A Look at Independence Day from a History Major

by Thomas Kay

​“For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America. Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study, and the passionate possession of all Texans.” This quote by John Steinbeck really encapsulates the true essence of being a Texan. Where did this pride come from? Where did this obsession start? To answer this, you must first look to the year 1823.

In 1823, Stephen F. Austin received a grant to begin colonization along the Brazos River. In the next 6 to 7 years, Texas became a place synonymous with adventure, prosperity, and a chance for a new life. Eventually, the Mexican government and immigrant relations grew tense and Texans began the process of leaving Mexico. Now, as any Texan knows, in 1835 The Battle of Gonzales known for the phrase, “Come and Take It,” started the Texas Revolution. This war immortalized men such as Sam Houston, Davey Crockett, William B. Travis, and Juan Seguin. It also gave rallying cries that Texans remember, even today, like, “Remember the Alamo!”
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This revolution was only the beginning of the identity that defines Texas. The spirit of adventure and endless possibilities has been shown throughout the years from the age of cowboys, to the oil booms, even the influx of technology and the opportunities brought forth today. I love this state. I love the fact that there is an unspoken bond that Texans share with one another. I end with this quote from Conrad Hilton, for those who may have forgetten what the spirit of Texas, and being a Texan, is all about. “There’s a vastness here and I believe that the people who are born here breathe that vastness into their soul. They dream big dreams and think big thoughts, because there is nothing to hem them in.” 

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