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Texian volunteers in Gonzales refuse to surrender their cannon to a Mexican force under Lieutenant Francisco Castaneda and charge the Mexicans, engaging in a brief skirmish and beginning the Texas Revolution.
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Following a seemingly unsuccessful two-month siege against General Cos's forces in Bexar, Benjamin Milam rallies 300 volunteers at the last moment and attacks the city on December 5, advancing to the center of San Antonio by December 9. Mexican forces agree to surrender terms within two days.
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About 180 men under the command William Travis attempt to defend San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo) against Santa Anna's vastly superior force. After a two-week siege, Santa Anna charges the Alamo on March 6, killing all defenders.
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The convention of delegates at Washington-on-the-Brazos adopts a Declaration of Independence from Mexico with no debate, officially forming the Republic of Texas.
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Sam Houston, commanding an army of 900 Texians, decisively routs Santa Anna's sleeping army of 1,350 in a surprise afternoon attack. Santa Anna is soon captured, and Texas independence is won.
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The prisoner Santa Anna signs a treaty agreeing to formally end the war and withdraw Mexican troops south of the Rio Grande. Santa Anna secretly promises that he will lobby for recognition of the treaty and of Texas independence by the Mexican government.
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Sam Houston is elected the first president of the Republic of Texas and assumes office on October 22, 1836. His term is defined by largely unsuccessful attempts to obtain recognition for Texas, to make peace with Indian tribes, and to manage land and debt issues.
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The United States of America becomes the first nation to officially recognize the Republic of Texas as independent, marking the only significant diplomatic success of Sam Houston's first administration.
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Vicente Cordova leads a failed rebellion of Tejanos and Indian tribes against the Texas government. After months of raids and attacks on Anglo settlements beginning in August 1838, the rebellion is decisively defeated at Battleground Prairie on March 29, 1839.
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Mirabeau Lamar, a rival of Sam Houston, succeeds him as president of the Texas Republic. His term was defined by aggressive policies and conflicts with Indian tribes and Mexico, as well as increased efforts to secure foreign recognition of Texas. His term ended in disgrace following the failed Santa Fe Expedition.
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A group of 320 Texans under the command of General Hugh McLeod attempt to reach Santa Fe in New Mexico and bring it under the control of Texas. The expedition ends in complete failure and the capture of McLeod's group by Mexican forces on October 5, 1841.
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Sam Houston reclaims the presidency in 1841, following the failures of Lamar's administration. In Houston's second term, he addressed the financial crisis, renewed his efforts to make peace with the Indians, confronted multiple aggressions by Mexico, and opened negotiations for annexation by the United States.
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Sam Houston's ally and secretary of state Anson Jones succeeds him as president of Texas in December 1844. Jones continues Houston's efforts to secure annexation by the United States.
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At the urging of President John Tyler, the U.S. Congress narrowly passes a resolution offering Texas admission to the Union as a state.
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The voters of Texas approve both the U.S. Congress' annexation resolution and the proposed state constitution.
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President James K. Polk signs the Texas Admission Act on December 29, 1845, approving the state constitution and officially annexing Texas to the Union.
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The newly elected state government of Texas formally assumes power from the Republic of Texas at a ceremony in Austin, as President Jones delivers a final speech and the U.S. flag is raised.