What is the green flag revolt?

Answer 1

The Green Flag Revolt or Revolution was sparked by the Spanish who inhabited Texas. Gutierrez De Lara wanted power, and appealed to the Americans leanings towards a more libertarian form of government. Given that the Americans had not long ago won their own revolution against a monarchy across the sea, there was some support from persons within the US. Gutierrez recruited within the US to create his army. He promised money and land to those helping him. He appeared sincere in his desire to bring the same freedoms that the Americans fought for to Spanish Texas.

The very, very short of it is that Gutierrez won. The Green Flag Republic lasted four months before Jose Joaquin Arredondo was appointed by Spain to take Texas back.

(it is pretty interesting and worth looking into further).

A few interesting asides:

• A fair portion of the soldiers were Irish immigrants, and some believe this is why the flag was green.
• US President Monroe diplomatically played both sides waiting to see who would win.
• Gutierrez did not honor the financial or land obligations to the American soldiers, and many of them left before Arredondo came.
• Gutierrez's desire for power became apparent early on and lost him further support. He was not leading the Green Republic when Arredondo arrived.
• Arredondo wanted to make an example of the revolutionaries. He killed all of the men involved he could find, and some say dismembered and hung them from the trees in what is now San Antonio.
• The women and of-age-girls were sent to a prison where they labored by day, and were forced concubines by night. The small children were turned out on the street to starve.
• The officer in charge of the prison was Lieutenant Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.