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AR15.COM
3/23/2014 4:41:10 PM EDT
We're watching the Smithsonian channel's, Texas From the Air show and they were discussing the San Jacinto monument after the Alamo. A question that I have had my whole life, one that I didn't ask of my college Texas History professor, is, "Why didn't they execute Santa Anna for Goliad and the Alamo?"



Has there ever been any scholarly study on this question?
3/23/2014 4:43:55 PM EDT
[#1]
Because in exchange for his life he signed over Texas. Believe me, the regular soldiers wanted to. They didn't even know who they had until he was brought in and the other prisoners saw him and started reacting.
3/23/2014 4:44:20 PM EDT
[#2]
Needed him to sign the Treaties of Velasco to establish Texas Independence. Releasing Santa Anna was part of the treaties.
3/23/2014 4:44:23 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote History
Quoted:
Because in exchange for his life he signed over Texas
View Quote


Yup, Treaty of Velasco.
3/23/2014 4:46:08 PM EDT
[#4]
Long story short, there were other Mexican military forces in Texas besides the forces at San Jacinto.  Houston spared his life and released him after he signed a treary with the hope he would return to Mexico City and convince the Mexicans to give up on reclaiming Texas and recall the rest of their forces.

3/23/2014 4:46:30 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote History
Quoted:
Because in exchange for his life he signed over Texas
View Quote


and promised to lobby for Texas recognition as a sovereign state in Mexico.
3/23/2014 4:46:58 PM EDT
[#6]
Because Sam Houston was smarter than you and knew that executing the president of Mexico when trying to secede from said country would have been a really bad move.



If you let him live you can force him to sign a treaty (as they did) and help secure Texas independence.
3/23/2014 4:47:29 PM EDT
[#7]
Mr. Leyva* weeps at your question.
*My 7th grade Texas history teacher at Eastwood Middle School, 1983