c1850 Texian Campaigne Historical Staffordshire Blue Transferware platter James

Description: c1850 Texian Campaigne Historical Staffordshire Blue Transferware platter James
Beech. No cracks, chips, restorations, or crazing. I few light expected
blemishes as shown. 17 5/8" x 14 1/8"

The "Texian Campaigne" transferware pattern was introduced about 1837; although
made in Staffordshire, it was produced to appeal to Americans. The pattern was
designed to commemorate the 1835-1836 revolution fought against Mexico by Texans
for their independence (the word 'Texian' is the British form for Texas.)

The Texas Revolution (October 2, 1835 – April 21, 1836) was a rebellion of
colonists from the United States and Tejanos (Texas Mexicans) in putting up
armed resistance to the centralist government of Mexico. While the uprising was
part of a larger one, the Mexican Federalist War, that included other provinces
opposed to the regime of President Antonio López de Santa Anna, the Mexican
government believed the United States had instigated the Texas insurrection with
the goal of annexation. The Mexican Congress passed the Tornel Decree, declaring
that any foreigners against Mexican troops "will be deemed pirates and dealt
with as such, being citizens of no nation presently at war with the Republic and
under no recognized flag". Only the province of Texas succeeded in breaking with
Mexico, establishing the Republic of Texas, and eventually being annexed by the
United States.

The revolution began in October 1835, after a decade of political and cultural
clashes between the Mexican government and the increasingly large population of
American settlers in Texas. The Mexican government had become increasingly
centralized and the rights of its citizens had become increasingly curtailed,
particularly regarding immigration from the United States. Colonists and Tejanos
disagreed on whether the ultimate goal was independence or a return to the
Mexican Constitution of 1824. While delegates at the Consultation (provisional
government) debated the war's motives, Texians and a flood of volunteers from
the United States defeated the small garrisons of Mexican soldiers by
mid-December 1835. The Consultation declined to declare independence and
installed an interim government, whose in led to political paralysis and a
dearth of effective governance in Texas. An ill-conceived proposal to invade
Matamoros siphoned much-needed volunteers and provisions from the fledgling
Texian Army. In March 1836, a second political convention declared independence
and appointed leadership for the new Republic of Texas.

Determined to avenge Mexico's honor, Santa Anna vowed to personally retake
Texas. His Army of Operations entered Texas in mid-February 1836 and found the
Texians completely unprepared. Mexican General José de Urrea led a contingent of
troops on the Goliad Campaign up the Texas coast, defeating all Texian troops in
his path and executing most of those who surrendered. Santa Anna led a larger
force to San Antonio de Béxar (or Béxar), where his troops defeated the Texian
garrison in the Battle of the Alamo, killing almost all of the defenders.

A newly created Texian army under the command of Sam Houston was constantly on
the move, while terrified civilians fled with the army, in a melee known as the
Runaway Scrape. On March 31, Houston paused his men at Groce's Landing on the
Brazos River, and for the next two weeks, the Texians received rigorous military
training. Becoming complacent and underestimating the strength of his foes,
Santa Anna further subdivided his troops. On April 21, Houston's army staged a
surprise assault on Santa Anna and his vanguard force at the Battle of San
Jacinto. The Mexican troops were quickly routed, and vengeful Texians executed
many who tried to surrender. Santa Anna was taken hostage; in exchange for his
life, he ordered the Mexican army to retreat south of the Rio Grande. Mexico
refused to recognize the Republic of Texas, and intermittent conflicts between
the two countries continued into the 1840s. The annexation of Texas as the 28th
state of the United States, in 1845, led directly to the Mexican–American War.

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