Why do Texans think Texas is another country rather than another state?

Question

Why are Texans so cocky about it?

NamerOfStars · Accepted Answer

History, and historical revisionism: Texas, at one brief point, WAS another country.

See, back before the Mexican-American war, the region north of the Rio Grande was pretty unpopulated (which is probably a big part of why said war didn't happen a generation earlier). Many disaffected Americans, seeking a new frontier, approached the Mexican government with an offer: give them Mexican citizenship and the right to settle the land, and they'd do so, beefing up the population and economic strength of the area, which would help drive the bandits out, and if, as was feared, it DID come to war with the US, the Texans (or "Tehans", since Spanish doesn't do the letter X, but still uses it for some unfathomable reason), being loyal Mexicans, would rally to their nation's defense.

The Mexican government said they'd agree, on three conditions:

-first, the newcomers would have to learn Spanish. Naturally, if you're going to live in a country, you'd need to know the language (given how many Mexican immigrants to the US refuse to learn English, this is kind of hilarious in retrospect).

-second, they'd have to convert to Catholicism. Tensions between Orthodox and Protestant Christianity today are NOTHING compared to what they were back then, and the US, then as now, was largely Protestant.

-third, they'd have to manumit their slaves, since slavery was illegal in Mexico.

The would-be settlers agreed to all three conditions, and the program began. Ten years later, when Mexican officials came to check up on things, they found all three provisions being wantonly disregarded; Catholicism was still seen as a backwards superstition, Spanish was only for provincial losers, and slavery was rampant. The government protested, and Texas seceded as an independent nation. After a series of humiliating Texan defeats, the US government stepped in, seeing at first a chance to make a buffer between them and Mexico, and then to just seize the territory for themselves. They trained and equipped Houston's troops, and at the battle of San Jacinto, ambushed Santa Anna's forces, routed them, captured the general, and executed many enemies who tried to surrender.

Santa Anna, one of those historical figures who succeeds wildly despite being a total fuck-up (the dude once joined, then took over, a revolution against the government he was leading; he was pretty much a governmental Jack Sparrow), agreed to retreat his forces south of the Rio Grande in exchange for his life. The Texans called this victory; the Mexican government, however, didn't agree, and kept military harassment up for years, until the US government saw a chance to expand itself, and came in to help/consume Texas, kicking off the Mexican-American war.

I find it kind of funny that the American Revolution began with discontent colonists trying to petition the government and begin ignored, up until violence broke out, while the Texan Revolution began with simple disobedience to rules the colonists themselves had agreed to, and yet it's the latter that's so much a source of regional pride.

But then, the media concentration and consequent historical revisionism around their second Revolution shows where much of that comes from; I shudder to think at what a third would be like.

CozyCoffin · Accepted Answer

That's because Texas was its' own independent nation from 1836 to 1846. prior to joining the union. Vermont, from 1777 to 1791 was a republic that had it's own military and government, but wasn't recognized by the British Empire or the continental congress. California had a revolt against Mexico for a time in 1846 and had a section declare independence for 25 days.

Sour-rose · Accepted Answer

... We thi- WHo da hell thinks this is another country? It's a fookin' state.  Who dafaq-

DeeDeeDeVour · Accepted Answer

They  have a "hangover" from the time Texas was a republic.

NathanDavis · Answer

is this personal?

stark04 · Answer

Texans have no tolerance for all the nonsense and bullshit.

legalboxers · Answer

The state with a 1 star rating can go secede and be on their own. But when they loose power or get hit by a hurricane. Screw you its on your own!

exitseven · Answer

It reall is another country. The people are different and the culture is different to.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

They have the right to become another country.

TheSpider · Answer

Because Texas was funded as its own country before finally joining the USA. They don't need us.

AngryCarl · Answer

Well historically Texas was part of Mexico. Ever think about giving it back? That would solve the border problem.

msc545 · Answer

It briefly it WAS another country. I wish it still was.

jahaims · Answer

Why do you think you speak for Texans

Pterodon · Answer

Pride which is lacking in other states

Why do Texans think Texas is another country rather than another state?

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