of Dolores and would come to be known as the Father of Mexican Independence. His call to arms was ringing the Church Bells in Dolores and giving out an impassioned speech to the people of Dolores (Crossroads 116-117). This is important because Hidalgo's call to arms triggered the start of Mexican War of Independence. https://www.thoughtco.com/father-miguel-hidalgo-y-costilla-biography-2136418 -
Father Hidalgo Captured and Executed
In 1811, Hidalgo was captured by the Royalists and subsequently captured on March 21 (Crossroads 119). This event is important because in the aftermath of Hidalgo's execution, a new leader in the War of Mexican Independence would rise up to fill the vacancy, one who would succeed where Hidalgo had fallen short, his name was Father Jose Maria Morelos (Crossroads 119). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_Independence -
The Republican Army of the North invades Texas
In 1812, Gutierrez de Lara created the Republican Army of the North alongside U.S Officer Augustus Magee before crossing the Sabine River and beginning their invasion of Texas (Crossroads 119-120). This event was important because the immediate effect of this invasion lead to the royalist army responding with one of the bloodiest battles in the history of North America, the Battle of Medina. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014683897/ -
Battle of Medina
On August 18, 1813, Commandant General Joaquin Arredondo's royalist army of over 1800 troops fought the Republican Army of the North. The Battle of Medina was one of the bloodiest and one sided battles in the history of North America as the army of Mexicans, Anglo Americans and Indians were simply outmatched by the loyalists. This is important because it almost brought Texas to the brink of total devastation (Crossroads 122). https://battleofmedina.weebly.com/ -
Father Morelos continues Hidalgo's fight
In the aftermath of the royalist capture and execution of Hidalgo, Father Morelos took up the fight for Mexico and as a better military tactician, managed to establish control over a portion of the country in 1815 and organized a congress that formally declared Mexico's independence from Spain (Crossroads 122). This is an important event because although it did not work out, it was the first step towards true Mexican independence. https://www.inside-mexico.com/jose-maria-morelos-y-pavon-2/ -
Adams-Onis Treaty
In February 1819, for the sake of practicality and convenience, U.S Secretary of State John Quincy Adams and Spanish Ambassador Luis de Onis reached a agreement that Spain would keep Texas but give up Florida (Crossroads 128). This is important because this treaty did not sit right with expansionist Anglos as they found a leader in James Long to help lead the liberation of Texas (Crossroads 128). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams%E2%80%93On%C3%ADs_Treaty -
Mexican Independence
On February 24, 1821, the loyalist officer Agustin de Iturbide made an agreement with the leading rebel, Vicente Guerrero for the separation of Mexico from Spain (Crossroads 129). This is important because the agreement was the Plan of Iguala which put the independence of Mexico down in writing and set in motion the end of Spanish rule in Texas (Crossroads 129). https://web.stanford.edu/~hakuta/www/archives/syllabi/E_CLAD/SU_SFUSD_cult/fuller/History%20of%20Flag.htm
