San Benito CISD Celebrates

Jack Ayoub Tootie Madden Mike Frasier Adrian Salazar

TEXASHERITAGEINDEPENDENCECELEBRATIONASSOCIATION

INC.

Board members of the association which made the Texas Independence

Day Celebration possible include: Fred

Garza, Jack Ayoub, Ron Rogers, Shon Gonzales, Tootie Madden, Sarah

Williams, Adrian Salazar, Ruben

Cordova, Mike Frasier, and more.

Aparade of horseback riders, a reenact-ment of the Battle of the Alamo, and family-friendly history activities will take place during a two-day event

commemorating the 174th anniversary of Texas Independence.

San Benito’s Texas Independence Day Celebra-tion, now in its second year, will be held Feb. 26-27, 2010 on the Plaza de San Benito grounds, located on 210 E. Heywood St.

Celebrate.” Education of Texas Independence begins at 9 a.m. on Feb. 26 with the Texas History Symposium. The symposium will feature Texas historians Dr. Jesus de la Teja, editor of the memoirs of Juan Seguin; author of “De Leon: A Tejano Family History” Dr. Ana Carolina Castillo

A Military History.”Symposium participants will receive six hours of continu-

ing education credits; an autographed copy of the book, “Tejano Leadership in Revolu-tionary Texas;” as well as a historical dem-onstration of period cooking.

The celebration will begin Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. with a parade led by several organizations of horseback riders. At

re-enactments of the battle of the Alamo and battle

enactors with their equipment and weapons. The day will also include family-fun events

good ol’ Texas storytelling. Participants will

wagon, explore a Native American teepee, browse displays of tools and leather goods, and observe demonstrations that give a historical account of early life in the Rio Grande Valley Re-gion. Texas food by local non-profit vendors will be offered.

dence Day Celebration in San Benito, call Fred Garza at (956)

245-6980.

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Crimm; and Dr. Stephen L. Hardin, author of “Texian Iliad: A Military History.”

Symposium participants will receive six hours of continu-ing education credits; an autographed copy of thebook, “Tejano Leadership in Revolu-tionary Texas;” as well asa historical dem-onstrationof period cooking.

For information about the Texas Indepen-dence Day Celebration n ini S Sa BBenito,call Frededddd GGaraa zazz at t (956565 )

245-6980.

San Benito

Texas Independence Day Celebration

William Travis, Davy Crockett, and James Bowie – these are names well-known to ev-eryone familiar with the legendary Battle of the Alamo.

But Dr. Frank de la Teja wants people to know the names of a few Tejanos (Mexican-Americans who lived in Texas) who were also instrumental in achieving Texas independence. As chairman of the history department at Texas State University in San Marcos and the first state historian appointed by Gov. Rick Perry, de la Teja said it is his mission to educate Mexican-Americans today of the role Tejanos played in the development of the state of Texas. And what better venue to stress such an agenda than at the Texas Independence Day celebration in San

Benito from Feb. 26-27.

“For instance, Juan Martin Veramendi: If anyone remem-bers him, it’s because he was the father of Ursula Ve-ramendi, who married Jim Bowie. That’s the only reason

he’s remembered,” de la Teja said. “But Veramendi was a native of San Antonio and a businessman as well as a politician. He became the governor of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas (Texas) from 1832 until 1833, when he died of cholera. That’s just one individual who’s one of the most important political figures of the early 1830s, because he was a staunch defender of the Anglo-American settlement.”

De la Teja often focuses on Tejanos from 1821-1836, which was during the period of Mexican rule leading up to the Texas Revolution.

“The emphasis and why I make these presentations is the fact that we have a group of men who

have largely been forgotten. The only Tejanos we normal-ly remember are Juan Seguin and Jose Antonio Navarro,” de la Teja said. “We often don’t think of Tejanos as hav-ing important political leadership roles during that time, and yet we did.”

De la Teja will speak at the Texas History Symposium, just one of the festivities to be held at San Benito’s Second Annual Texas Independence Day Celebration, at 9 a.m. on Feb. 26.

De la Teja, editor of the memoirs of Juan Seguin, is also the author of numerous books and essays on the his-tory of Texas.

First-ever State Historian makes second appearance at celebration

Dr. Frank de la Teja

Dr. FRANK DE LA TEJA

Dr. DE LA TEJA SPEAKS

In addition to authoring several books on Texas History, Dr. Stephen L. Hardin acted as historical advisor for the John Lee Han-cock film, “The Alamo.” Additionally, he

is the editor of Lone Star: The Republic of Texas, 1836-1846 (1998) and is the author of more than a dozen scholarly articles enjoyed by readers on both sides of the Atlantic.

When not engaged in the classroom, he serves as an on-air commentator, appearing on such varied venues as the A&E Network, the History Channel, and NBC’s Today show. Dr. Hardin is an inductee of the Texas Institute of Letters, an admiral in the Texas Navy, a member of Western Writers of America, and a Fellow of the Texas State Historical Association.

Hardin is a professor of history at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.

He is the author of The Texas Rangers (1991), the award-winning Texian Iliad: A Military History of the Texas Revolution (1994), The Alamo 1836: Santa Anna’s Texas Campaign (2001), and Texian Macabre: The Melancholy

Tale of a Hanging in Early Houston (2007). Addi-tionally, he is the editor of Lone Star: The Republic of Texas, 1836-1846 (1998) and is the author of more than a dozen scholarly articles enjoyed by readers on both sides of the Atlantic. Recently, Texian Iliad achieved distinction as a “Basic Texas Book” when bibliophile Mike Cox included it in More Basic Texas Books.

When not engaged in the classroom, he serves as an on-air commentator, appearing on such varied

venues as the A&E Network, the History Channel, and NBC’s TODAY show. Distinguished for his readable style and accessible approach to history, Dr. Hardin is an induct-ee of the Texas Institute of Letters, an admiral in the Texas Navy, a member of Western Writers of America, a Fellow of the Texas State Historical Association, and acted as his-torical advisor for the John Lee Hancock film “The Alamo” (2004). The Chronicles of Higher Education examined his work on that film in a featured article.

Dr. Hardin lives in Abilene, Texas, with his wife, Debo-rah, and his children, Walker and Savannah.

Dr. Ana Carolina Castillo-Crimm is a Min-nie Stevens Piper Professor and winner of the Mary Jon and J.P Bryan Texas His-tory Teacher award. She is a Fellow of the

Texas State Historical Association and a member of its board of directors. Her numerous publica-tions include “De León: A Tejano Family History” (University of Texas Press, 2004), which has won the Presidio La Bahía Award from the Sons of the Republic of Texas, a San Antonio Conservation So-ciety Book Citation, and the Texas Old Missions and Forts Restoration Association Book Award.

Castillo-Crimm is a professor of history at Sam Houston State Uni-versity. She was born and brought up

in Mexico City, Mexico and came to the United States in 1963, finishing her BA at the University of Miami, her MA at Texas Tech University before earning her Ph. D. from the University of Texas at Austin with Dr. Nettie Lee Benson in Latin Ameri-can History. She has taught on the high school level for 15 years, and has been at Sam Houston State University for the last 17 years where she has won both local and state-wide teaching awards, including the prestigious Piper Award as one of the best teach-

ers in Texas. She has published numerous introductions and chapters on Texas women and Hispanics. She is very active on the university campus where she serves on numerous committees and sponsors several student groups. She also remains active on the local, regional and state-wide levels.

HARDIN

CASTILLO-CRIMM

Remember the Alamo!”

The cries will be raised Friday

Feb. 26 to honor Texas history. With their gear in hand,

the members of the Black Powder Gang will gather

the event.

the kids about history and teach the people about things you don’t get from a book.”

costume and shoot off guns haphazardly at each other. In fact, most reenactors

Cordova and his fellow members round up authentic gear and garb from

totaled a little over $1,000.They learn and practice battle tactics used by the Texas and Mexican armies,

and actually take their weapons out to firing ranges to perfect their shoot-ing capabilities. They study history and try to mirror it to keep it alive for the people of the 21st century.

Texas – much like the real Alamo fighters – send out handwritten parchment

Each person comes to the battle field with full 1830’s gear from head to toe. They pitch a campsite together; some – like Cordova – bring their family

to sing traditional folk songs that the men of the Alamo could have very well sang in the nights leading up to their epic battle.

hope to inspire pride in their statesmen by reviving Texas history, so people never forget the Alamo

nor the pride of what was once the Republic of Texas.

(This article was written and submitted by

Feb. 26 anto honor Texa

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the kids about history and teach the peoplebook.”

A reenactment does not consist of just a bucostume and shoot off guns haphazardly at ewould be offended by the term “costume.” T

Cordova and his fellow members round upthe 1800’s, paying for their array of artifactscan get pretty pricey; for Cordova’s replica rtotaled a little over $1,000.

They learn and practice battle tactics used and actually take their weapons out to firing ing capabilities. They study history and try tpeople of the 21st century.

To really get into the mindset of the peoplethe 1830s during the Texas Revolution, the mTexas – much like the real Alamo fighters –letters with waxed stamps to rally together th

Each person comes to the battle field withtoe. They pitch a campsite together; some – along. At night, with instruments in hand, thto sing traditional folk songs that the men ofsang in the nights leading up to their epic ba

When morning comes, the regiments of eacommence. Though their skirmishes aren’t shistorical accounts, and each puts in his ideaThe battle rages and the brave men of the Acan army, led by tyrannical Mexican Pres

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(This article was written and Scarle

The Art of ReenactmentCordova, Black Powder Gang bring Texas history alive

Imagine being transported back in time to see the skirmishes of soldiers and volunteers fighting to keep the Alamo.

Historical reenactments can help people see what may have happened in past events. There are groups of people who get

together to bring history out of the pages of school books and right into your home town. People like Ruben

Cordova can be found in such a

bunch. Cordova is a member of the Black Powder Gang,

a reenactment outfit, who has a passion for his hobby and takes his roles seriously by using gear from

the specific time period.He does it to out of his love for history and his hopes to bring pieces of it

back for the public to see. These people go all out to make the experience as real as possible. Paying for the artifacts themselves, they hunt for gear from the 1800’s ranging from clothing to tooth brushes to guns to soap.

With research, they buy or construct clothing from a certain time. Many of the fighters from the Texas side didn’t wear a standard uniform during the battle of the Alamo. The locals would have been dressed in white cotton pants and shirts with decorative jackets and chaps, sombreros, and leather boots. Cordova has compiled a com-

plete outfit that a Texas Vaquero would have worn at the battle of the Alamo.

In most battles, the men would carry all of their gear along with them into the skirmishes. They carried canvas sacks with hair and tooth brushes, soap, and their razors. Another leather satchel would have been full of little packs of black powder and ammunition for the guns. They also had a sheath for the bayonets and a cow horn full of loose black powder. This is the typical gear Cordova carries with him during reenactments.

Cordova brings his musket, pistol, bayonet and tomahawk (small ax) into the fray with him. His

guns are all in working order, and he makes it a point to take them out shooting to keep them up.

Because the bullets were round and rarely went in a straight line when fired, the men would act as a unit firing at once. This was known as volley fire. During the skirmishes, the Black

Powder Gang only puts the black powder into the flint pan, and when they take a shot a quick blast of smoke and fire erupts from the gun.

When fighting, the Black Powder Gang uses real historical battle tactics. If the two sides charge at each other, they form

a checker board pattern so no one gets impaled by the bayonets at the end of the muskets. This is done to maintain an authen-tic look to the audience. Also, the men operate by following instructions called out by the officers or beat of the drums.

Historical reenactments are often great ways learn about the past. The actual clothing, gear, weapons and tactics give it all a sense of authenticity that can bring the past to the present and reconnect people with the great events that have led up to our freedoms enjoyed today.

(This article was written and submitted by Scarlet O’Rourke)

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Ever wonder who the man was in 1836 that carried the message “we shall never surrender or retreat” across the lines during the battle of the Alamo?

His name wasn’t Davy Crockett.Juan Seguin, one of many unsung heroes in the Tejanos’

role of Texas independence, is the answer.Seguin is considered a Tejano hero of the Texas Revolu-

tion, whose invaluable participation alongside the more celebrated figures of Crockett, Sam Houston, and Jim Bowie, has often gone unnoticed by the general public.

In fact, it has only been recently that Seguin, as well as other Tejanos’ stories have been told. This is Seguin’s.

Born into an established Tejano family in San Antonio, Seguin quickly rose to power and was even elected alcalde – a Spanish municipal magistrate who had both judicial and administrative functions – when he was 18 years old. Seguin’s father was also a political ally of Stephen F. Austin, who is more commonly known as “The Father of Texas.”

Seguin joined the Texas Revolution in 1835 and orga-nized a company of Tejano volunteers to repel Mexican forces.

It was well-known during that time that Tejanos, like their American brothers-in-arms, despised Mexican Presi-dent Antonio López de Santa Anna, often referring to his rule as being tyrannical and yearned for a visible, repre-sentative government.

Seguin and his Tejano troops ended up at the Alamo at one point and fought side-by-side with the Spaanish mis-sion’s heroes. But the mission fell while Seguin was car-rying a message to other Texan soldiers. Seguin returned to find all Texas Revolutionaries held up at the Alamo, Tejanos and Anglos alike, dead. The number of casualties ranged from 180-258.

Seguin then rode to San Jacinto and fought heroically. The battle of San Jacinto ended up being the battle that as-sured Texas independence.

After the Texas Revolution, Seguin returned to his hometown and resumed his political career by being elected mayor of San Antonio – this after he served in the Republic of Texas Senate from 1838-1840.

Among other little known facts, Seguin was the last Mexican-American (Tejano) to occupy the office of mayor of San Antonio until the 1980s.

After encountering a tumultuous tenure as mayor, largely

due to tense relations between Tejanos and Anglos over growing resentment of Mexicans that at times escalated to death threats, Seguin found himself retreating to Mexico and hence lived in the country he once fought against.

To make matters worse, many felt Seguin was coerced into Mexican military service, leading to combat missions against Americans during the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846-48.

Though Seguin attempted to return to Texas after the war, he once again found himself returning to Mexican, where he re-mained until his death in 1890.

Today, a town in Texas is named after the Tejano: Seguin, Texas, where his remains were returned on July 4, 1976.

Juan SeguinFamous Tejano one of Texas Revolution’s many unsung heroes

JUAN SEGUIN

I t’s a little known fact that Pan de Campo is the official state bread of Texas.

After San Benito’s Second Annual Texas Independence Day Celebration, chances are

Often baked in a cast iron Dutch oven over a mesquite fire, Pan de Campo, or camp

about the diameter of the Dutch oven in which

about an inch and a half or two inches thick.

Heralded for its fla-vor and tex-ture, Pan de Campo has become such a mainstay in

Tejano culture that there are often festivals and celebrations specifically

at one point, when Pan de Campo festivals near the Berta Cabaza Elementary School campus were once held. Although these festivals have not been held in three years, the event once attracted not just Pan de Campo bakers but a plethora of other interesting exhibitors. There were those who

also displayed bows and arrows of the time and instructed on how to craft them, not to mention people who portrayed 18th century handymen and the tools once used.

attend the Texas Independence Day Celebration in

Last year, attendees flocked first to the

display or exhibit – a true testa-ment to the tasty bread’s allure and

delicious-ness.Those who do

and for those who don’t want to cheat by baking it

in their kitchen oven, Pan de

lidded skillet. In fact, it’s been known that once can also wrap the dough around a long wood-en stick and cook it over a coal fire.

However, it has been argued by some that baking the Pan de Campo in a cast iron Dutch oven gives it a moist texture.

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“Texas shall be free and independent, or we shall perish in glorious combat.”

-Juan Seguin

Federico V. Garza

402 E. Harrison, Suite BHarlingen, TX 78550

Telephone: 956-428-6945Fax: 956-428-6990

Email: stmshrltx@sbcglobal.net

1100 W. Hwy. 77, San Benito, TX(956) 361-3380

PILO’S

MEXICAN CAFÉ

Accordingto

youbThe following was written and compiled by Jack Ayoub,

a co-founder of the San Benito Texas Independence Day Celebration. Specifically, “Accourding to Ayoub” is the result of research conducted by Ayoub (shown above) into Tejanos’ role during the Texas Revolution.

Texas history has forgotten another Tejano hero, Sergeant Antonio Menchaca of the Texas Army, a personal friend of Jim Bowie and General Sam Houston, who fought for Texas independence at

the Battle of San Jacinto in Capt. Juan Seguin’s company of Tejano soldiers.

When Davy Crockett and his Tennessee Mounted Volun-teers first came to San Antonio in February of 1836, Bowie and Menchaca were the first to greet them, and Menchaca personally escorted Crockett to the home of Erasmo Seguin, father of Capt. Juan Seguin, to rest for the first few nights.

A fiesta was organized by Menchaca to celebrate Crock-ett’s arrival, and a second fiesta later to celebrate George Washington’s birthday, it was at the latter fiesta that Sgt. Menchaca received a scouting report from Bias De La Gar-za, one of Capt. Seguin’s Tejano scouts that Santa Anna’s army was close to San Antonio. Bowie read it and believed the scouting report to be accurate.

At the Battle of San Jacinto, Menchaca served as the English translator for Capt. Seguin’s company of Tejano soldiers, as well as to cook Santa Anna’s first meal as a

captive soldier. After the Texas war for independence, Menchaca would serve the city of San Antonio as alderman and as mayor pro tern in July 1838. In July 1842, Capt. Menchaca com-manded a frontier company of soldiers between the San Antonio river and

the Rio Grande river and was wounded in the leg trying to defend San Antonio against the invading Mexican army, led by General Adrian Woll, in September of 1842.

Menchaca, along with Seguin and 17 other Bexar (San Antonio) residents in 1875, wrote the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts claiming discrimination by the Texas gov-ernment against Tejano war veterans of the Texas Revolu-tion for their military pensions. Texas history has forgotten many of our Texas and Tejano heroes, but on Feb. 26-27, San Benito will be celebrating Texas Independence Day with a history symposium to include three nationally-known historians, not to mention horseback riders riding down the main street reenactments and more. All Texans and Tejanos are invited to a day of celebration and education.

We should all remember the bravery and cour-age of those eight Tejanos (Texas-born citi-zens of Mexican and Spanish ancestry) from Capt. Juan Seguin’s company of soldiers who

fought and died for Texas independence from Mexico at the Alamo.

Every Texan and Tejano who volunteered for military service in the Texas army was promised 320 acres of land for three months, 640 acres for six months, and 1,280 acres for the entire duration of the war.

According to the Texas General Land Office, at least two fallen Tejano soldiers were not paid for their military service; Andres Nava and Damacio Jimenez, because their families were too poor to pay for the court filing fees. There is still an unpaid war debt from 1836 that is owed to their families. It is a sad fact that these Tejanos, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for Texas, with Col. William B. Travis, Col. Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett, would not receive their rightful reward from a grateful Texas for its independence from Mexico.

O n May 5, Cinco de Mayo, many will remember the brave Mexicans who fought for Mexican independence, but who remembers the Lorenzo de Zavala family who fought for Texas inde-

pendence? In 1836, Mexican General Santa Anna wanted to

capture the highest ranking government official in his administration, Lorenzo de Zavala, Sr. for siding with the Texans and the Tejanos against Mexico. When Santa Anna voided the Mexican constitution of 1824, he essentially assumed powers of a dictator. The former Mexican ambassador to France left his post, and Loren-zo and his family came to Texas to support the cause for freedom and liberty. On March 2, 1836, along with 58 other Texas patriots, including Jose Antonio Navarro and Francisco Ruiz, Tejano delegates from San Antonio.

Lorenzo De Zavala, Sr. signed the Texas Declaration of Independence and would be elected the first vice-president of the Republic of Texas. Because of ill health, de Zavala died within seven months, but his dream of an independent Texas Republic would come true.

With the rank of Major, Lorenzo de Zavala, Jr. served in the Texas war for independence as General Sam Houston’s translator in his talks with Santa Anna after the Battle of San Jacinto.

Adina de Zavala, Lorenzo’s granddaughter, would fight in the second Battle of the Alamo by barricading herself inside the north barrack of the Alamo for three days in February of 1909 to prevent its destruction. Texas has won its independence from Mexico and has the shrine of the Alamo to remind all Texans and Teja-nos of the contributions and the sacrifices of our heroes, like the Lorenzo de Zavala family.

F ernando Deleon, the oldest son of Martin De-leon, the founder of Victoria, TX, was actu-ally jailed three times for treason: twice by the Mexican army, and once by the Texas army

during the Texas Revolution.At the onset of the war, Fernando went to New Orleans

to sell captured mustang horses for much-needed sup-plies for the Texas army. When his ship was stopped

by a Mexican vessel, the supplies were discovered, and Deleon was sent in chains to a Matamoros jail for trea-son. His brother-in-law Capt. Placido Benavides led the Victoria militia to help him escape his captivity, although many of them were captured by the Mexican army in the attempt.

After the fall of the Alamo, Mexican General Ur-rea marched his army through Victoria where he heard reports that Fernando Deleon hid more supplies for the Texas army. When Deleon denied it, Urrea had Fer-nando thrown in the Victoria jail for treason and was subjected to daily beatings until he confessed where the supplies were. Urrea had Fernando placed on house ar-rest, when he left Victoria to try and join up with Gen-eral Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto.

After the Texas war for independence, Texas General Benjamin Rusk had the Texas army move to Victoria, where he heard reports that Fernando Deleon had given supplies to General Urrea and the Mexican army.

Deleon was thrown back in jail again for treason against Texas. When Fernando was allowed to bathe in the river, Texas soldiers decided to take potshots at this unarmed and naked Tejano, and he suffered a flesh wound.

Fernando Deleon and the entire Deleon family, includ-ing his mother, brothers, sisters, and brothers-in-law, had to leave their ranches and all their property as pun-ishment for treason. They lived in exile for nine years in New Orleans. When Texas entered the United States in 1845, Fernando’s mother, Patricia Deleon, decided it was time to go back to Victoria and fight for their homes and land. Fernando hired their good friend and fellow Catholic John Linn as their lawyer. He proved in court that Deleon was not a traitor to Texas but actually a pa-triot for Texas independence. In a series of court battles, the Deleon family was able to regain all their confis-cated property back.

We all need to remember the contributions from forgotten Tejano heroes like Fernando Deleon, and to celebrate Texas Independence Day on March 2 that was made possible through the sacrifice of Tejano heroes like Fernando Deleon.

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Late February marks the birthday of Jose Antonio Navarro, a Tejano leader who backed the movement for Texas independence from Mexico. Indeed, Navarro, and Jose Francisco Ruiz, an uncle, signed the Texas Declaration of Independence.

Their support for this cause highlights Tejanos’ regional identity and their interests, which were distinct from those of other Mexicans.

Navarro and Ruiz were among numerous Tejanos who risked their lives for their families and homeland. In the process, they played important roles in the 1835-1836 conflict that changed the course of history.

Still, Tejanos did not fare well after the Texas Revolution. Anglo new-comers took over their lands and relegated Tejanos to laborers, basing their actions on the Mexican loss of the revolution. Texans retold the story of the epic battle of the Alamo with an anti-Mexican and, by extension, an anti Mexican-American bent that “proved” all Mexicans were “evil.”

In this context, Tejano support for the Texas independence movement appears to have been mistaken.

It wasn’t.A complete examination of the pre-revolution conditions validates the

Tejanos’ opposition to the centralist rule advocated by Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and their support of the Texas cause.

Tejanos, along with the Native Americans who established the mission-ary-led towns, were the original settlers of New Spain’s far northern Provin-cia de Texas. They set up farms irrigated with water from the San Antonio River and established ranches downriver.

Their livestock holdings from those ranches constituted their real source of wealth.

But hauling livestock products or driving cattle and horses to Saltillo and other northern Mexican markets limited the profits Tejanos could reap from their efforts. Additionally, the goods Tejanos bought at Saltillo were made very expensive by an officially protected monopoly of Mexico City merchants.

Tejanos thus lacked a strong economic unifying infrastructure with other northern Mexican communities. As a result, they did not develop an indis-soluble affinity and loyalty to the colonial heartland and the new Mexican nation.

The frontier province of Texas developed into a true border as the Ameri-can colonial economy moved closer to New Spain – even before the settlers on the westward movement crossed the Sabine River.

A century before, Spain had considered the Texas province a buffer zone between New Spain and expanding French interests in the lower Missis-sippi Valley. Yet, this aspect of Texas settlement can be overstressed.

Texas was also a frontier extension of the New Spain’s heartland and the colonizers here – Indians, mestizos, Canary Islanders – acted out of their own need for economic security, permanence and advancement.

The transition of Texas from a frontier to a borderland occurred be-cause of the American Revolution. During the 1770s, Tejanos sold horses and cattle to middle-men in Louisiana who represented the American rebels. This link with Louisiana changed the direction of the economic infrastructure forever.

After the American Revolution, Tejanos con-tinued the drives to Louisiana despite the Spanish government’s prohibition. Indeed, the prohibition

pitted Tejanos against Spanish authorities, reinforcing the separate identity that had developed over time.

Given this ongoing conflict, faraway Spanish authorities, many Tejanos had supported Mexico’s independence from Spain in the early 1800s and later backed Mexican leaders who advocated organizing the new nation as a federal republic.

Thus, Tejanos opposed President Santa Anna’s efforts to govern Mexico principally as a centralized state. And they joined Anglo Texans in their rebellion against Santa Anna when he ruptured the economic ties between Texas and United States. Santa Anna was disrupting the stability that Teja-nos had enjoyed for more than a century.

Navarro’s home in San Antonio reflects the stability and tenacity of Teja-nos to survive through adversity. San Antonio and Texas was the Tejanos’ homeland, and they defended it with their lives and honor.

(This article was written by San Antonio historian Gilberto Hinojosa and has also been published in the San Antonio News-Express)

Jose Antonio NavarroTejano leader among those who signed Texas Declaration of Independence

JOSE ANTONIO NAVARRO

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