Republic of The Rio Grande

The story of an independent republic that was declared and fought over 10 months of 1840 started long before, during the social _x0003_turmoil that embroiled Mexico and its vast geographical domain. Coming out of a valiant and victorious struggle for independence _x0003_in 1821, against the 300 year rule of the Spanish Empire, Mexico _x0003_adopted the constitution of 1824, which favored a federalist form of government. Almost immediately, an independent movement began the northern providence of Texas. This Texan separatist faction _x0003_based their secession on the change from the federalist form of _x0003_government in Mexico to a centralist one in 1836. On November 5, 1838, Antonio Canales of Monterrey issued a proclamation calling for the re-adoption of the federalist constitution of 1824. By 1839, the citizens of Laredo had joined the case. Helped by the French blockade of Mexican ports, the federalists were able to capture several towns. By March, however, the French lifted their blockade, allowing the centralists to devote more resources to fight the federalists.