The Mexican-American War (1846-48): Part I-The Texan Revolution

The Mexican-American War lasted from 1846 to 1848. The official cause of the war was Mexican opposition to the American annexation of the Republic of Texas, which had won its freedom from Mexico ten years earlier. However, President James Polk intended to use the war to greatly expand the United States by annexing New Mexico and California, therefore it was the first war fought against a fellow republic to gain territory. Episode One explains how the Mexican government permitted Stephen Austin to establish a colony in Texas as a buffer against the Comanche, but the colonists resented their status as Mexican citizens and revolted in 1835.

Cast of Characters:
Stephen Austin-founder of the first American colony in Texas
Sam Houston-commander of the Texan army, former governor of Tennessee
Santa Anna-President of Mexico
Jim Bowie-real estate speculator who fled the US to avoid charges of land fraud and advocate of revolt against Mexico
Doctor James Long-led attempts to conquer Texas in 1819 and 1821
Andrew Jackson-President of the United States from 1829 to 1837
General Joaquin de Arredondo y Miono-Spanish general who crushed several revolts and filibuster expeditions in Texas

Sources:
Lone Star Nation: The Epic Story of the Battle for Texas Independence-H.W. Brands
Lone Star Rising: The Revolutionary Birth of the Texas Republic-William C. Davis
Three Roads to the Alamo: The Lives and Fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie and William Barrett Travis-William C. Davis
Duel of Eagles: The Mexican and US Fight for the Alamo-Jeff Long
Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers: The Texas Victory that Changed American History-Brian Kilmeade
David Crockett: The Lion of the West-Michael Wallis
Santa Anna of Mexico-Will Fowler
Sam Houston-James L. Haley
Sam Houston: The Life and Times of the Liberator of Texas-An Authentic American Hero-John Hoyt Williams
Seeds of Empire: Cotton, Slavery, and the Transformation of the Texas Borderlands, 1800-1850-Andrew J. Torget
What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848-Daniel Walker Howe
Mexico: Biography of Power, A History of Modern Mexico, 1810-1996-Enrique Krauze, translated by Hank Heifetz

Image Credit:
By Adolphe Jean-Baptiste Bayot - Originally published in The War Between the United States and Mexico, Illustrated, 1851, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1178283