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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Anahuac was the scene of a number of pivotal |
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incidents that helped ignite the Texas Revolution in the 1830s, and |
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the town is indeed deserving of recognition for its seminal role in |
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the creation of the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Those momentous events were set in motion by the |
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passage of the Law of 1830, under which Mexico established a series |
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of new outposts in Texas to enforce Mexican law, collect taxes, and |
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stem the influx of U.S. citizens into the region; that year, |
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Lieutenant Colonel Juan Davis Bradburn and a company of Mexican |
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soldiers under his command arrived at Perry's Point, where the |
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Trinity River enters Galveston Bay, and established a fort that |
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they named Anahuac; Colonel Bradburn soon incited the discontent of |
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local settlers with his heavy-handed style of governance, his |
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refusal to issue land titles, his unfair taxing practices, and the |
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alleged criminal activity of some of his soldiers; and |
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WHEREAS, In May and June of 1832, two law partners in Anahuac, |
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Patrick Jack and William B. Travis, took a stand against Colonel |
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Bradburn's policies, and after the two men were arrested and |
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incarcerated at the fort, a force of outraged Texans advanced to |
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nearby Turtle Bayou, intent on freeing the two men; several armed |
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skirmishes between the Mexican troops and the Texans led to the |
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Battle of Velasco, in which the Mexican force surrendered; |
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meanwhile, the insurgents drafted the "Turtle Bayou Resolutions" to |
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explain their opposition to the Mexican government; ultimately, the |
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insurrection freed Jack and Travis and forced the Mexicans to |
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abandon their outpost at Anahuac, and the incident helped set the |
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stage for the Battle of Nacogdoches a short time later; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1835, Captain Antonio Tenorio of the Mexican army |
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attempted to reestablish the fort and customhouse at Anahuac but |
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was driven off by a force of 25 Texans led by William Travis; as a |
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result of the Texan victories at Anahuac, Velsaco, and Nacogdoches, |
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the eastern half of Texas was free of Mexican control on the eve of |
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the Texas Revolution, which was an important factor in the decisive |
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defeat of the Mexican army under General Santa Anna at the Battle of |
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San Jacinto in 1836; and |
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WHEREAS, In the opinion of many historians, including Carroll |
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A. Lewis, Anahuac was the site of a number of important firsts as |
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Texas sought its independence; these included the first opposition |
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to Mexican martial law, the first written declaration challenging |
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the authority of the central Mexican government, the first armed |
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rebellion against Mexican forces, and the first battle casualties |
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on both sides of the conflict; as a result, Anahuac has earned the |
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fitting nickname of "First Stand of the Texas Revolution"; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Anahuac's crucial role in the struggle for |
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Texas independence; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Chambers County and the City of Anahuac as an |
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expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Middleton |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 353 was adopted by the House on March |
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13, 2019, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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