Forget the Alamo?

Forget the Alamo

When I hear the names Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, William Barret Travis, Santa Anna and the state of Texas along with a whisper of  John Wayne, of course I think of the Alamo.  The story of the freedom fighters' bravery, courage and deaths as they fought to win independence from Mexico is legendary. But, how much of what we think we know is true?

A fascinating new book entitled, "Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth," examines what really happened, and explores how the heroic myth came about. Authors Bryan Burrough, Chris Tomlinson and Jason Stanford, have written a provocative tale that not only speaks to the truth, but also looks at the surprising reasons the fight for independence began in the first place.

In one of the most controversial findings, the authors explain that the battle for the independence of Texas began, at least in part, because of Mexico's anti-slavery stance. Plantation owners from the south had already settled in the region, bringing their slaves with them. Ending slavery would have brought an abrupt end to the plantation owners' lucrative cotton trade, and resulted in financial ruin.

I won't give you any more spoilers, but I highly recommend reading "Forget the Alamo." ​
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To learn more, listen to this Politics and Prose discussion with the authors:

This Fresh Air podcast covers many of the more fascinating aspects of the book as well:
"Forget the Alamo" Author Says We Have the Texas Origin Story All Wrong"

Do you plan to read "Forget the Alamo?" Let me know in the comments. 

Stay tuned for more.