The fight for Texas Independence began at Gonzales on October 1, 1835 and continued until April 21, 1836.
As the siege of the Alamo (March 6, 1836) and the massacre at Goliad (March 27, played out, fifty-eight delegates to a constitutional convention convened on March 1, 1836, at Washington-on-the-Brazos. The next day, March 2, those assembled declared Texas independence, including three Tejanos, Antonio Navarro, Lorenzo de Zavala, and José Francisco Ruiz. They also prepared a constitution for the new Republic of Texas.

The document, adopted on March 17, created a federal form of government, composed of three branches of government, and guaranteed protection of slavery. They then chose leaders for an interim government until elections could be held. David G. Burnett was named interim president and Lorenzo de Zavala became vice president. The convention also took steps to address the emergency, naming Sam Houston as commander-in-chief with authority to raise a Texas army.

The defeat at San Jacinto of Santa Anna and his army on April 21, brought an immediate end to hostilities, independence for Texas, and the birth of the Republic of Texas.

Read the whole story at The Handbook of Texas Online.