Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth

“Remember the Alamo” has been a call to action for nearly 170 years. The cry became famous during the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. The Alamo was the scene of the disastrous rout of Texas natives by Mexican forces after a thirteen-day siege between February and March 1836. The established story of the battle has men such as Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William Travis fighting for Texas’s sovereignty against the unforgiving Mexican army led by Santa Anna. The trio of Crockett, Bowie, and Travis died heroes’ deaths but spurred on the call for Texas’s independence. As time has elapsed, the men, their motives, and their deaths have been re-examined. The myths that have pervaded for well over a century have been chiefly due to a lack of critical assessment.

Forget the Alamo is a well-written record of how pride obscures the dark undercurrents of the past. Authors Burrough, Tomlinson, and Stanford explore the battle that continues to rage over the past, with “traditionalist” and “revisionist” histories vying for supremacy over hearts and minds. The trio delve deep into the growth of the territory, its allowance of slavery, and the rumblings of discord between Mexico and Texas. It’s a powerful piece of history not to be missed.