This is the Battleship Texas viewed from the viewing platform atop of the San Jacinto monument.
The Battle ship Texas is the only surviving battleship to have fought in both world wars. She is maintained as a monument to the American sailors who fought through two world wars to defense of liberty.
The San Jacinto Monument, rising 570 feet above the battleground, stands as a memorial to the men who fought for Texas independence. Built to commemorate the centennial of the battle, it is the tallest masonry structure in the world. The San Jacinto Museum of History is at the base of the tower. Its exhibits provide an overview of four hundred years of Texas history
I am finding that not enough is taught in schools about the importance of this very decisive battle. It is, I am convinced, one of the most decisive battles guiding the future of this nation. If the Texicans had not won this battle against Santa Anna he would have maintained control of every piece of land west of Missouri. All of it could have been part of Mexico. The people of Texas before it became a state were called Texicans. Some were Anglo Americans and some were Mexican citizens. For an Anglo American to be given land in this part of Mexico he had to declare allegiance to Spain and convert to the Catholic religion. They all became citizens of Mexico after Mexico won its independence from Spain. When Mexico declared it independence from Spain in 1824 they had a constitution much like our own. In the fall of 1835 President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna abolished the constitution and declared himself "The Napoleon of the West". In March of 1836 he led 6000 troops against San Antonio and the Alamo fell. Sam Huston and his army fled east and eventually Santa Anna caught up to them at San Jacinto. He had divided his troops in three groups and he led a troop of about 1200 himself. Sam Houston attacked him from two flanks with 900 men. With the cry "Remember the Alamo and Remember Goliad" the battle was over in twenty minutes. The battle that was to decide this nations future. Santa Anna was captured and signed a treaty that allowed Texas it's independence. Texas applied for statehood and was denied, the president of these united states fearing that such action would bring on a war with Mexico. Finally in 1846 Texas was admitted as a state. It did lead to war with Mexico and when the United States won all the land north of the Rio Grand River became part of United States.
There were nine of the Texas men killed and over six hundred of the Mexican army killed here at San Jacinto battle field.
Click on the web link to San Jacinto Battleground.
