The Mexican army executed more than 400 Texian prisoners of war on March 27, 1836, during the Texas Revolution, in an event that would become known as the Goliad Massacre. A decree passed in December 1835 allowed Mexican soldiers under General Antonio López de Santa Anna to shoot any foreigners in rebellion. Texian Colonel James Fannin and his men surrendered to the Mexican government under the expectation that they would be treated as prisoners of war, but they were executed regardless, engendering sympathy (and eventual support) from the neighboring United States.

Learn more about the Goliad Massacre.