Texas Revolution: Gonzales, Concepción, San Antonio and the Goliad declaration

Background. The Texas Revolution began in October 1835 as a rebellion by Anglo-American immigrants and Hispanic Texans against the centralist government of Mexico. Political tensions had escalated over a decade, culminating in armed federalist rebellions in several Mexican states. The conflict in Texas was part of this broader deterioration of the political situation, where settlers and Tejanos launched the revolution against Mexican authority.

Opening Campaign. The campaign commenced with the Battle of Gonzales on October 2, 1835, where Texian settlers resisted Mexican soldiers attempting to reclaim a small cannon. Following this initial skirmish, the newly organized Texian Army marched towards San Antonio de Béxar. On October 28, 1835, Texian patriots led by James Bowie and James Fannin defeated Mexican troops at the Battle of Concepción.

Capture and Declaration. Texian forces defeated small garrisons of Mexican soldiers by mid-December 1835, capturing San Antonio. The Texas Declaration of Independence was formally adopted on March 2, 1836, at the Convention of 1836 in Washington-on-the-Brazos. This formal adoption followed earlier political consultations, including the 1835 Consultation which reaffirmed a desire to remain part of Mexico under federalist terms.