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KIDS UNITED
Howdy, y'all! On March 2, Susie has big plans. She'll be rounding up her pals and heading out to celebrate the independence of her home state--Texas! This year Susie and her family are making an exciting trip… they're going to travel all the way to the Town of Washington, Texas - on the Brazos River! After all, it was in the Town of Washington on the Brazos that 59 men gathered to sign Texas' Declaration of Independence in 1836!
Texas wasn't always a part of the USA - it was once a part of Mexico. Texas happily existed as a part of Mexico until 1835. In this year a General by the name of Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana revoked the peaceful Constitution under which Mexicans had been living and declared himself the Dictator of Mexico. The Texans did not wish to live under his control. Fearing for their livelihood and the future of their people, the 59 delegates in the Town of Washington gathered in an empty building to determine the fate of their nation.
 The Alamo
The ramshackle building had neither windows nor doors, and in gusty 33 degree weather these men huddled in blankets to create a new sovereign nation: The Republic of Texas. Tennessee citizen George C. Childress wrote the declaration, and over the next 24 hours five copies were written by hand and signed by the founding fathers of Texas. On March 2, 1836, the Republic of Texas was born!
Declaring oneself an independent nation doesn't come easily, and it took several months of battles with the Mexicans before Texas was truly it's own Republic. After losing the battle at the Alamo, the Texans victoriously captured President-General Santa Ana at the Mexican camp of San Jacinto. It was then that the Republic of Texas was finally free!
 San Jacinto Monument
A true Texan, Susie can't wait to visit the city where the Declaration was signed. This year's festivities may be the best yet. On March 1 and March 2, the Town of Washington will hold a big celebration, complete with a black-powder gun salute by the Texas Army, early Texas music, quilting demonstrations and a giant birthday cake for Texas! Susie hopes that Texans far and near have an incredible Texas Independence Day!
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