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Celebrating Texas independence day
Ellis and Texas Independence
The adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836, stands as a defining moment in Texas history, marking the formal birth of the Republic of Texas amid the chaos of the Texas Revolution. What makes this event particularly striking is its timing: it occurred in the midst of the Siege of the Alamo, a desperate 13-day standoff that had begun on February 23 and would end tragically just four days later on March 6. At the heart of this historic declaration was Richard Ellis, a seasoned leader whose role as president of the convention not only shaped the document’s creation but also cemented his legacy as a foundational figure in Texas’ fight for independence.
The Context: A Revolution in Crisis
By early 1836, the Texas Revolution was at a critical juncture. Texian settlers, frustrated by Mexico’s increasingly authoritarian rule under General Antonio López de Santa Anna, had taken up arms in late 1835. Victories like the Siege of Béxar had bolstered their cause, but Santa Anna’s northward march with a formidable army shifted the tide. On February 23, his forces encircled the Alamo in San Antonio, trapping fewer than 200 defenders—including William B. Travis, James Bowie, and Davy Crockett—within its walls. As cannon fire echoed across the plains, the Texian cause teetered on the edge of collapse.
Yet, even as the Alamo endured relentless bombardment, a separate group of 59 delegates gathered roughly 90 miles away in the unfinished settlement of Washington-on-the-Brazos. Their mission was urgent: to decide the political fate of Texas. The siege underscored the stakes—Santa Anna’s “no quarter” flag signaled his intent to crush the rebellion entirely. It was against this backdrop of looming defeat that the delegates, led by Richard Ellis, chose to declare Texas a free and sovereign nation.
Richard Ellis: The Steady Hand at the Helm
Richard Ellis, a 55-year-old Virginian who had migrated to Texas via Alabama, emerged as the linchpin of this momentous assembly. Born in 1781, Ellis brought a wealth of experience as a lawyer, planter, and political leader. His reputation for calm leadership and organizational skill made him the unanimous choice for president of the convention when it convened on March 1, 1836. As the delegates shivered in a drafty, unfinished building—its windows covered with cloth due to a lack of glass—Ellis took charge, steering the group through a whirlwind of debate and decision-making.
Ellis’s leadership was critical from the outset. The convention faced immediate pressure to act decisively, knowing that Santa Anna’s forces were tightening their grip on the Alamo. On March 1, Ellis called the assembly to order and oversaw the appointment of a committee to draft a declaration of independence. George Childress, a Tennessee lawyer and fervent advocate for independence, was tasked with penning the document, likely with input from Ellis and others. Childress worked through the night, modeling the declaration after its American counterpart, listing grievances against Mexico—such as the abolition of the 1824 Constitution and the denial of trial by jury—and asserting Texas’ right to self-governance.
March 2, 1836: The Declaration is Born
By the morning of March 2, just as the Alamo’s defenders faced their tenth day under siege, Childress presented his draft to the convention. Ellis, presiding over the proceedings, ensured the document received swift consideration. The delegates debated its wording briefly, but the urgency of the situation left little room for delay. Under Ellis’s steady guidance, the Texas Declaration of Independence was unanimously adopted that same day. The document, signed by all 59 delegates—including Ellis as president—proclaimed Texas an independent republic, free from Mexican rule.
The timing of this adoption is both poignant and symbolic. On March 2, the Alamo defenders, unaware of the declaration, were enduring near-constant artillery barrages. Travis had sent his final pleas for aid, and a small band of reinforcements from Gonzales had slipped through Mexican lines the previous day. Yet, the convention’s bold move signaled that Texas would not waver, even as Santa Anna’s forces closed in. Ellis’s role in keeping the delegates focused amid such uncertainty was instrumental—he provided the steady hand that turned a ragtag assembly into the founding body of a new nation.
Ellis’s Legacy and the Declaration’s Impact
Richard Ellis’s involvement extended beyond the declaration’s adoption. As convention president, he signed the document prominently at the top, a testament to his leadership. After March 2, he remained active in the fledgling republic, chairing committees to establish a provisional government and later serving as a senator in the Republic of Texas Congress. His contributions were later honored when Ellis County, created in 1849, was named after him—a fitting tribute to the man who helped birth Texas independence.
The declaration’s adoption on March 2 did not immediately alter the Alamo’s fate. Four days later, on March 6, Santa Anna’s forces stormed the mission, killing all its defenders. Yet, the document Ellis helped shepherd into existence galvanized the Texian cause. News of the Alamo’s fall, paired with the declaration, fueled outrage and resolve, culminating in Sam Houston’s victory at San Jacinto on April 21, where “Remember the Alamo!” became a rallying cry.
A Moment of Defiance Amid Desperation
The adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836, with Richard Ellis at the forefront, stands as a remarkable act of defiance and hope. Occurring in the shadow of the Alamo’s siege, it reflects the determination of a people unwilling to yield, even as their comrades faced annihilation. Ellis’s leadership ensured that, while the Alamo fell, the spirit of Texas independence rose…a legacy that endures nearly two centuries later as we celebrate the 189th anniversary today.
Delegates led by President and Ellis County namesake, Richard Ellis, March2, 1836.
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