In a meeting hall at Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texans meet to write the Texas Declaration of Independence, released March 2, 1836; image from Portal to Texas History
So, put some barbecue in the smoker, get a Shiner for you and your pet armadillo, sit back and enjoy the holiday. If you’re near Washington-on-the-Brazos, go to the ceremony. You’d better be sure you’ve got plenty of Blue Bell Ice Cream.
What? You don’t get the day off? You know, Texas schools don’t even take the day off any more. (In 2014, of course, it’s a Sunday.)
I thought things were going to change when the Tea Party got to Austin and Washington? What happened?
For Texas Independence Day, it’s appropriate to fly your U.S. flag — or your Texas flag, if you have one.
Original Manuscript, Texas Declaration of Independence, page 1 – Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Text from the image above:
The Unanimous
Declaration of Independence
made by the
Delegates of the People of Texas
in General Convention
at the Town of Washington
on the 2nd day of March 1836When a government has ceased
to protect the lives, liberty and property
of the people, from whom its legitimate
powers are derived, and for the advance-
ment of whose happiness it was inst-
ituted, and so far from being a guaran-
tee for the enjoyment of those inesti-
mable and inalienable rights, becomes
an instrument in the hands of evil
rulers for their oppression.
[Complete text, and images of each page, at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission site.]
Resources for Texas Independence Day
- Texas Declaration of Independence, at the Online Texas History Handbook
- Portal to Texas History has teacher notes, lesson plans and class exercises
- Historian and author H. W. Brands will be at the Texas Archives in Austin for a lecture (he’s the author of Lone Star Nation, among many other good books), and cake. 11:30 a.m., March 2, 2011.
Resources at Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub
- In 2009, some rare documents related to the Texas Declaration of Independence turned up.
- “Yellow Rose of Texas” and the Battle of San Jacinto (true story, really)
- Texas Independence Day 2008
- Teachers, get ready for San Jacinto Day, April 21
More:
- Events and information, at Celebrate Texas!
- “I am besieged by a thousand or more . . .” at Texas Scribbler
- “Remember Goliad on Texas Independence Day,” Weekend Beercast
- “Independence Day: Students celebrate Texas history,” Killeen Daily Herald
This is mostly an encore post.
Millard Fillmore's Bathtub 
Yeah if Texas was independent they’d actually have to pay for their own stuff instead of being so dependent on the other 49 states to subsidize them.
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13 days of glory for 180 Texans and all of us today
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And like Texas we keep thinking about returning to that status.
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Vermont, one of the few states who, like Texas, were independent prior to joining the U.S. . . .
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I know we all celebrate it vigorously here in Vermont.
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That was a momentous day – three nations north of the Rio Grande.
Houston, the man who Generaled the Independence, was the first and only President and organized Texas into the United States died thinking he was a failure.
Probably thought that after reconsidering if Texas should have joined the USA…..
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